California Wildfire Mitigation Specialist Certification Exam Questions And Correct Answers With Rationales 2026

California Wildfire Mitigation Specialist
Certification Exam Questions And
Correct Answers With Rationales 2026


1. What is the minimum defensible space required around a structure in
California’s State Responsibility Area (SRA)?

 50 feet

 100 feet

 150 feet

 30 feet
The California Public Resources Code requires 100 feet of defensible
space around structures to reduce fire spread.

2. Which zone within the defensible space is closest to the structure?

 Zone 3

 Zone 1

 Zone 0

, Zone 2
Zone 0, the ember-resistant zone, extends 0–5 feet from structures
and is critical for ignition prevention.

3. Which construction material is considered most fire-resistant?

 Wood shake

 Aluminum siding

 Fiber cement

 Vinyl
Fiber cement is non-combustible and resists ignition during wildfire
exposure.

4. What does a Class A fire-rated roof covering indicate?

 Fire-retardant treated

 High resistance to severe fire exposure

 Requires maintenance

 Automatically sprinklered
Class A roofing provides the highest resistance to fire spread and
ember penetration.

5. Which of the following plants is best for fire-resistive landscaping?

 Italian Cypress

 Juniper

 California Lilac (Ceanothus)

, Pampas Grass
Ceanothus is a native plant with low resin content and high moisture,
making it more fire-resistant.

6. What is the recommended spacing between tree canopies in Zone 2?

 3 feet

 6 feet

 10 feet

 2 feet
Spacing tree canopies at least 10 feet apart helps prevent crown fires
from spreading.

7. What type of vent design is best for reducing ember intrusion?

 Louvers only

 Mesh screen with ≤ 1/8" openings

 Open air vents

 Ridge-only vents
Fine mesh screens prevent embers from entering attic or subfloor
vents.

8. What is the primary purpose of home hardening?

 Insulation

 Ignition resistance

 Energy efficiency

,  Structural strength
Home hardening involves modifying structures to resist ember attack
and radiant heat.

9. Which organization manages the Ready for Wildfire program?

 FEMA

 CAL FIRE

 US Forest Service

 Red Cross
CAL FIRE runs the Ready for Wildfire program to educate
homeowners on wildfire preparedness.

10. What factor most contributes to fire spread in the wildland-
urban interface?

 Soil composition

 Fuel load

 Rainfall

 Slope stability
Higher amounts of dry vegetation (fuel load) increase fire spread
potential.



11. In home assessments, what feature most often increases
ignition risk?

 Gutters

 Debris accumulation