Learn How to Harden Your Home to Prepare for Wildfires

Have you taken steps to make your home more fire resistant?

Have you hardened your home to best protect against wildfires? Click above to share your story and inspire others to follow your lead.

Although a wildfire’s path of destruction can appear random, there are actions you can take that improve your home’s likelihood of survival.

 

Although a wildfire’s path of destruction can appear random, there are actions you can take that improve your home’s likelihood of survival.

In 2008, California implemented new fire-resistant building standards for homes in fire-prone regions.

An analysis of the homes in the path of the 2018 Camp Fire demonstrated the effectiveness of these measures: just 18 percent of homes built before 2008 were undamaged, compared to 51 percent of the homes built after 2008.

It is nearly impossible to make one's home completely fireproof, but you can make it more fire-resistant. Based on California Building Code Chapter 7A and the recommendations of CAL FIRE and other fire prevention experts, here are measures you can take to harden your home.

Illustration of a yellow home with a red door. During a wildfire, the most significant threat to your home is likely to come from flying embers. Wind-blown embers can destroy homes up to a mile away from a wildfire, igniting a blaze that can spread quickly.

 

During a wildfire, the most significant threat to your home is likely to come from flying embers. Wind-blown embers can destroy homes up to a mile away from a wildfire, igniting a blaze that can spread quickly.

Roof—Replace wood or shingle roofs with non-flammable materials like asphalt, clay, metal or slate Eaves and soffits (underside of roof)—protect eaves and soffits with ignition-resistant or non-combustible materials Walls—when replacing wood siding product with ignition-resistant materials, remember to extend materials all the way from the roof to the foundation.

 

Roof—Replace wood or shingle roofs with non-flammable materials like asphalt, clay, metal or slate

 

Eaves and soffits (underside of roof)—protect eaves and soffits with ignition-resistant or non-combustible materials

 

Walls—when replacing wood siding product with ignition-resistant materials, remember to extend materials all the way from the roof to the foundation.

Protect what’s inside your home. Your roof may be fireproof, but odds are the same can’t be said for what’s underneath it. Items like furniture, carpets and countless other household items are at risk when embers enter the home. The key is considering potential openings through which embers could enter your home and keeping them out.

 

Protect what’s inside your home.

 

Your roof may be fireproof, but odds are the same can’t be said for what’s underneath it. Items like furniture, carpets and countless other household items are at risk when embers enter the home. The key is considering potential openings through which embers could enter your home and keeping them out.

Vents—vent openings should be covered with 1/8-inch to 1/4-inch metal mesh. Chimney—cover chimney and stovepipe outlets with ⅜-inch to ½-inch metal mesh to prevent embers from entering and igniting a fire. Doggy door—be sure it seals properly and remains closed during fire season.

 

Vents—vent openings should be covered with 1/8-inch to 1/4-inch metal mesh.

 

Chimney—cover chimney and stovepipe outlets with ⅜-inch to ½-inch metal mesh to prevent embers from entering and igniting a fire.

 

Doggy door—be sure it seals properly and remains closed during fire season.

Garage doors—use weather stripping to seal gaps around openings like garage doors. Windows—windows can be broken from the heat of a wildfire, creating an opening for flying embers. Install dual-paned windows with one pane of tempered glass to reduce the chance of breakage. Missing tiles and shingles—fill roof or siding openings by replacing missing shingles or tiles.

 

Garage doors—use weather stripping to seal gaps around openings like garage doors.

 

Windows—windows can be broken from the heat of a wildfire, creating an opening for flying embers. Install dual-paned windows with one pane of tempered glass to reduce the chance of breakage.

 

Missing tiles and shingles—fill roof or siding openings by replacing missing shingles or tiles.

Work your way out. A fire burning next to your home can prove just as dangerous as one inside it. Be sure items within five feet of your home are fire-resistant.

 

Work your way out.

 

A fire burning next to your home can prove just as dangerous as one inside it. Be sure items within five feet of your home are fire-resistant.

