There is a wealth of information available online about ways to reduce the risks associated with wildfires. Included here are those resources the Firewise Task Force considers to be the most useful for Oakmont Village homeowners.
Learn More about Oakmont Village Policies and Resources
The Oakmont Village Association (OVA) has enacted the following policies and policy guidance for creating and maintaining defensible space:
- Understanding the Firewise Landscape Policy provides an easy-to-follow summary of the policy.
- The full Firewise Landscape Policy is also available for residents interested in the details.
- The Do Not Plant List and its companion Photo Guide serve as useful references when planning any landscaping changes.
- Homeowner responsibilities established under OVA’s Vegetation Management Plan are outlined in the Fire Safety and Control Policy Rules, Regulations and Best Practices document.
Learn More about Firewise Defensible Space and Home Hardening
The resources listed here cover both defensible space and home hardening:
- In-depth guidance is available in How-To Prepare My Home Checklist from the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS), which has conducted extensive research into why homes to burn during a wildfire. There is no need to have an IBHS inspection unless one is required by your insurance provider.
- The 20-page Wildfire Home Retrofit Guide offers detailed guidance on home hardening.
- Fire Safe Sonoma is a valuable resource for all residents of Sonoma County. The site also has guidance on preparing for an emergency.
- A thorough list of additional local resources is available in the Association of Bay Area Governments Home Hardening and Defensible Space Resources for Residents document.
- Watch the presentation to Oakmont residents by Dr. Stephen Quarles on Prioritizing Mitigation Strategies.
A good way to find contractors experienced in both defensible space and home hardening projects is OVA’s Service Provider List. In addition to categories for various landscaping and home upgrades is one specific to Wildfire Defense.
Find the Fire Hazard Zone Designations for Your Address
To find if your home is in Santa Rosa’s Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fire Area, visit the City’s Fire GIS Viewer webpage, click on the plus sign for “Boundary Layers” and check the box for WUI. Then scroll and zoom in on your neighborhood in Oakmont Village.
To find if your home is in a Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) on the City’s Fire GIS Viewer webpage, check the “Boundary Layers” box for CalFire FHSZLRA25. You can also get more information and look up your address at CAL FIRE’s Fire Hazard Severity Zones webpage.
Get Help Getting Homeowners Insurance
A helpful resource for homeowners having difficulty getting affordable insurance is United Policyholders. In the drop-down menu for “Recovery Help” click on “State by State” and select California.
Firewise Actions
Recommendations for how to reduce the risks to loss of life and property during a wildfire are available on the Firewise Actions page.