Wildfire Resources & Links
Curated grants, insurance programs, local services, emergency tools, and official resources for California homeowners in wildfire zones.
Insurance & Savings
FAIR Plan discounts, Safer from Wildfires framework, and coverage resources.
FAIR Plan Wildfire Hardening Discounts
Save up to 16.4% — 12 discounts for defensible space, home hardening, and community actions.
Visit site →California FAIR Plan
Insurer of last resort — basic fire coverage when standard carriers have dropped your policy.
Visit site →Find a FAIR Plan Broker
California Department of Insurance — search for licensed FAIR Plan brokers near you.
Visit site →Safer from Wildfires Framework
CA Dept. of Insurance — requires insurers to offer discounts for wildfire mitigation work.
Visit site →Make It FAIR Act (AB 1680)
Proposed legislation to expand FAIR Plan coverage and improve claims handling.
Visit site →California Department of Insurance
Official consumer resources for wildfire insurance questions and complaints.
Visit site →Grants & Financial Help
State and federal programs that can help fund your wildfire mitigation work.
CA Safe Homes Grant (AB 888)
Up to $10,000 for home hardening — vents, roofing, windows. Prioritized for low-income homeowners.
Visit site →FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant (HMGP)
Federal post-disaster grants for defensible space, home hardening, and fuel reduction.
Visit site →CAL FIRE Prevention Grants
State funding for community fuel reduction, fire planning, and education projects.
Visit site →Fire Safe Council Chipping Programs
Free or low-cost community chipping days — check with your county Fire Safe Council.
Visit site →NRCS EQIP Program
USDA grants for fuel reduction and prescribed burning on agricultural and forest lands.
Visit site →California Wildfire Laws
Key legislation affecting homeowners in fire hazard zones.
PRC 4291 — Defensible Space
Requires 100 ft of defensible space around structures in fire hazard areas.
Visit site →AB 38 — Disclosure & Inspections
Sellers in fire hazard zones must get a defensible space inspection and disclose to buyers.
Visit site →Chapter 7A — Building Standards
Fire-resistant construction requirements for new buildings in Very High fire zones.
Visit site →AB 888 — CA Safe Homes Program
Established grants up to $10K for wildfire home hardening retrofits.
Visit site →AB 1 — Insurance & Mitigation Incentives
Requires insurers to factor wildfire mitigation into coverage and pricing decisions.
Visit site →Local Programs
Free inspections, chipping, and assistance from Nevada City and Nevada County.
Free Defensible Space Inspections
Nevada City OES — schedule a free property walkthrough and get a personalized report.
Visit site →Defensible Space Assistance Program
Nevada City — free vegetation work for eligible residents (65+, disabled, low-income).
Visit site →Community Green Waste + Chipping
Nevada City — free green waste drop-off and curbside chipping for residents.
Visit site →Home Hardening Reimbursement
Nevada City — $100 reimbursement for fire-resistant upgrades (vents, weather stripping, caulking).
Visit site →Wildfire Preparedness Hub
Nevada City — central page for all city wildfire programs, Measure C info, and contacts.
Visit site →Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Nevada City — the city's official wildfire risk reduction strategy and priorities.
Visit site →Fire Hazard Severity Zones (2025)
Nevada City — updated CAL FIRE zone maps. Check your parcel designation.
Visit site →Firewise Communities
Nevada City — learn how your neighborhood can earn Firewise USA designation.
Visit site →Fuels Reduction & Open Space Projects
Nevada City — current city-led fuel reduction projects and open space management.
Visit site →Emergency Preparedness
Alerts, evacuation planning, and Ready Nevada County resources from the county OES.
CodeRED Emergency Alerts
Nevada County — sign up for wildfire evacuation calls, texts, and emails.
Visit site →Ready Nevada County
Nevada County OES — preparedness hub, go-bag checklists, and household toolkit.
Visit site →Evacuation Route Pre-Planner
Nevada County — interactive map to plan your primary and alternate escape routes.
Visit site →Ready Nevada County Dashboard
Nevada County — live incidents, alerts, and emergency status in one place.
Visit site →Know Your Zone
Nevada County — find your evacuation zone and understand what it means.
Visit site →Burn Days & Permits
Nevada County — check today's burn status and get burn permit information.
Visit site →Prepare for Wildfire (Ready, Set, Go!)
Nevada County OES — step-by-step Ready, Set, Go! guidance: fire-resistant home, go-bags, and evacuation planning.
Visit site →Roadmap to Resilience
Nevada County — multi-step walkthrough for community and personal preparedness.
Visit site →Genasys Protect — Find Your Zone
Live evacuation-zone lookup and real-time alerts. Search your address to see your zone and current status.
Visit site →Education & Outreach
Nevada County OES — wildfire preparedness classes, presentations, and community education.
Visit site →Emergency Preparedness Hub
Nevada County OES — the central hub for alerts, evacuation, and household readiness resources.
Visit site →CAL FIRE Programs
Official California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection resources.
Defensible Space (PRC 4291)
CAL FIRE — inspections and guidance for maintaining 100 ft of defensible space.
Visit site →Ready for Wildfire
CAL FIRE — evacuation planning, go-bag checklists, home hardening guides, and alerts.
Visit site →Hardening Your Home
CAL FIRE — step-by-step guide to making your home more resistant to wildfire.
Visit site →Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps
OSFM — look up your property's fire hazard zone (Very High, High, or Moderate).
Visit site →Office of the State Fire Marshal
OSFM — state programs for community-level wildfire mitigation, building standards, and fire safety.
Visit site →Federal Programs
National programs for wildfire mitigation, recovery, and community preparedness.
FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant (HMGP)
FEMA — post-disaster grants for defensible space, home hardening, and fuel reduction.
Visit site →FEMA Post-Fire Recovery
FEMA — individual and public assistance for communities recovering from wildfire.
Visit site →Fire Management Assistance Grants
FEMA — federal funding for wildfire mitigation and control on public or private lands.
Visit site →US Forest Service Fire Programs
USFS — community fuel reduction, forest health, and WUI wildfire prevention.
Visit site →IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home
IBHS — research-based designation and checklist for wildfire-resistant homes.
Visit site →Firewise USA
NFPA — national program recognizing communities that take action to reduce wildfire risk.
Visit site →Fire Safe Councils
Regional nonprofits offering inspections, chipping, grants, and education.
California Fire Safe Council
Statewide nonprofit — education, grants, and local Fire Safe Council coordination.
Visit site →El Dorado County Fire Safe Council
Sierra foothills — defensible space inspections, chipping, and fuel reduction.
Visit site →Placer Sierra Fire Safe Council
Placer County — wildfire preparedness, fuel reduction, and community education.
Visit site →Seasonal Fire-Safety Calendar
A simple rhythm of what to do each season to stay ahead of fire season.
- Clear dead vegetation and debris from winter storms
- Create or refresh defensible space around your home
- Schedule tree trimming before fire season
- Clean gutters and remove leaf litter from roof
- Keep vegetation watered within 30 feet of structures
- Mow grass to 4 inches or less
- Store firewood 30+ feet from structures
- Maintain your evacuation go-bag and plan
- Clear fallen leaves and dead material promptly
- Check for ember entry points — vents, eaves, gaps
- Review insurance coverage before renewal season
- Participate in community chipping days
- Research home hardening upgrades for spring
- Apply for grants and financial assistance
- Get quotes for defensible space work
- Review and update your family evacuation plan
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