All individuals, and each of their representatives, who participate in the Home Ignition Zone Evaluation Program (“Program”) are required to carefully review and sign the following Permission to Enter and Waiver of Liability and Release (“Agreement”).

The purpose of this Agreement is for the Santa Monica Mountains Fire Safe Council (SMMFSC) through trained(“evaluators”) to inspect the property and provide suggestions to the Client about options available that may help decrease the potential for ignition risk and improve the odds of the property surviving a wildfire. These suggestions are intended to be for informational purposes only and not in any way a guarantee, and this inspection is intended to be a public service for those residents who wish to know more about how to better protect their property from wildfire. The Client is solely responsible for whether to adopt, implement, or disregard any suggestions made during the inspection.

Client wishes to participate in the Program and hereby authorizes the Evaluators to enter onto the Property for the purpose of evaluating the Property and providing suggestions relating to potential structure and surrounding area vulnerabilities during a wildfire.

SMMFSC takes all precautions recommended by California and County Health Departments to prevent exposure to COVID-19 by participants, and I will not hold the SMMFSC liable for any exposure to the COVID-19 virus that may be caused by an Evaluator visit.

The Evaluators have received training from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA – Assessing Structure Ignition Potential), including identifying factors that increase home ignition potential within the Home Ignition Zone. Evaluators are not qualified to offer expert opinion or advice to Client. Evaluators only offer suggestions to Client about options, mitigation techniques and information that may help with fire prevention and mitigation. These suggestions are based upon the information provided to Evaluators at the time of their training and are not reflective of any fire mitigation techniques developed after the evaluators’ training. Client expressly acknowledges that Evaluators are not experts, professionals, or consultants in any field, including, but not limited to, wildfires, fire mitigation, construction, engineering, and landscaping.

Client expressly acknowledges that they do not and will not rely on any suggestions, recommendations, comments, or information provided by Evaluators during the inspection. Client expressly acknowledges that this inspection is for informational purposes only. The Client bears the sole responsibility in his or her sole and absolute discretion of implementing, or not implementing, suggested fire mitigation measures on the Property to reduce the risk of ignition or damage in the event of a fire. Client assumes all risk of loss of life or property in any way related to implementing, or not implementing, any suggestions made by the Evaluators. Client should call 9-1-1 and request emergency assistance in any and all fire suppression and other emergency situations.

Client expressly acknowledges that implementation of Evaluators’ suggestions is in no way a guarantee that the Property will survive, or avoid or reduce damage or injury to property or person, in the event of a fire. Client is solely responsible for ensuring that the Property is using the most effective, safe, and legal fire mitigation techniques. The suggestions provided by Evaluators are not a substitute for Property insurance coverage.

The SMMFSC keeps a copy of the Evaluation Recommendation Form in a database of common home ignition zone problems in Southern California so that the SMMFSC can better educate the community at large. Your specific evaluation recommendations will not be shared as part of our educational efforts unless so ordered by a court of law or other applicable legal authority.

The SMMFSC is not a rulemaking, regulatory agency. The Evaluators are not code enforcement or law enforcement officers and have no authority to investigate or issue citations for any code violations discovered while on the Property.

In consideration for being permitted by SMMFSC to participate in the Program, I hereby waive, release, and discharge any and all claims for damages for personal injury, death, or property damage which I may sustain, or which may hereafter accrue, as a result of my participation. This release is intended to discharge SMMFSC and SMMFSC’s officers, employees, agents, Evaluators and volunteers from and against any and all liability arising out of or connected in any way to my participation in the Program. I am aware that the suggestions by the Evaluators are for informational purposes only and that I may, in my sole option and discretion, implement or not implement measures based on the Evaluators’ suggestions. I hereby agree to assume any and all risks of injury or death in connection with the Program and to release, indemnify and hold harmless SMMFSC and SMMFSC’s officers, employees, agents, Evaluators and volunteers from any liability related to the Program. I further understand and agree that this waiver, release, and assumption of risks is binding on my heirs and assigns.

Client acknowledges and represents that they have read the foregoing, understand it, and voluntarily sign it, without relying on any representations, statements, or information by the SMMFSC. Client further acknowledges that (1) they are signing this Agreement on behalf of any other owner, individual, or entity which may have a legal interest in the Property, (2) they have the authority to sign the Agreement on behalf of the aforementioned persons, and (3) shall share this Agreement with all such persons.