California Wildfire Mitigation Program

​As part of the State of California’s initiative to strengthen community-wide resilience against wildfires, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) has partnered with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to develop a community home hardening program to retrofit, harden, and create defensible space for homes at high risk to wildfires—with a focus on high social-vulnerability communities and providing financial assistance for low- and moderate- income (LMI) households. The community home hardening concept comes from the latest fire science—the more homes hardened in a community, the lower the risk of wildfire impacts.

Purpose

PATHWAY TO A MORE RESILIENT AND HARDENED CALIFORNIA

2021-2022

Perform capacity building in demonstration communities to prepare to implement home hardening programs

Leverage the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and state funding to harden homes in demonstration communities

2023-2024

Continue to implement projects funded by HMGP, leveraging state match, in demonstration communities 

Expand program throughout the state, contingent on state and federal funds

2025 and Beyond

Continue leveraging HMGP to increase the number of hardened homes and strengthen community resilience to wildfires, contingent on state and federal funds

​How do homeowners participate?

Currently, this program is only being offered in a small number of demonstration communities through direct homeowner outreach.

​How can a local government participate?

The California Wildfire Mitigation Program is currently working with a small number of demonstration communities.

Non-demonstration communities that are interested in developing a local home hardening program are encouraged to apply through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. More information on how to apply for this program can be found on our 404 Hazard Mitigation Webpage.

​What defines low- and moderate-income households?

Households with an income no greater than 80% of the area median income.

​To what standard will homes be hardened?

Technical experts are developing standards that align to California Building Code Chapter 7A, CAL FIRE’s low-cost retrofit list, and incorporates the latest in fire science research.