Wildfire Mitigation Advisors -

Terry Harms

On the evening of October 8, 2017, the winds around my Sonoma Valley home were so intense that the “Welcome” mat at my front door levitated a couple feet off the ground before swirling off into the bushes. Acorns hit the windows with such velocity that I worried the glass could shatter. Shortly after midnight, my husband and I went out to inspect our property, and that’s when we saw the orange glow of fire in the Nuns Canyon area. Two days later, we were under mandatory evacuation. We didn’t lose our home, but the red fire-retardant line nearby let us know just how close we had come.

Fire PTSD is now a part of our psyche, but meeting with Stuart Mitchell has gone a long way in soothing many of our fears. We accompanied Stuart on a walk around our home and listened as he pointed out several areas that made our home vulnerable to wildfire. He stressed the importance of understanding what can cause embers to turn into flames. He pointed out what plants were highly combustible and which ones weren’t, saving us much time, expense, and husband/wife debate about what to do with our landscaping. He described the risks associated with window sills, soffits, wood fencing, patio furniture, potted plants, window curtains, and more. Stuart also offered many helpful suggestions about how those risks could be mitigated. A day later, we received a written report of all he’d gone over, complete with photographic reminders and a helpful list of resources.

I’m grateful to Stuart Mitchell and his fire wise expertise, and I wholeheartedly recommend Wildfire Mitigation Advisors to anyone, renter or homeowner, who finds the subject of wildfires overwhelming. My husband and I now feel armed with many actionable practices that give us the peace of mind that comes from knowing we’ve done as much as we can to protect the home we love.

Alina Haigler

Stuart came out to our rural West County home and spent almost 2 hours evaluating the house and outbuildings. While we had already put a lot of effort into creating a safer environment, Stuart was able to help us identify more ways we could harden our structures against embers. We highly recommend the service Wildfire Mitigation Advisors provided and appreciated Stuart Mitchell’s personal and professional approach.

John Wise

I live in Guerneville and have had to evacuate twice in the last 3 years. I asked FiresafeSonoma to come and do an evaluation of my property for improving fire safety. Stuart Mitchell’s advice was detailed and actionable. Of the 37 detailed items cited in his report, 24 have been addressed and the balance in process of being addressed. It has been extremely helpful having a detailed guide for fire mitigation. Stuart was also very responsive to questions I’ve had along the way.

Wendy Mathias

Stuart Mitchell is a caring professional who will advise you on how to protect your home and property from wildfire. He is thorough and so knowledgable. I really appreciate his expertise and the references that he provided for purchasing fire-safe materials for our home and property.

Carolyn Sell

Stuart Mitchell is a helpful and knowledgable professional. His written report furnished to me has directed my continuing defensible space and home hardening work over the last two years. He is thorough and more than competent. You will enjoy working with him.

Louisa K.

I considered myself lucky to be able to schedule an assessment with Stuart Mitchell in fall 2020. He’s experienced and connected with experts who share valuable fire safety information. I’ve learned a lot from him.

Laurie Mitchell