Protecting Your Home Against Wildfires

The risk of wildfires is increasing in most areas of the world as climate change intensifies. Drought conditions create deadly opportunities for a stray spark or ember to spiral out of control. As witnessed during the deadly wildfires that began in Maui, Hawaii, on Aug. 8 and destroyed the historic town of Lahaina, wildfire risk is a significant danger to those who feel its effects. Experts believe the Maui fire was spurred by a combination of high temperatures, strong winds from a nearby storm and ongoing drought conditions — many displaced survivors only had moments to decide how to react.

As wildfires become more common, it’s important to protect yourself, your loved ones and your property. A wildfire can turn your beloved — and high-value — home or investment property into a pile of ashes in moments. Safeguard your home and belongings with these essential pointers from trusted organizations:

• Strengthen your roof – If you’re working on new home construction or renovating your current one, ensure that your contractors use fire-resistant materials in their build, according to advice from Surviving Wildfire, a cooperative extension of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Request a Class A roof, which offers the highest resistance to fire and commonly include concrete or clay roof tiles, fiberglass asphalt shingles and metal roofs. Without proper materials, fire can penetrate through the roofing assembly and into your attic or crawl space, potentially endangering your home and your life.
• Prevent embers from entering your home – Embers cause up to 90% of home and business ignitions during wildfire events, according to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). Taking practical steps to reduce the risks posed by flying embers is a valuable opportunity to help ensure your home is not damaged or destroyed by wildfires. Work with your property manager or household staff to enclose the attic, under-eave vents, balconies and above-ground decks with heavy-duty metal wire mesh. Similar to fireplace screens, these spark guards prevent embers from settling and catching parts of your home on fire. Your home’s foundation can also be vulnerable to the dangers posed by wildfires. Enclose it to lower the risk of wind-blown embers starting a fire underneath your home. It’s essential to identify any holes, cracks and other points of entry for sparks and fix them before wildfire season starts.
• Upgrade exterior wall and window coverings – A wildfire can surround your home in moments. Ensure it can withstand the blaze by upgrading your exterior materials with noncombustible or fire-resistant materials. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), a minimum fire-resistance rating of one hour for wall assemblies is required. If your home features large windows, the agency recommends installing multi-pane windows, tempered safety glass or fireproof shutters.
• Create a defensible space –Defensible space is the buffer created between a building on your property and the combustible grass, trees, shrubs or wildland around it. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), where 100 feet of defensible space is currently required by law, recommends removing all flammable vegetation within 30 feet of the home and creating a reduced fuel zone in the remaining 70 feet to the property line. Homeowners or property managers can accomplish this by cutting down weeds, removing dead branches, leaves and needles and relocating any wood piles on your property to be at least 30 feet away from any structures. Before and throughout wildfire season, ensure your plants and property are watered properly to reduce the chances of catching a stray spark. Using nonflammable stone, brick or gravel in your landscaping design is another way you can help prevent wildfires from taking a foothold on your property.