Berkeley Fire Launches Home Hardening Mesh Program

The Berkeley Fire Department is launching a new initiative, the Home Hardening Mesh Program, which will contribute to wildfire mitigation and home hardening best practices in the Berkeley hills.

Residents can use the Home Hardening Mesh Program’s free metal mesh and gutter guards to cover their home’s vent openings to prevent embers from igniting their homes and to cover their gutters to stop the accumulation of combustible materials.

If residents have received a full access Defensible Space Inspection, then they qualify for the HomeHardening Mesh Program.

BFD has several programs that help reduce wildfire risks in the Berkeley hills. The Home Hardening Mesh Program will help homeowners protect their homes by preventing home ignition from embers which are most likely to ignite a home during a wildfire. Fire Chief David Sprague said, “Our goal is for firefighters and residents to work together to transition Berkeley into a FireSafe community.”

If you qualify, visit the berkeleyfiresafe.org/programs page and apply with the linked form to receive free metal mesh and gutter guards.

For more information about the Home Hardening Mesh Program, go to berkeleyfiresafe.org/programs