Fire season is here. Peak in 4 monthsFire season is here. Peak risk hits in 4 months. Schedule your walk-through now.

Commercial Wildfire Protection

I lost everything.
Your business doesn't have to.

You're responsible for everyone's safety on your property when things happen. Insurance carriers are now requiring fire hardening on commercial properties in California fire zones. We handle the assessment, the install, and the paperwork your insurer and board need to see.

Mark Lim, Founder·Eaton Fire survivor·Board, St. Mark's School·CA Fire Safe Council partner

Schedule a Walk-Through Call (213) 262-8710

Mark Lim at Saint Mark's School after the Eaton Fire

Saint Mark's School, Altadena. One of the only things still standing after the Eaton Fire burned the campus.

Featured in. Working with.

Pasadena Now·CA Fire Safe Council·Five Acres·Flintridge Prep·St. Mark's School

What you're up against

Most commercial policies have three words that will haunt you: excludes total loss.

Four numbers worth understanding before the next red-flag day.

Catastrophic wildfires

Recorded in California 2021 to 2025. A steady-state, not an anomaly.

90%

Of structure damage is from embers

Most structures destroyed in wildfires are lost to ember ignition, not flames. Embers travel over a mile ahead of the fire.

$40B

Eaton + Palisades losses

Total property losses from the January 2025 fires. Among the costliest disasters in US history.

2×

Less destruction with mitigation

Structure hardening plus defensible space cuts a property's loss exposure roughly in half.

Your insurance is changing. Here's what's coming.

Three questions boards and property managers ask. We answer them straight.

Am I underinsured?

Probably. Most commercial policies don't cover full replacement. The gap can be millions, especially on heritage or specialty structures.

What does my business interruption cover?

Typically 12 to 24 months. Rebuilding a school, care facility, or hospitality property takes 3 to 5 years. Do the math.

Is there a discount for hardening?

Yes, around 5%, and growing. Carriers are formalizing discounts for ember-resistant vents and documented mitigation. Install often pays for itself in 2 to 3 years.

Built for the people accountable

Who we serve

Commercial properties where wildfire is a stewardship issue, not just a building one.

Senior care facilities

Senior living, assisted living, memory care, nursing homes

You're responsible for everyone's safety when fire weather hits. The building has to be the safe ground.

Medical and recovery facilities

Rehab centers, behavioral health, outpatient clinics, surgery centers

Business interruption caps at 24 months. A rebuild takes 3 to 5 years.

Private education and childcare

Private schools, preschools, daycare centers, Montessori

Parents are asking. Insurance is asking. Both need a documented answer.

Youth camps and outdoor education

Summer camps, outdoor education centers, youth retreats

Your season is short and your insurance is seasonal. Evacuation kills the revenue.

Country clubs and private recreation

Country clubs, golf clubs, tennis clubs, swim clubs

Insurance rarely funds the full rebuild. Members come back next season expecting it all back.

Equestrian and animal facilities

Equestrian centers, horse boarding, animal rescues, kennels

Fast fire doesn't give you time to evacuate the animals. Defensible space buys the time.

Hospitality and event properties

Boutique hotels, inns, retreat centers, wedding venues, campgrounds

A wedding can't be rescheduled when the canyon is smoking.

Wineries and agricultural tourism

Wineries, vineyards, tasting rooms, farm stays

Smoke taint is a total-loss event. Defensible space starts at the property line.

Restaurants in high-risk locations

Canyon restaurants, mountain restaurants, destination restaurants

Your location is the brand. Lose it, and you've lost the business.

Religious and community institutions

Churches, temples, synagogues, mosques, community centers

The building is the congregation. Hardening it is stewardship.

Storage and outdoor asset facilities

Self-storage, RV storage, boat storage, equipment yards

Your customers trust you with their RVs and boats. Liability follows trust.

Schedule a walk-through for your property

Common questions from commercial owners

The questions we hear at every walk-through. Straight answers.

My insurance just asked about fire-resistant vents. What do they want?

Carriers are now requiring 1/8″ corrosion-resistant mesh ember-resistant vents on commercial properties in California fire zones. Some carriers (Vault, Chubb on high-value homes) name specific brands like Brandguard. We do the install, photograph every opening, and hand you the documentation in the format insurers actually accept.

What does a commercial wildfire assessment actually look like?

