Wildfire Preparedness Blog
Insights from the Field
Expert articles on wildfire preparedness, home hardening, defensible space, and lessons learned from real fires across California. Written by Stuart Mitchell, NFPA Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist.
Plan A and Plan B: When homeowners will NOT do the right thing
I'm taking a small risk by writing this post because for many years as an objective wildfire risk consultant I have stood by the standards set forth by IBHS, NFPA, Fire Adapted Communities.org and other reputable organizations.
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Wildfire Mitigation Advisors has locked arms with Redwood Fire Protection
Earlier this year, Redwood Fire Protection asked Stuart Mitchell to consult on their new start up, becoming their lead mitigation assessment expert.
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Scientists Scramble to Track LA Wildfires' Long-Term Health Impacts
There are many factors to keep in mind regarding wildfire mitigation, but a top priority for Wildfire Mitigation Advisors is the impact of Urban Conflagrations on human health and ecological systems.
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WMA Speaks at the 2025 California Green Building Conference
On May 22, 2025, I was honored to present alongside architects Natasha Juliana and Ann Edminster on wildfire preparedness at the 2025 US Green Building Conference at Fort Mason in San Francisco.
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Getting Prepared for Wildfire Season: California Rangeland Trust Podcast
California's rangeland is vast and deserves protection as an economic, cultural, and ecological resource. The California Rangeland Trust oversees 400,000 plus acres.
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Sustainable Enterprise Conference: Presentation on Adapting to Wildfire
On March 27, 2025 I had the pleasure of presenting at the 2025 Sustainable Enterprise Conference at SOMO Village in Rohnert Park. My presentation titled "Adapting to Wildfire: Control What You Can Control" covered many important topics.
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The L.A. Winter Firestorm: Control What We Can Control
What is a productive way to view the first responder response to the LA firestorm and how can we help them do their jobs while protecting our home?
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A Film That Puts Wildfire in a New Perspective
ELEMENTAL: REIMAGINE WILDFIRE comes highly rated by Wildfire Mitigation Advisors. With narrator David Oyelowo the film captures the multiple facets of wildfire.
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WMA's Stuart Mitchell Interview
NTD TV Good Morning Show interviewed Stuart Mitchell, among others, in their article "Wildfire Experts Share Tips on Weather, Preventative Measures, and Retardants to Help Keep Your Home Safe."
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Ember Stomp Fire Fair
On September 7, 2024 WMA attended the Ember Stomp Fire Fair, sponsored by Fire Safe Marin and the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority. Thousands of people attended with many excellent demonstrations.
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Park Fire: Butte County CA
At about 3 PM on 7/24/24 and under red flag conditions, the Park Fire started in Upper Bidwell Park by an alleged arsonist and had a rapid Rate of Spread of approximately 5,000 acres per hour.
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Post-Point Fire Property Assessment
Last week WMA conducted a wildfire mitigation assessment with a resident who lives in the evacuation zone of the Point Fire. Fortunately, the family was connected to the local COPE group.
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Wind Is the Enemy
This Press Democrat newspaper article about the Point Fire highlights the threat that wind-blown embers create, as ignitions jump from location to location.
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Early Start to Fire Season
At about 12:45 PM on Sunday, June 16, 2024 the Point Fire started south of Lake Sonoma and entered the W. Dry Creek Rd. neighborhood northwest of Healdsburg, CA.
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Wildfire Mitigation Advisors Public Message
We have a featured ad on KRCB, Northern California Public Media in Sonoma County, CA.
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Canadian Smoke Update
National news has recently been consumed by coverage of serious smoke conditions emanating from the massive Canadian wildfires. Did you know that as of 6/5/23, 10 million acres have already burned?
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Every article we write comes from real field experience. If you want a prioritized action plan for your home, winery, or commercial property in Sonoma County, schedule your assessment today.
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