Free DYI Checklist Guidance
Free Help for Those Who Need It
The checklist walkthrough is a free service for homeowners who want professional guidance on wildfire mitigation but aren't in a position to pay for an assessment.
We walk you through our self-assessment checklist in person, on your property, and help you understand how it applies to what you've actually got in front of you.
This is community work, not business development. If you're dealing with financial hardship, fixed income, recent non-renewal, or any situation where professional wildfire mitigation services feel out of reach — this offering exists for you.
Why This Exists
There are working families, longtime residents, fixed-income retirees, and people recovering from setbacks who live in wildfire country and need to protect their homes.
Those homeowners deserve the same quality of information as anyone else. They often can't afford to hire a wildfire mitigation contractor, can't qualify for WRWC cost-share (or don't know how to apply), and find the free fire department assessments hard to schedule. So we offer this.
We recognize that safety shouldn't be gated behind financial comfort.
What It Is
A 45–60 minute visit where we walk your property together with our free homeowner self-assessment checklist in hand, going through it item by item and applying each section to your actual conditions.
When something in the checklist is ambiguous or you're not sure how it applies to your situation, we explain it. When you ask questions, we answer them.
You leave with:
Our free printable checklist, with notes added specifically for your property
A clear understanding of what's most important to address first
Specific recommendations for what you can handle yourself
Honest answers to questions about WRWC cost-share, insurance, tree work, or anything else in the wildfire space
What It's Not
It's not a FireBrief℠ or FireFile℠.
No written report, no photos archived for your records, no scoped pricing, no insurance-facing documentation. The deliverable is the conversation and the annotated checklist.
It's not free mitigation work.
We won't do the actual cutting, clearing, or hardening as part of the walkthrough. That's separate work that gets priced normally.
It's not a substitute for a professional assessment.
If you're dealing with an active insurance dispute, complex property conditions, or hazardous tree work, we may recommend you pursue professional resources through WRWC, Gunnison County Emergency Management, or other programs we can point you toward.
We are willing to work with you on a case-by-case basis to help you when needed. We understand people sometimes need a hand.
Who It's For
This offering is for you if:
You're on a fixed income (Social Security, disability, retirement) and professional services feel out of reach
You're a working family in Gunnison County and a $200 FireBrief is genuinely beyond what you can spend right now
You've recently faced financial setbacks — medical, job loss, family hardship — and wildfire mitigation has to wait in line
You're on a rental property, in transition, or in any situation where paying for professional services doesn't make practical sense
You're connected to a local organization (church, community group, veterans' program) that serves people in need, and you're coordinating help for a neighbor
If you're unsure whether this applies to you, just ask. We'd rather have an honest conversation about it than make you guess.
What We Ask of You
Three things, all reasonable:
Be honest about your situation.
This offering exists for people who genuinely need it. If you can afford a FireBrief℠, please book one — that's how we can afford to offer walkthroughs for people who can't.
Be willing to do the work.
The walkthrough is valuable only if you take action on what you learn. We don't expect you to do everything in one season, but we do expect you'll take meaningful steps on the items we discuss.
Pay it forward when you can.
If things improve, remember us — tell a neighbor, leave a review, or come back as a paying customer when your situation allows. That's how community work stays sustainable.
How to Request One
Call (970) 251-7500 or email through the contact form.
We ask you to briefly describe your situation — not to prove anything, just so we can bring the right context to the visit.
Availability is limited. We offer checklist walkthroughs as schedule allows, prioritizing Gunnison County residents and local community needs. We typically schedule these 2–4 weeks out.
Other Resources for Homeowners in Need
If we're fully booked or can't make our schedule work for yours, here are other resources in the Gunnison Valley for homeowners dealing with wildfire concerns:
WRWC cost-share program — may cover up to 75% of qualifying mitigation work WRWC →
CSFS Gunnison Field Office — technical assistance for property owners CSFS Gunnison →
We can help you navigate these during your walkthrough, or connect you with the right person.
Download Our Free Checklist
Whether you schedule a walkthrough or not, our free homeowner self-assessment checklist is yours to download and use. Print it, grab a pen, and walk your property. It's designed to be useful on its own.
Conducted by NFPA Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist. Aligned with Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) Home Ignition Zone guidelines and NFPA 1140 (2022, formerly NFPA 1144).