Home Assessment

Welcome to the Orange County Fire Authority's Online Home Assessment tool. If you are looking for a Defensible Space Disclosure inspection for a real estate transaction, please click here to be redirected.

This online Home Assessment tool covers the basics of both Home Hardening and Defensible Space principles. You will be guided through a series of questions about your home and its surroundings. At the end you will be given the opportunity to receive an emailed report that will provide recommendations for fire hazard mitigation strategies.

Reducing home ignitions and wildfire losses requires a proactive team of residents, fire agencies, and other community members. Thank you for taking the first steps to make your home, your family, and your community safer and better prepared for the next wildland fire event!

For more information or help with the Home Assessment tool, please call (714) 573-6774 or email us at RSGOC@ocfa.org .

To request an in-person home assessment with an OCFA Fire Prevention Specialist, click here.

Begin Online Survey

Replace or repair broken or missing tiles, loose flashings
Repair or replace loose or missing bird stops
Fill all gaps with ignition resistant roofing material

Prevent large embers escaping and igniting roof debris or flammable vegetation
May prevent embers from entering and possibly igniting your home during a wildfire

RAIN GUTTERS

IMPORTANT – There are numerous gutter guard products available with varying levels of performance. It is critical that gutter guards are properly secured and functioning so that they do not contribute to the collection of roof/gutter debris.

Immediate Zone (0-5 Foot Zone) - Remove combustible material (bark, mulch, storage items, patio furniture, etc.) within the first 5 feet around your home. Use hardscape like pavers, gravel, or concrete. Limit plant material to low growing, (below 2 feet) nonwoody varieties that are properly watered and maintained.

Learn More (Immediate Zone)

Intermediate Zone (5-30 Foot Zone) - Remove and/or maintain large combustible material (such as outbuildings, vehicles, storage items, trees, bushes, etc.) within 5 to 30 feet of your home. This will limit radiant heat from preheating combustible siding thereby decreasing the chance of your home igniting.

Immediate Zone (0-5 Foot Zone) - Keep the first 5 feet around your home and beneath windows free of combustible material (bark, mulch, storage items, furniture, etc.).
Learn More (Immediate Zone)
Intermediate Zone (5-30 Foot Zone) - Remove/mitigate large combustible material (such as outbuildings, vehicles, storage items, trees, bushes, etc.) within 30 feet of the windows. This will reduce the chance windowpanes will fracture and collapse due to direct flame contact or radiant heat and create openings where embers could enter and ignite materials inside.

Immediate Zone - Keep the first 5 feet around your home and beneath windows free of combustible material (bark, mulch, storage items, furniture, etc.).
Learn More (Immediate Zone)
5-30 Foot Zone - Remove/mitigate large combustible material (such as outbuildings, vehicles, storage items, trees, bushes, etc.) within 30 feet of the windows. This will reduce chance that windowpanes will fracture and collapse due to direct flame contact or radiant heat and create openings where embers could enter and ignite materials inside.

Seal all cracks, gaps, and openings with caulking material. Keep exposed wood free of rot and maintain surfaces with a good coat of paint to reduce the ability for embers to lodge, continue to burn, and cause ignition
Apply noncombustible barriers (metal flashing, noncombustible wall siding, noncombustible balcony decking, etc.) at junctions between your balcony and your home where embers could collect or lodge, continue to burn, and cause ignition
Remove all combustible material (patio furniture, drapes, mats, pet bedding, rugs, etc.) and debris (leaf litter, pine needles, etc.) on your balcony where embers could collect and cause ignition
Remove all combustible material (patio furniture, drapes, storage items, organic mulch, vegetation, fencing, etc.) below and near your balcony where embers could collect and cause ignition

Learn More (Balconies and Decks)

Seal all cracks, gaps, and openings with caulking material. Keep exposed wood free of rot and maintain surfaces with a good coat of paint to reduce the ability for embers to lodge, continue to burn, and cause ignition
Apply noncombustible barriers (metal flashing, noncombustible wall siding, etc.) at junctions between your patio cover and your home where embers could collect or lodge, continue to burn and cause ignition
Remove all combustible material (patio furniture, drapes, storage items, organic mulch, vegetation, fencing, etc.) below and near your patio cover where embers could collect and cause ignition

Learn More (Patio Cover)

Seal all cracks, gaps, and openings with caulking material. Keep exposed wood free of rot, and maintain surfaces with a good coat of paint to reduce the ability for embers to lodge, continue to burn, and cause ignition
Apply noncombustible barriers (metal flashing, noncombustible wall siding, etc.) at junctions between your deck and your home where embers could collect or lodge, continue to burn and cause ignition
Remove all combustible material (patio furniture, drapes, storage items, organic mulch, vegetation, fencing, etc.) near your deck where embers could collect and cause ignition

Learn More (Balconies and Decks)

Create separation between your home and combustible fencing by adding noncombustible fence panels or gates (metal, stucco, etc.) within the first 10 feet of your home to provide protection from direct flame contact.

