Free Program
Get a Free Home Ignition Zone Assessment
A trained SPAWP specialist will walk your property, evaluate your home’s wildfire vulnerability, and give you a clear, prioritized plan for what to do first — at no cost to you.
The Process
Simple. Free. Tailored to Your Property.
Here’s how the assessment works from start to finish — the whole process takes just a few weeks from signup to action plan in hand.
Step 1
Sign Up
Fill out our short interest form. We'll confirm your eligibility and add you to the schedule.
Step 2
Schedule Your Visit
A SPAWP coordinator will reach out to arrange a convenient time. Most visits are scheduled within 2–4 weeks.
Step 3
Property Walkthrough
A trained specialist visits your property and walks all three HIZ zones with you, noting vulnerabilities and quick wins.
Step 4
Get Your Action Plan
You receive a written report with prioritized recommendations — organized by zone and urgency, so you know exactly where to start.
The Science Behind It
Understanding Your Home Ignition Zone
The Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) is the area around your home where conditions determine whether your house survives a wildfire. Research from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) and CSFS shows that most homes ignite not from direct flame contact, but from embers landing in vulnerable spots — often the roof, vents, and the 5-foot zone immediately surrounding the foundation.
The Three Zones
0–5 ft
Immediate Zone
The most critical area. Remove all combustible material — pine needles, mulch, wood piles, doormats. Use noncombustible materials like gravel or stone. This is where most homes ignite.
5–30 ft
Intermediate Zone
Space trees and shrubs so flames can't ladder up or travel between canopies. Keep grass mowed short. Remove dead branches within 6 ft of the ground. Move firewood and propane 30+ ft from the home.
30–100 ft
Extended Zone
Thin trees to 10+ ft spacing between canopies. Remove dead trees and dense brush. Use driveways, paths, and gravel beds as natural fuel breaks.
What the Specialist Evaluates
The specialist evaluates both your defensible space (the land around the home) and your home's structural ignitability. Together these give you a full picture of your HIZ risk.
Roof & Gutters
Material, debris accumulation, vent screening
Vents & Openings
Screens, gaps, crawl space protection
Siding & Decks
Materials, gaps at foundation, combustibles stored beneath
Vegetation
Species, spacing, ladder fuels, canopy continuity
Zone 1 Surface
Mulch type, debris, noncombustible buffers
Access & Egress
Driveway width, overhead clearance, turnaround space
Eligibility
Who Can Sign Up?
SPAWP’s free property assessments are available to homeowners and landowners in our seven-county service area. You don’t need to be a SPAWP member, a volunteer, or have done any prior mitigation work.
✅ You're a great fit if you:
- Own property in Huerfano, Las Animas, Costilla, Pueblo, Custer, Fremont, or Teller County
- Want to know your specific risks but aren't sure where to start
- Have already done some mitigation work and want a professional review
- Are interested in applying for mitigation cost-share grants (an assessment is often a helpful first step)
Counties Served
SPAWP's assessment program covers all seven counties in our service area:
Not sure if you qualify?
Contact us and we'll help you figure it out.
Contact SPAWP →Free ·2026
Request Your Free Assessment
Fill out the short form and a SPAWP coordinator will be in touch to schedule your visit. Most requests are responded to within 3–5 business days.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this really free?
Yes. SPAWP’s 2025 HIZ assessments are fully funded by the CSFS Forest Restoration & Wildfire Risk Mitigation (FRWRM) grant and made possible by donor support. There is no cost to the property owner.
How long does an assessment take?
Most assessments take 1–2 hours depending on property size. The specialist will walk your full property with you, so plan to be present for the visit.
Do I need to do anything before the assessment?
No special preparation is needed. You’ll get the most value if you’re present and ready to ask questions — but you don’t need to clear anything or do any prep work in advance.
What will I receive after the assessment?
You’ll receive a written assessment report with a prioritized list of recommended actions, organized by zone and urgency. The report is yours to keep and reference as you complete mitigation work over time.
What counties are eligible?
SPAWP’s 2025 assessment program serves property owners in all seven counties in our service area:
I own multiple properties — can I request more than one assessment?
Please contact us directly to discuss multiple properties. We’ll do our best to accommodate as many requests as our grant funding allows.
What's the difference between an HIZ Assessment and a workshop?
These are two different programs that serve different purposes:
A free property assessment is a one-on-one visit to your specific property by a trained SPAWP specialist. It’s personalized to your land, your home, and your situation — you leave with a written action plan for your own property.
The HIZ Assessment Workshop is a community event for Neighborhood Ambassadors where groups learn to conduct assessments themselves. It’s a “teach-the-teacher” model for community leaders.
What's Next
Other Ways to Get Prepared
Get Prepared
Start working on your defensible space, home hardening, and emergency plan with our step-by-step guide.
Explore Get Prepared →Become an Ambassador
Lead wildfire preparedness in your neighborhood. We'll give you the training, tools, and support you need.
Learn About the Program →Attend an Event
Join a workshop, slash pile day, or community preparedness event near you.
See Upcoming Events →Help Us Keep This Program Running
Free assessments are made possible by grants and donor support. Your tax-deductible gift helps us reach more homeowners and keep this program funded for future years.