About FireScores

Why this exists

After every major wildfire, post-event surveys reach the same conclusion: the homes that survive aren't the ones farthest from the fire. They're the ones with a Class A roof, ember-resistant vents, a clean 5-foot perimeter, and a few other unglamorous details handled correctly.

That information exists — CAL FIRE, IBHS, NFPA, and county fire departments have all published guidance. But it's scattered across dozens of PDFs, and almost nobody walks their own home with a 29-item checklist on a Saturday afternoon. FireScores closes that gap with a guided photo inspection and an AI grader that turns the checklist into a single 0–100 score and a prioritized action list.

How the score is calculated

The score is a weighted pass rate across the 29 checkpoints, with higher weights on the items that matter most to wildfire survival — roof class, vent screening, the 5-foot Zone 0, and attached combustibles. The full methodology, including the category weights, is on the Methodology page.

What FireScores is not

FireScores is not a CAL FIRE designation, an insurance discount, or a substitute for a professional defensible-space inspection. It is a self-assessment tool that uses computer vision to grade photos against published wildfire home-hardening guidance. Treat the score as a starting point — when it flags something, fix it (or get a qualified contractor to fix it).

Sources we draw from

• California Board of Forestry & Fire Protection defensible-space regulations (PRC 4291, AB 3074)
• CAL FIRE Ready, Set, Go! and "Hardening Your Home" publications
• Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) Wildfire Prepared Home standard
• NFPA 1144: Standard for Reducing Structure Ignition Hazards
• El Dorado County and other Northern California county wildfire-readiness guides

Contact

Questions, corrections, or partnership inquiries? See the Contact page.