Southern Marin homeowners looking for a contractor who knows how to harden a house against wildfire can consult a directory of contractors who completed wildfire-retrofitting training.
Fire Safe Marin is offering "Retrofitting for Wildfire," a free, self-paced online course that trains licensed contractors to identify how embers, heat and flames threaten homes and to recommend cost-effective upgrades. The roughly five-hour program is available through Fire Safe Academy, according to the organization's course announcement published Monday, Oct. 12. Fire Safe Marin calls it the first program of its kind for licensed contractors.
Contractors who pass the course earn a certificate of completion and a spot on Fire Safe Marin's public contractor guide. The guide serves homeowners across Marin County, including Mill Valley, Corte Madera, Larkspur and Tiburon.
The course was developed with Stephen Quarles, a Fire Safe Marin board member and retired scientist with the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS). It covers specific retrofitting techniques, building materials and construction options. Short quizzes reinforce lessons, and graduates receive a reference handbook.
The course is structured in cohorts with limited capacity. Interested contractors join a waitlist through the Fire Safe Academy website.
What homeowners should know
The guide gives residents a starting point when they need professional help with projects flagged in a personalized Wildfire Risk Report. Deck upgrades, siding replacement and fencing improvements within five feet of a home are among the jobs that may require a trained contractor, according to Fire Safe Marin's announcement.
Lucy K., a San Rafael resident, described the gap the course aims to fill in a testimonial on Fire Safe Marin's website: "A contractor who understands how embers and flames ignite homes is something that is necessary in Marin."
Fire Safe Marin does not endorse individual contractors listed in the guide. Homeowners should verify licenses through the California Contractors State License Board before hiring.
The organization encourages homeowners to ask insurers which improvements may qualify for premium discounts and what documentation is needed. Risk reduction does not guarantee coverage or renewal.
The Marin Builders Association and the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority also supported the program. A Marin Community Foundation grant funded the course. A Spanish-language version of the course is in development.
