Our Team
About Us: Stuart Mitchell
Stuart Mitchell
Founder & Lead Consultant
Besides doing private consulting, Stuart Mitchell's varied background includes being a contractor with the nonprofit Fire Safe Sonoma. He has conducted over 1,000 home assessments in the North Bay, as well as produced presentations on preparing for wildfires in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), on Zoom and in person.
He served as a FEMA trained Crisis Counselor for the Sonoma Complex Fires, is certified in Community Emergency Response Team implementation, and has been a Director of various nonprofit mental health programs.
Stuart has completed graduate work in Environmental Health Management and holds a degree in Cultural Anthropology/Physical Geography. He completed S290 Intermediate Wildfire Behavior through the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and he is a Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist through the NFPA, a coveted certification that only about 200 people nationwide possess.
Stuart Mitchell surveying wildfire aftermath. This is the hands-on experience behind every WMA assessment.
Our Team
Ian Tobia
GIS & Geospatial Specialist
Ian has a diverse background in environmental sciences, land and resource management, and geospatial science. He provides technical assistance and develops geospatial data products to support WMA's mission.
Mark Mazza
Firefighter Paramedic
Mark has 25 years of experience as a firefighter paramedic. He is a Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist and provides keen observations and extensive field experience to consulting efforts.
Andrew Carrillo
Project Manager
Andrew is a Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist who has worked on many properties affected by fire. He has a proven track record of managing defensible space and structure hardening projects.
How We Stay Independent
Your assessment fee is the only payment we receive for your assessment. We do not perform mitigation work, and we accept no per-referral fees or commissions tied to the work that follows. Every recommendation is driven by NFPA standards and your property's actual conditions.
Standards-Based Recommendations
Every recommendation follows NFPA and IBHS standards. We do not steer work toward any vendor or product.
You Choose Who Does the Work
We can connect you with contractors we trust, but you always choose who does the work. We disclose any relationship at the time of referral.
Assessment and Advisory Are Separate
Stuart advises other organizations on wildfire strategy. That advisory work is a separate engagement and does not change what goes in your assessment report.
Affiliations, Not Endorsements
We collaborate with Fire Safe Councils, technology companies, and contractors across the industry. These affiliations reflect shared mission, not paid placements.
We believe more qualified wildfire mitigation professionals are needed, and we actively support organizations working toward the same goal. Where we have a paid advisory or referral relationship, we disclose it. Independence is not about avoiding all relationships. It is about making sure those relationships never dictate what we tell you about your property.
As Seen In
Stuart Mitchell and WMA featured in media and industry publications
Watch & Learn
Wildfire Education and Media
Stuart Mitchell and Wildfire Mitigation Advisors featured in national documentaries and educational content on wildfire preparedness.
Resilience on the Frontline: Where Cities Meet Nature
Beneath the Surface, Episode 28 (Rockwool)
Stuart Mitchell featured in this documentary exploring wildfire mitigation in the Wildland-Urban Interface. Over 850,000 views on YouTube.
Understanding Zone Zero
Wildfire Mitigation Advisors
A quick look at the most critical area around your home: the first five feet. This zone determines whether embers ignite your house or burn out harmlessly.
Wildfire Prepared Home
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
IBHS explains the science-based program that helps homeowners earn a Wildfire Prepared Home designation through structural hardening and defensible space.
Affiliations & Collaborators
We work alongside organizations, product makers, and service providers who share our commitment to wildfire safety. These are professional relationships, not paid placements on this page.
Listing here does not constitute an endorsement. WMA recommends solutions based on standards and your property's needs, not affiliations.
Redwood Fire Protection
Advisory
Watch Duty
Wildfire Alerts
Fire Safe Sonoma
Community Safety
Fire Safe Marin
Community Safety
EcologiCal Solutions
Vegetation Management
ECOS Land Services
Land Services
Permaculture Artisans
Landscape Design
Wildfire Defense Mesh
Structural Protection
Komodo Defense Systems
Fire Retardant
Firefree Coatings
Fire Retardant
Fire Safe Signs
Address Signage
Advisory Collaboration
Advising Redwood Fire Protection
Redwood Fire Protection (RFP) is a fire defense startup led by President Jack Kimmich, who jumped into action during the Palisades Fire with just-in-time applications of flame retardant to home parcels and neighborhoods. Along with Steve Wolf of Team Wildfire and landscape architect Rhadiante Van de Voorde, RFP has assembled a skilled group of fire prevention professionals.
Stuart Mitchell advises RFP as a paid consultant, providing overall guidance on site-specific wildfire interventions. This advisory work is a separate engagement from WMA's property assessment practice and does not influence what goes into your assessment report.
Note: WMA's assessment recommendations are based on NFPA standards and your property's specific conditions. Stuart's advisory role with RFP is disclosed here for transparency and does not affect the independence of any client assessment.
Protect What Matters
Why Is a Wildfire Mitigation Assessment Important?
For those who have experienced the effects of wildfire in Sonoma, Napa and Marin Counties, taking protective measures to prevent wildfire from damaging or destroying property is obvious.
We Identify Your Specific Threats
We walk your property and find every vulnerability, from vegetation clearance to roof materials to ember pathways. Nothing gets missed.
We Prioritize What to Fix First
Not everything needs to happen at once. We rank each item by risk level so you know where your dollar has the most impact.
We Show You the Fastest Path Forward
You get a clear action plan with timelines, estimated costs, and next steps. No guesswork, no confusion.
Insurance Benefits
Steps you take based on our recommendations can positively affect your insurance coverage, including home hardening and defensible space.
Community Protection
When your property is properly mitigated, the outcomes for your entire neighborhood and community improve.
Property Value
A certified wildfire mitigation assessment on file increases buyer confidence and adds value when it comes time to sell.
Why Choose Wildfire Mitigation Advisors?
We have helped over 1,000 property owners see exactly what threatens their home and build a plan to fix it.
As one of the first wildfire risk assessment firms in Sonoma, Napa, and Marin Counties, we bring NFPA-certified expertise and local knowledge. Your assessment fee is the only payment we receive for your assessment. We do not perform mitigation work, and we accept no per-referral fees or commissions tied to the work that follows. Every recommendation is based on standards and your property's actual needs.
About Wildfire Mitigation Advisors
Common questions about our team, service area, and partnerships
Learn more about our team, partnerships, and wildfire expertise
