Frontline Wildfire Defense has been getting a lot of attention. TIME named them one of the Best Inventions of 2025. They raised a $48M Series A. They activated 61 systems during the LA fires and 96% of those homes survived.

Those are real numbers. But here’s what they don’t tell you — and why California homeowners are choosing a different approach.

What Frontline Sells

Frontline sells a roof-mounted sprinkler system called Defense System 2:

• Eave sprayers and roof rotors spray water mixed with Class-A biodegradable foam
• Fire tracking software detects fires within 7 miles and auto-activates
• Runs through zones — 5 minutes per zone, cycles back — keeping surfaces wet
• Coverage reaches up to 30 feet from exterior walls
• Installation takes 2-5 days
• Estimated $15K-$40K installed (pricing not disclosed publicly)

That’s a solid system. But it uses water and foam — which means it only works while surfaces stay wet. And a sprinkler system is all you get. No assessment. No hardening. No retardant spray. No insurance documentation. No annual maintenance. No CSLB license.

What Ember Pro Provides

Ember Pro is a CSLB-licensed California contractor (License #1142407) that provides full-service wildfire defense. We install the same type of sprinkler system Frontline does — eave sprayers, roof heads, remote activation, 30-foot perimeter coverage. But that’s where the similarity ends.

Same Sprinkler Coverage — Better Chemistry

Both systems use eave-mounted and roof-mounted spray heads. Both cover up to 30 feet from your walls. Both can be activated remotely from your phone.

The difference is what comes out of those heads.

• Frontline sprays water and Class-A foam. It’s effective while wet — but water evaporates within 15 minutes in wildfire conditions. When the water stops, protection stops.
• Ember Pro sprays a non-toxic fire inhibitor. It does not evaporate. It forms a lasting protective layer that resists ignition for months. Same toxicity as milk. Fully biodegradable.

Same delivery system. Completely different protection chemistry. That’s the difference that matters when embers arrive at 1,200 degrees on 60mph winds.

Everything Else That Comes With It

On top of the defense system, Ember Pro provides:

Fire Retardant Spray Service — Non-toxic fire inhibitor applied directly to your home and landscaping. Creates an invisible shield against embers, sparks, and radiant heat. Lasts 3-6 months per application. Recommended 2-4 times per year. Quarterly and seasonal packages available.

10-Point Risk Assessment — Covers roof, vents, landscaping, ember pathways, Zones 0-2, materials, vegetation, and terrain. Built on NFPA 1140 and California Building Code 7A. Photo documentation. Personalized action plan. 60 minutes on-site. Free (valued at $500).

Home Hardening — 1/16″ ember-resistant vent mesh that blocks wind-driven embers while maintaining airflow. Sealed entry points at eaves, crawl spaces, and gaps. Structural retrofitting to meet wildfire codes. Zone 0 compliance (0-5 ft non-combustible per AB 3074). Zone 1 and Zone 2 fuel management.

Insurance Documentation — Wildfire Risk Reduction Report for your insurer. California’s Safer from Wildfires regulation requires insurers to offer discounts for documented mitigation. This helps prevent non-renewal and can help you avoid or exit the FAIR Plan.

Annual Maintenance — Re-spray. Re-inspect. Updated documentation. Every year. Your defense stays current. Your insurance paperwork stays fresh.

Side by Side

• Eave and roof sprinklers: Ember Pro yes, Frontline yes
• Remote activation: Ember Pro yes (phone), Frontline yes (app with 10-minute countdown)
• Coverage area: Ember Pro up to 30 ft + full landscape via spray, Frontline up to 30 ft
• Off-grid capable: Ember Pro yes (backup batteries, Powerwall, generator), Frontline backup battery on controller
• What the system sprays: Ember Pro fire inhibitor that does NOT evaporate and lasts months, Frontline water + Class-A foam that evaporates within 15 minutes
• Fire retardant spray service: Ember Pro yes 2-4x/year, Frontline not offered
• 10-point risk assessment: Ember Pro yes free 60-min on-site, Frontline optional site evaluation
• Home hardening: Ember Pro yes (ember vents, gap sealing, retrofits), Frontline not included
• Zone 0 compliance: Ember Pro yes full AB 3074, Frontline not addressed
• Insurance documentation: Ember Pro yes Risk Reduction Report, Frontline claims “insurance approved” with no compliance docs
• CSLB Licensed: Ember Pro yes #1142407, Frontline no
• Annual maintenance: Ember Pro yes re-spray re-inspect updated docs, Frontline homeowner maintains hardware
• Service model: Ember Pro licensed local contractor SD and LA, Frontline national product company 11 states

