The Mountain Communities Fire Safe Council (MCFSC) is accepting applications from property owners for home hardening. FEMA-4569-DR-CA, September 2020 California Wildfires, Cal OES PJ0507, Mountain Communities Fire Safe Council Home Hardening and Defensible Space Project is funding the program.
The grant provides in excess of $2,000,000 worth of funds to be used to reimburse local homeowners for home hardening and defensible space projects to help mitigate the hazards increased fire frequency and the ember cast created by fire pose.
The program will be conducted in two phases:
Phase I is effective immediately and through January 2023. It comprises outreach, education, accepting applications from homeowners, project/site assessments, reviews for program suitability, verification of defensible space compliance in advance of home hardening, and vetting and onboarding of licensed contractors.
All eligible homeowners with qualified projects selected for participation in the program will receive notification at the conclusion of Phase I.
Phase II is effective February 2023 through June 2025. It is comprised of continued education and outreach, environmental and historical surveys, project implementation, completion, verification and close out.
Some home hardening retrofit activities that may be applied to structures include:
• Wood shingle roof replacement with fire-resistant Class A roof material.
• Install non-combustible corrosion resistant metal gutter covers.
• Cover chimney and stovepipe outlets with noncombustible corrosion-resistant metal mesh screen (spark arrestor), with 3/8-inch to 1/2-inch openings.
• Cover all vent openings with 1/16-inch to 1/8-inch noncombustible corrosion resistant metal mesh screens
• Inspect exterior siding for dry rot, gaps, cracks and warping. Caulk or plug gaps greater than 1/16-inch in siding and replace any damaged boards, including those with dry rot.
• Replace windows with multi-paned windows with at least one pane of tempered glass.
• Replace siding or deck with compliant noncombustible, ignition-resistant, or other materials approved by the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM).
Eligible homeowners with qualified projects selected for participation in the program will be reimbursed 75% of the approved contracted project costs in two disbursements: 65% upon receipt and approval of itemized invoices MCFSC receives from the homeowner at the completion of the project, and 10% upon completion and close out of the grant program after June 2025.
For more information, or to find out how to apply, call MSFSC at 951-659-6208, email info@msfsc.org, or visit www.mcfsc.org. Interested licensed contractors also are invited to contact MCFSC to be added to the approved contractors’ roster.
