written 30 March, 2025
published 6 April, 2025
In 2004, the Mendocino County Fire Safe Council was created "to inform, empower, and mobilize residents to survive and thrive in a wildfire-prone environment, through education, preparation, and collaborative action." There are now 74 local Fire Safe groups in the county, representing about 15 percent of the population. The Ukiah Western Hills Fire Safe Council formed in 2018.
The hills west of Ukiah haven't burned since the middle of the last century, but inexorable heating from the changing climate increases the odds. CalFire recently released an updated map of Fire Hazard Severity Zones, and the entire western edge of urban Ukiah is in the "Very High Hazard" group. For more information visit: http://osfm.fire.ca.gov/FHSZ.
While some still deny climate change, most people know someone affected by fire storms. A fire chief in LA recently said "When the wind is less than 10mph, we can fight the fire. When it is over 30mph, we can only help with evacuations." The recent LA firestorm had steady 55mph winds, gusting to 100mph.
Fire insurance costs are increasing everywhere. In the last decade, fire claims at Lloyd's of London increased a factor of 3, and expenses increased a factor of 5. Insurance companies are leaving California, and those remaining are increasingly unaffordable, forcing homeowners into the California FAIR plan, which is more expensive with less coverage.
The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), founded as a non-profit in 1896, has the mission "to provide information and knowledge for the elimination of death, injury, and economic loss due to fire, electrical, and related hazards." They have been promoting safe building practices ever since.
NFPA runs the Firewise USA program, for communities to enhance their wildfire resilience, in collaboration between residents, local fire departments, and state agencies, to bolster the fire resistance of homes and surroundings. Firewise encourages communities to document their volunteer hours, expenses, and vegetation removal each year, including such tasks as mowing your lawn, trimming trees, and clearing debris from your roof and gutters, thus increasing community awareness of the growing fire hazard.
Responding to uncertainty in California homeowner's insurance, standards are evolving for best practices for home-hardening and defensible space. Fire hardening your structure can double the chance of it surviving a fire. State regulations require "Zone 0", five feet around structures and at least 6" up the side, be ember-resistant. California Department of Insurance requires insurers to offer discounts for such homeowner mitigations. Living in a recognized Firewise community provides potentially greater discounts for homeowners who do more to reduce their risk.
Last year, the Western Hills Fire Safe Council voted to join 11 other Mendocino county Firewise communities. This new Firewise community in the western portion of Ukiah includes everyone west of Dora, extending the full length of Ukiah, a total of 2000 home. The goal is for each household to annually record at least one volunteer hour (valued at $31.80 per hour) or an equivalent amount in expenses. Everyone is already included, and all are invited to participate, but no one is required.
Through education, planning, and action, Firewise communities work together to minimize the vulnerability of homes and communities to wildfire damage. In addition to potential discounts on insurance premiums, benefits include: increased safety through implementing proven risk-reduction strategies to protect both residents and first responders; strengthened neighborhood connections; improved access to grant funding for projects; and increased peace of mind throughout your neighborhood.
A letter is being sent to all homeowners included in the new Ukiah Western Hills Firewise community, explaining Firewise, and listing several sources for more information. The two co-chairs are: John Rodgers (JohnRogers8200@gmail.com) and Jeanne Chinn (JeanneChinn@gmail.com). There is a Western Hills newsletter (whfirewise@gmail.com) and a Facebook Group (Western Hills Firewise Community). For more information about the Mendocino County Fire Safe Council go to: FireSafeMendocino.org.
Part of the Firewise program asks communities to make goals and a plan for the next 3 years to help prioritize actions to become more wildfire-prepared. Some highlighted goals for Ukiah's first year include: encourage registration on wildfire alert systems, promote the Free Defensible Space Program offered for income-eligible seniors, educate on the importance of removing vegetation within 5 feet of a home, promote use of a free chipper program to reduce vegetative fire fuels, and partner with the Ukiah Valley Fire Authority to identify areas for fuels reduction.
Wildfire doesn’t recognize property lines, so the more we work together, the safer we all are.