Kern Fire Safe Council Wildfire Risk Home Assessment Program

How it works

Kern Fire Safe Council’s Wildfire Risk Home Assessment Program is a free, voluntary visit that helps homeowners understand wildfire hazards around their property. After you sign up, a member of the Fire Safe Council contacts you to schedule a visit at a time that works for you. During the assessment, an evaluator reviews your home’s wildfire risks. You may choose to walk with the evaluator or let them inspect without you.

After the visit, the homeowner receives a personalized report with recommendations to help harden the home and reduce wildfire risk. The council says the results are private and are intended to give you a clear starting point for making your home and community safer.

What the service covers

The page says the assessments specifically focus on two of the most effective wildfire protection actions: defensible space and home hardening. It explains that the surrounding areas, especially the area within five feet of the house, play the biggest role in whether a home withstands wildfire and ember showers. The council also states that wind-blown embers are the leading cause of home loss during wildfires.

Availability and service area

As of July 1, 2026, assessments are available to residents of the Kern River Valley, the greater Tehachapi Region, and the Mt. Piños communities. The page says the program is transitioning to countywide availability. Residents outside the currently supported regions may register interest while expansion continues.

How to apply

Homeowners should sign up for the assessment. The page provides direct contact options for scheduling: call 661-619-6841 or email outreach@kernfiresafe.org. Residents who are interested but not in the supported regions are told to email outreach@kernfiresafe.org to register interest.

Timing and goals

The page states a goal of 1,500 home assessments by December 2027.