Rain gutters—Don’t allow plant debris to build up in rain gutters attached to your house. You can prevent accumulation of leaves or pine needles by screening or enclosing gutters and making sure they’re cleaned regularly. Patio cover—Patio coverings should use the same ignition-resistant materials as a roof. Decks—Decks are another large surface area on which embers can land. In addition to using ignition resistant decking, be sure to prevent debris from building up either on or underneath your deck.

 

Rain gutters—Don’t allow plant debris to build up in rain gutters attached to your house. You can prevent accumulation of leaves or pine needles by screening or enclosing gutters and making sure they’re cleaned regularly.

 

Patio cover—Patio coverings should use the same ignition-resistant materials as a roof.

 

Decks—Decks are another large surface area on which embers can land. In addition to using ignition resistant decking, be sure to prevent debris from building up either on or underneath your deck.

Flammable materials—Propane tanks and woodpiles should be moved away from the home. Replace organic mulch and flammable plants with non-flammable alternatives. Fencing—Use ignition-resistant or non-combustible fencing materials. Separate wood fencing from your house with a metal or stone barrier.

 

Flammable materials—Propane tanks and woodpiles should be moved away from the home. Replace organic mulch and flammable plants with non-flammable alternatives.

 

Fencing—Use ignition-resistant or non-combustible fencing materials. Separate wood fencing from your house with a metal or stone barrier.

Create a defensible space. It is important to create a buffer zone around your home to protect it from wildfires. Defensible space zones extend 100 feet from buildings and structures.

 

Create a defensible space.

 

It is important to create a buffer zone around your home to protect it from wildfires. Defensible space zones extend 100 feet from buildings and structures.

Yard maintenance and plant spacing—CAL FIRE has guidelines on how to maintain a defensible space around your home in Zone 1 (up to 30 feet) and Zone 2 (up to 100 feet). Fire-resistant landscaping—The strategic use of fire-resistant plants and materials can reduce the likelihood of fire spreading to your home. Features like a stone walkway can act as a fire break that protects your home from burning grass.

 

Yard maintenance and plant spacing—CAL FIRE has guidelines on how to maintain a defensible space around your home in Zone 1 (up to 30 feet) and Zone 2 (up to 100 feet).

 

Fire-resistant landscaping—The strategic use of fire-resistant plants and materials can reduce the likelihood of fire spreading to your home. Features like a stone walkway can act as a fire break that protects your home from burning grass.

Be a good neighbor. In a fire, the safety of an entire neighborhood is often dependent on the weakest link, as every home that catches fire serves as another ignition source that puts others at risk. This is especially true in many areas where the 100 feet of defensible space around one home crosses into a neighbor’s yard, and vice versa.  In addition to taking these measures to harden your home, the following steps can help facilitate a faster response to a fire emergency.

 

Be a good neighbor.

 

In a fire, the safety of an entire neighborhood is often dependent on the weakest link, as every home that catches fire serves as another ignition source that puts others at risk. This is especially true in many areas where the 100 feet of defensible space around one home crosses into a neighbor’s yard, and vice versa. 

 

In addition to taking these measures to harden your home, the following steps can help facilitate a faster response to a fire emergency.

Fire extinguishers—Every home should be equipped with fire extinguishers to combat small fires before they have a chance to grow. Tools like a shovel, rake or bucket can also help stop a fire from spreading. Hoses—Consider having multiple garden hoses that are capable of reaching every area of your home or property. Emergency Access—Fire and emergency vehicles need to be able to get to your home. Trim trees or shrubs that overhang a driveway or access road. Make sure your address is visible from the road.

 

Fire extinguishers—Every home should be equipped with fire extinguishers to combat small fires before they have a chance to grow. Tools like a shovel, rake or bucket can also help stop a fire from spreading.

 

Hoses—Consider having multiple garden hoses that are capable of reaching every area of your home or property.

 

Emergency Access—Fire and emergency vehicles need to be able to get to your home. Trim trees or shrubs that overhang a driveway or access road. Make sure your address is visible from the road.

TO LEARN MORE WAYS TO HARDEN YOUR HOME, PLEASE VISIT READYFORWILDFIRE.ORG

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