Helping Homeowners And Businesses Protect Their Property From Wildfire
Using our proprietary software, our Assessments evaluate your risk regarding:
* Home Hardening
* Defensible Space
* Supplemental Water Supply
This is followed by a comprehensive but easy-to-follow
* Customized Action Plan with your priorities
About Us
Melodie Durham - Retired Fire Chief
31 Years with CAL FIRE
Mark Durham - General Contractor
40 Years of Construction Experience
Mark is a well-respected contractor with decades of experience building and remodeling homes throughout the Bay Area. In addition to his construction work, he has spent several years assisting homeowners and businesses in the aftermath of natural disasters, conducting site evaluations and helping clients navigate the process of obtaining federal assistance.
Recently, Mark began receiving more inquiries from clients wanting to better protect their homes from the growing threat of wildfire. With a solid foundation in home hardening already, he turned to someone he trusted for expert insight, his sister, Melodie Durham, a retired CAL FIRE Chief of Wildland Fire Prevention, Engineering, and Investigations. He asked her to assess the defensible space and supplemental water systems on a few job sites.
Melodie retired after 31 years with CAL FIRE, having served throughout California in various firefighting and leadership roles. Like all firefighters, she’s conducted countless defensible space inspections, but her perspective is shaped by firsthand experience protecting homes during active wildfires, seeing exactly which mitigation measures make a difference.
After 25 years in the field, and her subsequent promotion to CAL FIRE’s statewide Chief of Fire Prevention, she collaborated with other agencies, the building industry, legislators, the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS), and the California Department of Insurance, all in service of preventing fires and helping property owners improve the survivability of their homes and communities.
The opportunity to consult with Mark and help his clients was a natural fit and something they both enjoyed. Their combined expertise proved to be a powerful asset to the homeowners they were helping and that success inspired them to formally team up and create Matrix Fire Solutions, a unique partnership dedicated to helping people improve their wildfire resilience.
They look forward, enthusiastically, to putting their shared experience to work, helping more homeowners and businesses prepare, protect, and thrive
Our Services
Site Assessment followed by Detailed Action Plan
We spend 2 - 3 hours on-site, with you, conducting a detailed walkthrough to evaluate:
Defensible Space: Assessing vegetation clearance and spacing
Home Hardening Measures: Inspecting vents gutters, roof, siding and other structural elements
Supplemental Water Supply Options: Exploring additional water resources for firefighting
Insurance Considerations: Discussing strategies that may help reduce your homeowners insurance premiums.
On-site Wildfire Risk Assessment
Your Customized Action Plan
Following the assessment, you’ll receive a detailed, easy to follow report featuring:
Photographs highlighting specific areas of concern
A tailored Action Plan with prioritized recommendations.
Information on your property’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone
Applicable CAL FIRE and local fire department requirements
Indentification of any Fire Safe Council or Firewise USA® community affiliations.
Recommendations for Specialty Contractors or Services
Depending on which measures you choose to implement, we assist you by providing options for specific, licensed contractors and service providers to accomplish each task. We are also available for follow up site visits after measures have been implemented to confirm they have been completed per the Plan of Action. And to provide a detailed report with video and photos for you to share if needed.
Pre-construction Site Inspections to Evaluate Defensible Space, Home Hardening and Supplemental Water Supply recommendations
Prior to beginning new construction or remodels, we can assist you in planning for home hardening, defensible space and supplemental water supply systems.
Assessments or Reports Needed for Insurance Companies, Real Estate Transactions or Other Entities
Our Pricing
IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home Base or Plus Certification Assessment
The Insurance Institue for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) Wildfire Prepared Home designation program enables homeowners to obtain the Wildfire Prepared Home - Base or Plus certification. This certification can help homeowners keep from having to move to the California Fair Plan or may possibly help you obtain discounts on your homeowners policy. Your insurance agent can help you/us understand the possible benefits to you specifically.
The base price for an IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home - Base or Plus Assessment is the same as our primary Wildfire Risk and Mitigation Assessment plus the non-refundable $125 fee required by IBHS.
Base price = $620
Wildfire Risk and Mitigation Assessment
Our most requested service!
This 2 - 3 hour on-site assessment provides a thorough evaluation of your property’s wildfire vulnerability. We walk the property with you to review existing defensible space and home hardening measures as well as supplemental water supply options. You’ll receive expert guidance on what’s working, what needs improvement and how to align with best practices.
We follow up with a comprehensive and easy-to-follow report with a customized action plan, noting your prioritized recommendations. We also identify your Fire Hazard Severity Zone, Firewise USA and Fire Safe Council status and offer support for IBHS Wildfire Prepared HomeTcertification to help you qualify for insurance discounts.
Base price = $495
For up to 3000 sq ft home on 1/2 acre or less.
3001 - 4000 sq ft = $545
4001 - 5000 sq ft = $595
1/2 acre to 1 acre - add $50
1 - 2 acres - add $100
2 - 5 acres - add $150
Over 5000 sq ft, over 5 acres or additional structures on property, please call for quote
AB 38 Real Estate Inspection
Note - CAL FIRE or your local fire departments may provide these inspections free of charge.
Assembly Bill 38 requires sellers of real property located in a High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone to provide the buyer with documentation stating the property is in compliance with Defensible Space requirements.
We can provide this evaluation as part of our regular Wildfire Risk and Mitigation Assessment with an additional charge of $75 to obtain and complete the additional documentation and forward it to the applicable parties.
Base price - $570
{See pricing modifiers under Wildfire Risk and Mitigation Assessment}
We can also use the AB 38 criteria required by CAL FIRE or your local fire department to conduct this less comprehensive assessment but one that meets these requirements.
Base price - $425
We genuinely look forward to helping you protect your property from the increasing threat of wildfire. Please email, call or text us to schedule an evaluation. We look forward to hearing from you!