Living with Wildfire

The 2003 and 2007 wildfires are vivid reminders that:

• We live in a fire-adapted place and are “between wildfires”
• Our natural environment is powerful and fragile
• We know how structures ignite and how structures were “saved”
• We can “do something about it,” by identifying risks at our own house
• We can make low-cost retrofit and maintenance changes to reduce wildfire risks

Business and Ecology Consulting “educates to action,” providing homeowners and communities with tools for identifying and reducing wildfire property risks, sustaining natural environments, and minimizing costs.  We offer five services in southern California, in cooperation with local wildfire experts. 

Click to get more information about each program.

Living with Wildfire Class is for homeowners, business owners, and community leaders. This three-hour course provides accurate, up-to-date information about the benefits of designing and maintaining ignition-resistant structures, managing defensible space and natural habitats, removing combustible materials from the homesite, and working together to increase wildfire preparedness.

Living with Wildfire Program for Homeowners’ Associations (HOAs) is designed for HOA boards, property managers, apartment owners, and homeowners.  The program includes a needs assessment meeting, the Living with Wildfire class, completion of structural and landscape assessments for individual units and common spaces, and an action plan for homeowners and for the HOA.

Living with Wildfire Program for FireSafe Councils (FSCs) supports emerging and established FireSafe Councils with the Living with Wildfire class, completion of structural and landscape assessments by homeowners to achieve a community-level wildfire risk assessment, and an action plan for homeowners and the FireSafe Council.

Wildfire Education for Professionals is taught to landscape contractors, architects, planners, fire professionals, realtors, insurance agents, and other professionals who advise and work for property owners.  They add value for their clients by providing accurate, effective information about the benefits of designing and maintaining ignition-resistant structures and managing defensible space and natural habitats.

Success Stories 2008 are short descriptions of programs completed in 2008, reaching more than 1200 homeowners and local professionals.

Staff and local experts have decades of experience in wildfire science, education, fire management, building standards, and landscape design.