Wildfires are becoming more frequent and intense, making it essential for homeowners to take proactive steps to protect their property and family. By understanding how wildfires spread and preparing your home accordingly, you can greatly increase its chance of surviving an approaching fire.
The information below provides practical tips on vegetation management, fire-resistant construction, home-ignition zones, and emergency readiness to help you reduce risks and stay prepared year-round.
Fire-Resistive Construction
Roofing and Vents
Class A fire-rated roofing products, such as composite shingles, metal, concrete, and clay tiles, offer the best protection. Inspect shingles or roof tiles and replace or repair those that are loose or missing to prevent ember penetration.
Box in eaves with non-combustible materials, but provide ventilation to prevent condensation and mildew. Roof and attic vents should be screened to prevent ember entry.
Decks and Porches
- Never store flammable materials underneath decks or porches.
- Remove dead vegetation and debris from under decks and porches.
- Clean debris from between deck board joints.
Siding and Windows
Embers can collect in small nooks and crannies and ignite combustible materials; radiant heat from flames can also crack windows.
- Use fire-resistant siding such as brick, fiber-cement, plaster, or stucco.
- Install dual-pane tempered glass windows to reduce the chance of breakage from heat.
Vegetation Management
Home Ignition Zones
To increase your home’s chance of surviving a wildfire, choose fire-resistant building materials and limit flammable vegetation within the three home ignition zones:
- Immediate Zone (0–5 feet): Keep this area as free of combustible materials as possible.
- Intermediate Zone (5–30 feet): Create spacing and breaks in vegetation to slow fire spread.
- Extended Zone (30–100 feet): Reduce fuel loads to decrease fire intensity as it approaches your home.
Landscaping and Maintenance
To reduce ember ignitions and fire spread:
- Trim branches that overhang the home, porch, and deck.
- Prune branches of large trees 6 to 10 feet from the ground (depending on tree height).
- Remove plants containing resins, oils, and waxes that burn easily.
- Use crushed stone or gravel instead of flammable mulches in the Immediate Zone (0–5 feet).
- Keep your landscape in good condition by removing dead plants, leaves, and other debris.
Emergency Responder Access & Evacuation Planning
Emergency Responder Access
- Ensure your home and neighborhood have legible and clearly marked street names and address numbers.
- Maintain driveways at least 12 feet wide with a vertical clearance of 15 feet for emergency vehicle access.
Family Action Plan & Evacuation
- Develop, discuss, and practice an emergency action plan with everyone in your home.
- Include details for handling pets, large animals, and livestock.
- Know at least two ways out of your neighborhood and identify a pre-designated meeting place.
- Do not wait to receive an official emergency notification if you feel threatened by a fire—leave early.
Insurance Preparedness
- Conduct an annual insurance policy checkup to confirm you have adequate coverage for wildfire-related losses.
Download Wildfire Guides
Download our Wildfire Preparedness Sheet Learn How to Become a FIREWISE Community Here
Construction materials and the quality of the defensible space surrounding your home are what gives it the best chance to survive a wildfire. Embers from a wildfire will find the weak link in your home's fire protection scheme and gain the upper hand because of a small, overlooked or seemingly inconsequential factor. However, there are measures you can take to safeguard your home from wildfire. While you may not be able to accomplish all the suggestions listed, each one you can do will increase your home's, and possibly your family's, safety and survival during a wildfire.