Safer from Wildfires
Safer from Wildfires is a California Department of Insurance framework naming specific wildfire mitigation measures that insurers doing business in the state are required to recognise. It is organised in three layers: the structure itself, the immediate surroundings, and the wider community.
The measures include a Class A fire-rated roof, ember-resistant vents, enclosed eaves, upgraded windows, a clear first five feet around the structure, and removal of combustible sheds and fences attached to the home.
Under California Insurance Code section 2644.9, insurers must reflect these measures in their rating. What the regulation does not do is set how much any one measure is worth — the size of the credit is each insurer's own filing, and eligibility stays the insurer's decision. Anyone telling you a specific percentage for a specific measure is describing one carrier's filing, not the law.
The practical consequence for a homeowner is that the work only counts if it can be shown. A completed measure with no photograph, invoice or spec sheet behind it is difficult for an underwriter to credit.
Related terms
- Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) — CAL FIRE's official wildfire hazard rating for a location: Moderate, High or Very High.
- Defensible space — The managed area around a structure that slows a fire and gives crews room to work.
- Wildfire Prepared Home (IBHS) — A voluntary designation granted by IBHS to homes meeting its wildfire standard.