The Home Assessment Program is a free, recommendation-based initiative designed to help landowners align their properties with home hardening and defensible space guidelines. This program aims to enhance community safety and reduce the risk of home ignition due to wildfires. As part of the program, Inland Empire Resource Conservation District (IERCD) staff will conduct a free home hardening and defensible space assessment.

What’s included in this program?

• A free on site home assessment with trained IERCD home assessors, reviewing your homes ignition risk, looking at each defensible space zone and home hardening practices.
• A detailed summary report providing a list of action items to take place in reducing your homes ignition risk.
• Resources such as referrals to local agencies, organizations, or contractors. 

Eligibility: Own or rent home within the IERCD boundary, not sure if your home is within our service area? Click here to check!

What is Defensible Space?

Defensible Space: Your First Line of Defense

Defensible space is the buffer between your home and the surrounding area. Proper defensible space can slow or stop a wildfire, protect your property, and ensure firefighter safety.

• Zone 0: Ember Resistant Zone (0-5 ft.)
  The first five feet from your home are critical, as flying embers, which can travel miles, are the leading cause of homes lost to wildfire. To protect your home, ensure there are no flammable materials in your Zone 0. This includes creating hardscape features, removing any dead or living vegetation, and ensuring no combustible items are being stored in this zone. 
• Zone 1: Home Protection Zone (5-50 ft.)
  Creating space between trees and clearing dead vegetation reduces the fuel available for fires. In this zone, it is essential to remove dead plants, regularly trim trees, and maintain space between vegetation and flammable items. Vegetation islands surrounded by hardscape features (gravel, concrete paths) are also a great way to modify fire bahvior. Keeping exisiting vegetaiton well maintained, lean, and green. 
• Zone 2: Reduced Fuel / Thinning Zone (50-100 ft.)
  Maintain vegetation, removing any debris accumulation.  Ensure trees are properly space, and no connecting fueld from floor to tree canopy is present. Keep grasses trimmed to 4 inches. 

What is Home Hardening?

Home Hardening: Protect Against Ember Intrusion

Homes are vulnerable to wildfire due to direct flames, radiant heat, or flying embers. Since embers can travel miles ahead of a fire, it’s crucial to take steps to "harden" your home. This includes many diffrent actions, some include:

• Building with non combistible, Class A rated products on roof, siding, decks, etc..
• Identifying cracks or openings within siding, or roof where embers can enter and ensuring all vents are equipped with 1/8th-1/16th inch metal screening to block embers from entering the structure. 
• Installing dual paned, tempered glass windows.