READY, SET, GO!
This excellent brochure from the City is a must-read. It walks you through how to prepare your home before a fire—and what to do if one strikes. It’s practical, clear, and potentially life-saving. We highly recommend giving it a look!
Read Ready, Set, Go! Your personal wildland fire action guide.
WHERE DO I START?
Looking for simple, effective ways to harden your home and stay safer in a wildfire? Start with the basics we shared at Ken-Tal’s Earth Day event on April 12, 2025. This webpage offers clear, practical tips—and links to explore each topic in more depth.
Visit our Earth Day Info page to learn about fire safety apps, Zone Zero, ember-resistant vents, fire-safe building materials, and more.
Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire
PBS documentary, aired 11/15/2024, 1h 23m 34s
Video has Closed Captions
Forest experts discuss wildfires as the world prepares for an increasingly hotter and drier future. Watch the show.
WILDFIRE: What is Zone 0?
Most landscape enhancements add delight or convenience to daily living. The creation of a “Zone 0” is no exception – yet it can also have dramatic impact on safety. Here’s what we understand about the latest fire risk reduction recommendations.
Read Forma Landscaping’s recommendations on Zone 0.
Keep Embers Out of Your Home!
Non-combustible, fire-resistant eave vents are designed to prevent burning embers and flames from entering your home. They typically use 1/8-inch (or smaller) mesh screening, or even better, intumescent materials that expand and seal when exposed to heat. Check out vulcanvents.com or brandguardvents.com
Check out the videos here on ordering and DIY.
On September 16, 2021, retired fire captain Danny Glessner gave a presentation about home hardening at Kensington Community Church. The hour plus long presentation includes information on California fire history, creating defensible space around your home, and hardening your home so it can survive a wildfire. Click here to see the video on YouTube.
| Name/website | Location/Phone | Purpose |
| The Burn Institute | Partners with SDG&E on grants | |
| California Fire Safe Council https://cafiresafecouncil.org/ | Education & training (almost all these groups do some E & T) | |
| California Fire Alliance | Networking group of federal, state, and local fire agencies | |
| California Fire Prevention Organization (CFPO) https://www.calfireprevention.org/ | Fire injuries and fatalities reduction through education and awareness | |
| Fire Safe Council of San Diego County http://firesafesdcounty.org/ | 11769 Waterhill Road Lakeside, CA 92040 619-562-0096 | Education, training, No-cost chipping program, assists low-income seniors with defensible space. |
| National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) https://www.nfpa.org | Wildfire Field Office 7430 East Caley Ave Suite 260 Centennial, CO 80111 +1 303 663-5550 | Nonprofit devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards. |
| National Wildfire Coordinating Group. https://www.nwcg.gov/ | Coalition of fire agencies; helps dev. “Community Wildfire Protection Plan” (CWPP)- prioritizes areas for hazardous fuel reduction treatments/as authorized by Congress | |
| Resource Conservation District of SD County (RCD) http://rcdsandiego.org/contact/ | 11769 Waterhill Rd Lakeside, CA 92040 (619) 562-0096 | Manages FSC-SDC program/grants; umbrella for 38 community FSCs; bi-monthly meetings, evacuation & CWPP guidance, education |
| San Diego Canyonlands (SDCL) www.sdcanyonlands.org | Education and community involvement in improving canyon fire safety; helps organize and supports Canyon Friends Groups | |
| San Diego Fire Rescue Department www.sandiego.gov/fireandems | 101 2nd Ave, Suite 300 SD 92101 | Responds to fires from excessive vegetation not maintained by property owner; operates Proactive Brush Mgmt Program inspections. |
| Sustainable Defensible Space https://defensiblespace.org/house/house-new/ | RCD Santa Monica Mts, 540 S. Topanga Canyon Blvd Topanga, CA 90290 | Guidance on increasing wildfire loss resistance of various structures |
| Tree Culture San Diego https://treeculturesandiego.com | Workshops on dead-wood and excess growth balance. |
Links
Fire Safe Council of San Diego County Website
To schedule a consultation with a home hardening expert visit WildfireHomeHardeningSpecialists.com.