A no-cost walk-through of your property. We count every vent on every building, score structure and community risk, and write a phased plan prioritized by what your insurer wants to see. No obligation, takes 60 to 90 minutes for a typical campus.

How much does hardening a 50,000 sq ft campus cost?

Wide range, typically $15K to $80K depending on vent count, structure types, and Zone 0 scope. Ember-resistant vents are the highest-impact first dollar. We quote line-by-line so you can see exactly where the budget goes.

What documentation do I need for my board and insurer?

Pre-mitigation photos, count of openings, CAL FIRE listed material specs, install receipts, post-mitigation photos. We package it as a single PDF your insurer or board can file. The Five Acres campus package was 80+ pages.

My property is in a Very High FHSZ. Do I have to do this?

California's AB 38 disclosure and AB 3074 Zone 0 rules apply to most residential and many commercial properties in fire zones. More importantly, your insurer increasingly will require it as a condition of renewal. Hardening before they ask gives you leverage.

Can you handle the vendor coordination, or do I have to do that?

We coordinate. Ember-resistant vents, Zone 0, fencing, and documentation are RF1 services. For exterior sprinklers we work with Frontline, for fire-resistant spray we work with Matador, and we make vetted referrals for roofing, evacuation planning, and wildfire insurance brokers. One point of contact across the whole stack.

Case Study

How Five Acres hardened 217,800 sq ft of foster-youth campus before fire season

After the Eaton Fire, Five Acres' board needed a partner to harden the Altadena campus before the next fire season. Every opening was counted, photographed, replaced with CAL FIRE listed hardware, and signed off.

Read the full case study

217,800

sq ft campus

530

vents hardened

8/10

structure risk pre-mitigation

9/10

community risk (Very High FHSZ)

Adapted from IBHS Wildfire Ready Business

Your readiness checklist. 8 actions.

IBHS frames wildfire protection as a system, not a fix. Each one is small. Together, they're the difference between standing and lost.

1#1 RF1 Recommendation

Ember-Resistant Vents

1/8″ corrosion-resistant mesh at every roof, soffit, and wall opening.

Noncombustible Gutters

Metal gutters and drains, cleared regularly of leaves and pine needles.

Class A Roof

Fire-rated covering (ASTM E108 / UL 790). Cleared of debris.

6″ Wall Base

Six inches of noncombustible cladding at the base of every exterior wall.

0 to 5 ft Noncombustible Zone

No vegetation, mulch, or combustible furniture in the first 5 feet.

Noncombustible Fencing

Aluminum, steel, iron, or masonry where the fence meets the building.

5 to 30 ft Defensible Space

Trees spaced 10 ft apart, limbed 6 ft up. Shrubs separated, debris cleared.

Detached Structures 10+ ft

Sheds, pergolas, and propane tanks at least 10 ft from the main building.

Many jobs. One trusted partner.

Hardening is one piece. You'll also need vendors for things RF1 doesn't do. We coordinate the whole stack so you don't have to.

Property risk assessmentRF1

Ember-resistant vents (install + match aesthetic)RF1

Defensible space and Zone 0RF1

Gutter cleaning and clearingRF1

Compliance documentationRF1

Insurance-ready paperworkRF1

Fire-resistant exterior sprayPartner: Matador Fire

Exterior sprinkler systemsPartner: Frontline Wildfire Defense

Class A re-roofingVetted referral

Noncombustible fencing installVetted referral

Wildfire-specialty insurance brokerVetted referral

Evacuation and drill planningVetted referral

Animal evacuation logisticsVetted referral

We tell you what we do, what our partners do, and when we'll refer you out. One point of contact across the whole readiness plan.

Compliance and documentation

50%

less destruction with combined mitigation

Source: UC Berkeley study

Work plans aligned with CAL FIRE guidance

Source: CAL FIRE Defensible Space

Ember-resistant upgrades recognized by fire authorities

Source: CAL FIRE: WUI Guidance

Materials listed by the California State Fire Marshal

Source: OSFM Building Materials Listing

For your board, your insurer, or your facilities team

Download the RF1 Commercial Brochure

The threat data, the 8-action framework, our process, and the Five Acres case study. Built to share with decision-makers who weren't on the walk-through.

Download PDF

Get a quote for your property

Tell us about your property and we'll schedule a walk-through. Free, no obligation.

I lost everything.Your business doesn't have to.