Since October 2023, Skywood Acres has been a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recognized Firewise USA community, for our ongoing efforts to reduce wildfire risk. Whether you’re new to the neighborhood or have been here for years, here’s why it’s worth participating:
We do the research for you. The program gives you a clear framework for what actions to take to protect your property — the best available, up-to-date guidance on reducing wildfire risk.
We help you make a plan. You’ll learn what to do before, during, and after a fire, with tips from neighbors already in the program. Working together builds a stronger, more prepared community.
It can help with your insurance. California’s Safer from Wildfires regulation requires insurers to factor community wildfire safety efforts into their rates. Combined with your own defensible space work, participation can help when it comes to your homeowner’s insurance.
There is money available to help. The Town of Woodside’s matching fund reimburses up to $3,000 (50% of eligible costs) for defensible space and home hardening projects. We can help you with that process.
It’s easy. Once a year you’ll fill out a short form about fire safety work you’ve done on your property — most of it things you’re probably already doing. It takes a few minutes and help keeps our recognition active.
It’s the law. WFPD’s Fuel Mitigation Ordinance 24-01 requires all property owners in our area to maintain defensible space year-round. If you sell your home, AB 38 requires proof of compliance. The Firewise program helps you stay on top of these requirements.
If you have questions or would like further information please contact:
Art Muir, Skywood Acres Firewise Program Lead — art.muir@gmail.com
This program was founded and led by Carolina Blake from 2022 to 2025. Her dedication helped build Skywood Acres into a recognized Firewise community.
Step-1: Apply for the Woodside Defensible Space Assessment (Note: This free assessment will help you get ahead of WFPD's Fuel Mitigation Ordinance (24-01) which requires defensible space compliance.)
Step-2: Apply for the Woodside Defensible Space and Home Hardening Matching Fund Program
Step-3: Harden your home and remove fuel sources near your home
Remove of leaf debris from roofs, rain gutters, and from around home foundations.
Replace non-compliant soffit, attic and sub-floor vents with ember arresting units
Make other home upgrades as recommended by the Ready-Set-Go program.
When remodeling or maintaining their homes to choose home hardening options such as: Class A roofing, non-flammable fencing, cement board or stucco siding, double paned, tempered windows.
Remove vegetation and combustibles within 5 feet of structures.
Remove fire prone vegetation within 30 feet of structures, especially Scotch Broom, Juniper, Italian Cypress, Bamboo, Acacia and Pampas Grass.
Learn about the WFPD free chipping program if you have fuels such as brush or limbs to dispose of - book your free chipper day here.
Step-4: Learn about the WPV-Ready preparedness basics: (Stay Informed, Make a Plan, Get a "Go-Bag")
Step-5: Learn more about preparing for a fire and/or other disasters on the WPV-Ready site
Step-6: Leverage the CalFire preparedness site - Ready, Set, Go! - resources to help you plan, prepare and act.
Learn more about wildfire safety through the Defensible Space Program
Information about building a "Go Bag"
Calfire: Emergency Kit
Ready•Gov: Build-a-kit
US Dept. of State: Go bag and Stay bag
Roadside parking guidelines - ensure 24/7 emergency vehicle access (Woodside Sheriff to provide)
WFPD free chipping program
Woodside Defensible Space and Home Hardening Matching Fund Program
Fire Safe Marin video on how to evacuate safely during a fire. This video is very insightful, everyone should watch it at least once
Get essential fire updates in your inbox - sign up for Woodside Fire Protection District's eNotification system
Skywood Evacuation Route - PDF (opens in a new page)
Central La Honda Emergency Evacuation Plan - PDF (opens in a new page)
Firewise toolkits quick reference educational materials for wildfire preparedness
Defensible Space and Home Hardening Matching Fund Program Information
Defensible Space and Home Hardening Application and Assessment Form
California FAIR plan - find-a-broker page - PDF (opens in a new page)
Insurance non-renewal help from United Policyholders, a 501(c) (3) organization PDF (opens in a new page)
Safer from Wildfires (main page):
Safer from Wildfires FAQ (PDF):
Calif Dept of Insurance Commissioner Lara’s 2022 press release on mandatory discounts
CAL FIRE has released updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps for Local Responsibility Areas (LRA). These maps assess wildfire hazards based on physical landscape conditions such as fuel loading, slope, fire weather, and other key factors, including wind—major contributors to wildfire spread. The maps categorize areas into three hazard levels: moderate, high, and very high.
While these maps do not determine insurance rates, catastrophic risk is considered in fire insurance modeling. Additionally, they play a critical role in guiding future safety regulations, building codes, and emergency planning efforts.
We encourage the community to review these updated maps, now available on our website under the Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps tab. The maps are open for public review and comment.
For more details on the rollout and adoption process, visit www.woodsidefire.org.
1. Can the local agency, decrease the severity levels identified on the State Fire Marshal’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps?
No, the local agency cannot decrease the level of fire hazard severity zones as identified on the State Fire Marshal maps. Government Code 51179(b)(3). The local agency can do the following:
Include areas within the District, Town or County not identified as very high fire hazard severity zones by the State Fire Marshal, as very high fire hazard severity zones following a finding supported by substantial evidence in the record that such designations are necessary for effective fire protection within the area. Government Code 51179(b)(1).