Learn More (Fences)

Removing combustible plant debris (dead or dying plants, leaves, palm fronds, pine needles, etc.) within the first five feet of your home and on your roof
Removing and/or replacing combustible mulches (bark, wood chips, etc.) with noncombustible options (rocks, stone, pavers, etc.) within the first 5 feet of your home

Learn More (Immediate Zone)

Removing dead and dying plant material within and beneath the hedgerow, (leaf litter, mulch, etc.)
Trimming lower limbs to create separation from the ground and anything beneath the hedgerow
Limiting continuity between plants to reduce the rate of fire spread
Keeping vegetation well irrigated

Thank you! You have taken the first steps to making your home more resilient during a wildland fire event. Home Hardening in conjunction with vegetation management give your home the best chance of surviving a wildfire. Below are the recommendations for your home based on the answers provided during the Orange County Fire Authority's Home Assessment.

Please note that when you take action to retrofit the construction features of your home, you will need to refer to the California Residential Code and your local building department will need to be contacted for specific requirements.

Should you have additional questions please contact us at (714) 573-6774 or email us at RSGOC@ocfa.org

Orange County Fire Authority
1 Fire Authority Road, Irvine, CA 92602
(714) 573-6000

ROOF COVERINGS

Click on the picture of your roof covering below.

Click on the image below that depicts the condition of your roof.

Click on the image below that depicts the condition of your roof.

Click on the image below that depicts the condition of your roof.

Click on the image below that depicts the condition of your roof.

Click on the image below that depicts the condition of your roof.

Choose every type of roof feature your home has by clicking on the pictures below, then click "Next". If your home has no roof features, just click "Next".

Click on the picture below that depicts the condition of your home's dormer/roof junctions.

Click on the picture below that depicts the condition of your home's roof/wall junctions.

Click on the picture below that depicts how your chimney meets your roof.

Click on the picture below that depicts the condition of your chimney/roof junction.

Click on the picture below that depicts the condition of your chimney/roof junction.

Do all chimneys have spark arrestors with a minimum 1/2-inch metal mesh?

Click on the picture below that depicts the condition of your home's solar panel/roof junctions.

Click on the picture below that depicts the condition of your home's skylight/roof junctions.

Are all skylights multi-pane with at least one pane being tempered glass and are frames noncombustible (metal)?

RAIN GUTTERS

Choose the type of rain gutters your home has by clicking on the picture below. If your home doesn't have rain gutters, just click "Next".

Do rain gutters have guards installed to help prevent debris/leaf litter from accumulating?

Are gutter guards properly installed to prevent debris/leaf litter from building up in the gutter (no gaps to allow debris and leaf litter to accumulate)?

Are gutters free of combustible debris/leaf litter?

Do rain gutters have guards installed to help prevent debris/leaf litter from accumulating?

Are gutter guards properly installed to prevent debris/leaf litter from building up in the gutter (no gaps to allow debris and leaf litter to accumulate)?

Are gutters free of combustible debris/leaf litter?

ATTIC VENTS

Choose every type of attic vent your home has by clicking on the pictures below, then click "Next". If your home has no attic vents, just click "Next".

EAVES

Are the eaves on your home unenclosed (rafter tails exposed) or do they have soffits (rafter tails enclosed)? Choose the type of eaves your home has by clicking on the picture below.

Are your eaves maintained without cracks, gaps, and openings that would allow embers to collect, lodge, or enter the attic?

Click on the image below that depicts the condition of your eaves.

Are your eaves maintained without cracks, gaps, and openings that would allow embers to collect, lodge, or enter the attic?

Click on the image below that depicts the condition of your eaves.

Are your eaves maintained without cracks, gaps, and openings that would allow embers to collect, lodge, or enter the attic?

Click on the image below that depicts the condition of your eaves.

EXTERIOR SIDING

Is the siding on your home ignition resistant, combustible, or a combination of both? Choose the type of siding your home has by clicking on the picture below.

Are all gaps, seams, and areas where embers can collect sealed and protected?

Is combustible material (vegetation, mulch, storage items, patio furniture, etc.) located within the first five feet of the structure (Immediate Zone)?