Read the first 5 items. The sprinkler hardware is comparable. Now read item 5. That’s where everything changes.

The Chemistry That Changes Everything

Both companies mount spray heads on your eaves and roof. Both cover 30 feet. Both activate remotely. The hardware is similar.

The difference is what comes out.

Frontline: Water + Foam

• Class-A foam is 5x more effective than water alone — that’s real
• But it still evaporates within 15 minutes in wildfire conditions
• System cycles through zones — 5 minutes each, then repeats
• Between cycles, surfaces start drying. In extreme heat, they dry fast.
• Requires continuous water supply — municipal, pool, or tank
• Competes with firefighting resources for water pressure
• Multi-day fire events can exhaust all three water sources

When the water stops, Frontline’s protection stops.

Ember Pro: Fire Inhibitor

• Non-toxic fire inhibitor — same toxicity as milk
• Does not evaporate — forms a lasting protective layer
• Resists ignition for months after application
• No water dependency during the fire event
• Works whether you’re home, evacuated, or asleep
• Biodegradable — reapply after 2+ inches of rain
• Plus standalone spray service covers entire landscape 3-6 months at a time

Ember Pro’s inhibitor is already on your home doing its job before the fire arrives. Frontline’s system activates during the event. Ember Pro’s inhibitor protects before, during, and after. We give you both — the active system AND the lasting chemistry.

Five Things You Get With Ember Pro That Frontline Doesn’t Offer

1. A Real Property Assessment

We inspect your entire property — 10 points of vulnerability across Zones 0-2. Roof, vents, landscaping, ember pathways, materials, vegetation, terrain. Built on NFPA 1140 and CBC 7A. Photo documentation. Personalized action plan. We don’t sell you anything until we know what your home actually needs.

Frontline offers an “optional site evaluation” before you buy their product.

2. Home Hardening

1/16″ ember-resistant vent mesh that blocks embers while maintaining airflow. Sealed entry points at eaves, crawl spaces, and structural gaps. Retrofitting to meet modern wildfire codes. These are the upgrades that prevent ignition at the source — because embers cause up to 90% of structure loss, and they enter through vents, eaves, and gaps.

Frontline doesn’t touch your home’s structure. Their own website says the system “does not replace the need for defensible space landscaping.”

3. Fire Retardant Spray Service

Professional application of non-toxic fire inhibitor to your exterior — siding, decks, fences, eaves, and landscaping. Creates an invisible shield lasting 3-6 months. Quarterly and seasonal packages. This is a layer of protection that works independently of any system — no electricity, no water, no activation needed.

Frontline does not offer spray service.

4. Insurance Documentation

Ember Pro provides a Wildfire Risk Reduction Report for your insurer. Under California’s Safer from Wildfires regulation, insurers are required to offer discounts for documented risk-reduction. This is what prevents non-renewal and can help you avoid or exit the FAIR Plan.

Frontline says “insurance approved” but provides no Zone 0 compliance documentation, no AB 3074 reports, no Risk Reduction Report.

5. Annual Maintenance Program

We come back every year. Re-spray. Re-inspect. Update your insurance documentation. Your defense stays current. Your paperwork stays fresh for renewal season.

Frontline sells you hardware. After installation, you maintain it yourself.

The Licensing Difference

Ember Pro: CSLB License #1142407. Licensed California contractor. State oversight. Bonded. Insured. Accountable for every job.

Frontline: No CSLB license. Uses a “Partners and Installers” model — third-party contractors install their product. Headquartered in San Rafael, serves 11 states.