Include areas within the District, Town or County, not identified as moderate and high fire hazard severity zones by the State Fire Marshal, as moderate and high fire hazard severity zones, respectively. Government Code 51179(b)(2).
Increase the level of fire hazard severity zone as identified by the State Fire Marshal for any area within the District, Town or County. Government Code 51179(b)(3). 2
2. Will the Adoption of the State Fire Marshal Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps supersede the District’s Fuel Mitigation Ordinance (Ordinance 24-01)?
No, the adoption of the State Fire Marshal maps does not impact the District’s Fuel Mitigation Ordinance. The adoption of the State Fire Marshal maps does not limit or restrict the authority of the District to impose more restrictive fire and public safety requirements, as otherwise authorized by law. Government Code 51175(c).
The District may adopt ordinances, rules, or regulations to provide fire prevention restrictions or regulations that are necessary to meet local conditions of weather, vegetation, or other fire hazards. Such ordinances, rules, or regulations may be more restrictive than state statutes in order to meet local fire hazard conditions. Public Resources Code 4117.
3. What is the purpose of the Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps?
The maps assess wildfire hazard levels based on physical conditions that contribute to fire spread, helping to guide building codes, emergency planning, and fire safety regulations. Reminder: You are not at less risk just because you are in a lower hazard zone.
4. Do these maps impact my insurance rates?
No, the maps themselves do not determine insurance rates. However, catastrophic risk data, which includes wildfire hazard information, is often considered in fire insurance modeling. See the available FAQs on this topic: Insurance Q&A from Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara
5. How are hazard levels categorized?
Areas are classified into three hazard levels: moderate, high, and very high based on factors like fuel availability, topography, and historical fire weather patterns.
6. Where can I review the updated maps?
The maps are available on our website under the Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps tab.
7. Can I provide feedback on the maps?
Yes! The maps are open for public review and comment. Visit our website for details on how to submit your input.
8. Who can I contact for more information?
For additional details, please visit Fire Hazard Severity Zone page on our website or contact our office directly, (650) 851-1594.
Stay informed. Stay prepared.
The Town of Woodside is committed to reducing the threat of wildfire in our community. In support of this effort, the Town Council has established and continues to fund the DEFENSIBLE SPACE AND HOME HARDENING MATCHING FUND PROGRAM.
Each program year is from July 1st through June 30th.
Defensible Space is the area between a house and an oncoming wildfire where the vegetation has been modified and/or maintained in a way that significantly reduces fire fuel loads and the wildfire threat and provides an opportunity for firefighters to more effectively defend the house. Additionally, defensible space needs to be established and maintained a minimum of 30 feet from the perimeter of the property. The following activities are examples of ways to create defensible space:
Removal of dead brush and woody debris;
Mowing annual dry grasses;
“Limbing up” trees that are within 100 feet of a structure;
Removal of trees for fire protection as recommended by the Woodside Fire Protection District.
The following home hardening projects are also eligible for reimbursement under the program:
Replacement of an existing wood shake roof with a non-wood shake roof (click here for re-roof permit information);
Installation of non-combustible ember-resistant vent screens and/or chimney spark arrestors;
Installation of an approved seismic gas shut-off device or valve that will shut off gas automatically in an earthquake.
The purpose of the Town’s Defensible Space and Home Hardening Matching Fund Program is to encourage Woodside residents to create and maintain defensible space around their homes and the perimeter of their properties and take actions to make their homes more fire resistant through the provision of a matching fund grant to help offset the cost of this undertaking.
For approved projects, the Town will reimburse you 50% of the cost of creating defensible space and/or home hardening, up to a maximum of $3,000.
To apply:
Obtain an application and contact the Woodside Fire Protection District at 851-1594 to schedule a Defensible Space/Home Hardening Assessment.
Bring the completed and signed Application and Assessment to Woodside Town Hall.
Town staff will notify you if the application has been approved.
After receipt of the approved application, you may have the defensible space and/or home hardening work done on your property.
Submit a copy of your Defensible Space/Home Hardening Assessment to Town Hall indicating which items have been completed. Include copies of paid invoices for the work.
The Town will reimburse you for 50% of the accomplished work, up to a total of $3,000.
Below is the latest information from our Fire Marshall as of February of 2025:
“Changes to Chipping Program - we are asking for help from residents to help out the fire district by signing up to reserve their pickup service. Dates are released 30 days prior to pick up with another reminder 7 days. Dates are pretty much the same as previous years with slight variation. This year is a transitional period for residents to adjust to this new process. We will continue to work with residents as needed for those neighborhoods with slope challenges. This change will allow us to spend less time with data entry and focus on all the other projects and outreach we are doing. It also eliminates the need for fuel mitigation crews to come in on their days off to scout routes according to the piles that are put out. In addition, this will assist in collecting great data for number of residents that participated, how many piles and the amount of chipping done. The ability to report this is a big benefit for firewise communities as well as applications for grants where we have raw data that supports our activity and efforts in fuel reduction”
PDF Resources for Firewise preparation
Our own Terry Walters was kind enough to share these two documents with us to help with Firewise preparation and preparedness.
The first is Terry's Home Hardening Guide for Firewise preparation. This is photolog of Terry's observations and efforts to prepare his home for a wildfire.
The second is a sobering look at the Pacific Palisades before/after the January 2025 fire. There are some lessons in this document that show how much difference proper preparation can make in terms of home survival in a wildfire.