Are there large combustible items (outbuildings, vehicles, storage items, shrubs, trees, etc.) within 30 feet of the home?

Are all gaps, seams, and areas where embers can collect sealed and protected?

Is flammable vegetation or other combustible material (storage, patio furniture, etc.) located within the first five feet of your home (Immediate Zone)?

Are there large combustible materials (outbuildings, vehicles, storage items, shrubs, trees, etc.) within 30 feet of the home?

Choose every type of door your home has by clicking on the pictures below, then click "Next".

Are entry doors (including front, side, rear, sliding, etc.) free of any gaps or openings that would allow embers to enter the structure?

Are garage and storage area doors free of any gaps or openings that would allow embers to enter the structure?

Are pet doors secured from opening during windy conditions and sealed to prevent embers from blowing into the structure?

Choose every type of window frame your home has by clicking on the pictures below, then click "Next". If your home has no windows, just click "Next".

Are all windows multi-pane with at least one pane being tempered glass?

Have nearby combustible materials (vegetation, mulch, storage items, patio furniture, etc.) been removed or reduced (vegetation lowered, well irrigated, no dead material, etc.) to prevent direct flame contact and reduce radiant heat on windows

Have nearby combustible materials (vegetation, storage items, patio furniture, etc.) been removed or reduced to prevent direct flame contact and reduce radiant heat on windows?

Are all windows multi-pane with at least one pane being tempered glass?

Choose every type of wall vent your home has by clicking on the pictures below, then click "Next". If your home has no wall vents, just click "Next".

Are exterior/utility wall vents (clothes dryer, bathroom and kitchen exhausts, etc.) protected by a functioning self closing cover flap?

Do exterior utility wall vents (garage, foundation, crawlspace, etc.) have 1/8-inch ignition resistance mesh completely covering openings?

Do exterior utility wall vents (garage, foundation, crawlspace, etc.) have 1/8-inch ignition resistance mesh completely covering openings?

ATTACHMENTS

BALCONIES, PATIO COVERS, DECKS, FENCES, AWNINGS If it's attached to your home, it's part of your home!

Choose every type of structural feature that is attached to your home by clicking on the pictures below, then click "Next". If your home has no structural features attached, just click "Next".

Is your balcony built with ignition resistant materials (tile, metal, composite, etc.) and in good condition?

Does your balcony have gaps or openings where embers could lodge and cause ignition (e.g. at junctions where the balcony meets the wall)?

Is there combustible material (patio furniture, drapes, mats, pet bedding, rugs, etc.) on your balcony where embers could collect and cause ignition?

Is there combustible material (patio furniture, drapes, storage items, organic mulch, vegetation, fencing, etc.) below your balcony where embers could collect and cause ignition?

Is cooking or barbeque equipment used on or underneath your balcony?

Is your patio cover built with ignition resistant materials (metal, composite material, etc.), and in good condition?

Does your patio cover have gaps or openings where embers could lodge and cause ignition (e.g. at junctions where the patio cover meets the wall)?

Is there combustible material (patio furniture, drapes, storage items, organic mulch, vegetation, fencing, etc.) below or near your patio cover where embers could collect and cause ignition?

Is cooking or barbeque equipment used on or underneath your patio cover?

Is your deck built with ignition resistant materials (concrete, composite, masonry, etc.) and in good condition?

Does your deck have gaps or openings where embers could lodge and cause ignition (e.g. at junctions where the balcony meets the wall)?

Is there combustible material (patio furniture, mats, pet bedding, rugs, etc.) on your deck?

Is there combustible material under, nearby, or attached to your deck where embers could collect and cause ignition?

Fences attached to or within 10 feet of your home.

Is your fence built using ignition resistant material (metal, stucco, etc.) and in good condition?

Is there combustible materials (vegetation, debris, storage items, organic mulch, etc.) close enough to ignite your fence (e.g. along the base, along the sides, etc.)?

Are awnings made of combustible material (fabric, canvas, mesh, wood, etc.)?

HOME IGNITION ZONES

IMMEDIATE ZONE (0-5 FEET OR TO YOUR LOT LINE)

Is all vegetation within the first 5 feet of your home (or to your lot line) ignition resistant (green, well irrigated, free of dead material, low growing, kept below 2 feet, etc.)?

Is there any dead plant material (including pine needles, leaf litter, palm fronds, etc.) or combustible mulch (bark, wood chips, etc.) within the first 5 feet of your home (or to your lot line)?

BALCONIES, PATIO COVERS, DECKS, FENCES, AWNINGS
If it's attached to your home, it's part of your home!