The steel used in fork blades is very ductile and will tolerate a decent amount of cold working (bending) with no increased risk of failure. So you can get over your fear of bending.

OTOH, knowing where and how much to bend calls for some measuring skill and understanding. You're not referencing the fork itself as much as theoretical lines and planes that exist in the space the fork defines.

For example, a wheel may sit nearer to one blade at the top because the entire fork is offset to one side, or because one tip is higher so the wheel sits at an angle. I'm not saying it can't be done at home --- it can --- but it calls for patience and the ability to see the whole picture.