California Fire Safe Council (CFSC) is pleased to continue supporting wildfire resilience through the 2023 Edison International Home Hardening Program. Funding for this program is provided to CFSC by Edison International. In Year 2 of the program, CFSC awarded a combined total of $922,000.00 in grant funds to Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council (VRFSC) and Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council (SBCFSC) to educate, empower, and mobilize individuals in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties through planning, risk reduction, home hardening education, assessments, and retrofits.
As the program continues, these investments are supporting homeowners as they take action to strengthen their properties and improve wildfire resilience.
ONE STEP CAN SPARK A LONGER JOURNEY.
Through CFSC’s Edison International Home Hardening Grant Program, a Santa Barbara homeowner received financial assistance for a new fire-resistant metal gate around his property. The project gave the homeowner an opportunity to make an immediate improvement while also motivating him to continue investing in additional home-hardening measures.
Since then, the property has incorporated a range of wildfire-resistant features, including:
- Fire-resistant metal gates
- A metal roof
- Noncombustible siding
- Class A-rated Ipe hardwood enclosed eaves
- A steel garage designed to resemble wood
- More than five feet of noncombustible materials surrounding the home
Through these efforts, the homeowner has maximized wildfire resilience outcomes while maintaining the home’s beauty and aesthetics.
The project demonstrates the potential impact of targeted home-hardening assistance. Funding does not have to cover every improvement to make a difference. In this case, support for one project helped create momentum for the homeowner to continue strengthening his property.
By helping homeowners take action, CFSC’s Edison International Home Hardening Grant Program can encourage broader investments in wildfire resilience and help create safer, more prepared communities.
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2023 Edison International Home Hardening Program Awarded Projects
Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council
$461,000.00 Awarded
The 2023 Edison International Home Hardening Program continues to strengthen wildfire resilience at both the household and neighborhood level, with a particular focus on those most vulnerable to wildfire impacts in Ventura County. Building on VRFSC’s established foundation of home wildfire assessments and resident grant support, the program expands its strategy to emphasize neighborhood-scale protection, targeted outreach, low-cost home hardening improvements, and the promotion of noncombustible Zone 0 retrofits in anticipation of upcoming building code changes. The program also continues to build capacity, positioning VRFSC to implement additional home hardening retrofits in the future.
Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council
$461,000.00 Awarded
The Edison International Home Hardening Program continues to support the Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council as they integrate financial assistance with educational efforts to address the growing need for home hardening retrofits. Through this ongoing work, the Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council empowers residents to take meaningful steps to protect their homes and families, with a focus on vulnerable populations such as older adults, low-income households, and those in high-risk areas. Together, these efforts continue to strengthen the overall fire resilience of communities across Santa Barbara County.
Since 2018, the California Fire Safe Council has partnered with Edison International to provide more than $1,600,000 in grants to 44 organizations in the Southern California Edison service territory. These programs have helped to build wildfire resilience by increasing the capacity for local Fire Safe Councils and others to lead, staff, plan, organize, and implement wildfire recovery within their communities.
QUESTIONS?
For all Edison International Grant Program inquiries, please contact Gabriela Erazo Smith, Senior Grant Specialist at gerazo@cafiresafecouncil.org, or Jared Peri, Fire Safe Communities Program Manager, at jperi@cafiresafecouncil.org.
The California Fire Safe Council (CFSC) supports communities across the state in wildfire preparedness and resiliency through grant funding, programmatic support, and technical assistance. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