When a licensed contractor does the work, you have state-level recourse. When a product company sends a subcontractor, the accountability chain gets longer.

What Your Insurance Company Evaluates

Your insurer doesn’t evaluate your sprinkler system alone. They evaluate your overall wildfire preparedness:

• Zone 0 compliance (0-5 ft non-combustible per AB 3074)
• Home hardening documentation (vents, roofing, materials)
• Defensible space (100 ft per CAL FIRE)
• Professional risk assessment with reports
• Ongoing maintenance records

Ember Pro provides all five with a formal Risk Reduction Report. Frontline provides none. A sprinkler system is one piece. The assessment, hardening, retardant, documentation, and maintenance are the rest.

The 96% Stat — In Context

During the January 2025 LA Fires, Frontline activated 61 systems and 59 homes survived — 96%. That’s real and worth acknowledging.

But the question isn’t whether active defense helps during a fire — it does. The question is whether a water-based system alone is a complete strategy. Frontline says it isn’t, on their own website: “No amount of care, planning or prevention hardware will fully eliminate the risk of damage or loss from wildfire.”

Complete defense requires what happens before the fire — assessment, hardening, inhibitor treatment, documentation — not just what activates during it.

You Don’t Have to Choose

Ember Pro installs the same type of sprinkler system — eave sprayers, roof heads, remote activation, 30-foot coverage. But we fill those heads with fire inhibitor instead of water and foam. And we wrap it in a complete defense: assessment, hardening, spray, documentation, annual maintenance.

With Frontline, you get sprinkler hardware. Then you need someone else for vents, Zone 0, retardant, insurance docs, and annual upkeep.

With Ember Pro, one contractor handles everything. One license. One call. One team that comes back every year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Ember Pro install the same kind of sprinkler system as Frontline?

Yes — eave-mounted sprayers and roof spray heads with remote activation and 30-foot coverage. The difference is chemistry: we spray fire inhibitor that doesn’t evaporate, not water and foam that does.

What’s the difference between Ember Pro’s inhibitor and Frontline’s foam?

Frontline uses water + Class-A foam. Effective while wet, evaporates within 15 minutes in wildfire heat. Ember Pro’s fire inhibitor does not evaporate — it forms a lasting protective layer for months. Same toxicity as milk. Biodegradable.

What exactly is Frontline Wildfire Defense?

A roof-mounted sprinkler system with fire tracking software. Water + foam. Auto-activates at 7 miles. It’s a hardware product — not a full-service provider.

Does Frontline have a CSLB license?

No. They use third-party “Partners and Installers.”

Does Frontline offer fire retardant spray?

No.

Does Frontline help with insurance compliance?

They say “insurance approved” but provide no Risk Reduction Reports, Zone 0 docs, or AB 3074 paperwork.

How much does Frontline cost?

Not disclosed publicly. Industry estimates: $15K-$40K installed.

What happens when the water runs out?

Frontline’s protection stops. Ember Pro’s inhibitor keeps working — no water dependency.

Which is better for keeping my insurance?

Ember Pro. We provide the Risk Reduction Report, Zone 0 documentation, hardening records, and annual maintenance proof that underwriters require.

What is Zone 0?

The 0-5 foot non-combustible zone per AB 3074. Most homes fail this. Ember Pro addresses it. Frontline doesn’t.

Can I use both?

Yes. But with Ember Pro, you don’t need to — we already install the sprinkler system with better chemistry, plus everything else Frontline doesn’t offer.

Find Out What Your Home Actually Needs

Free 10-point inspection. Covers roof, vents, landscaping, ember pathways, Zones 0-2, materials, vegetation, terrain. Built on NFPA 1140 and California Building Code 7A. 60 minutes on-site. Photo report. No obligation.

Get Your Free Risk Assessment

Or call us: (858) 939-9345 (San Diego) | (310) 499-4891 (Los Angeles)

Ember Pro — CSLB License #1142407 | NFPA Member | Cincinnati Insurance Certified Vendor | Private Risk Management Association Member