Wildfire readiness for homeowners
Stop the ember, save your home.
Protect your home. Protect your insurance. Know what to fix first.
Most homes lost to wildfire aren't overrun by a wall of flame. They catch from windblown embers landing in a vent, a gutter, or a pile of mulch by the wall. Small, affordable fixes close those openings.
Ten questions. You get a prioritized fix list with typical costs.
The most important space on your property. Keep the first five feet around your home free of anything that can burn.
Defensible space
Think in rings, working from the walls outward.
Fire professionals divide your property into three zones. Start closest to the house, where the payoff is biggest and the work is easiest.
Zone 0, the ember-resistant zone
Swap bark mulch for gravel or pavers. Move firewood, trash bins, patio cushions and doormats away from the walls. Read the Zone 0 guide
Zone 1, the lean, clean zone
Keep plants irrigated and spaced apart. Clear dead leaves and needles, and trim tree branches back from the roof and chimney.
Zone 2, the reduced fuel zone
Mow dry grass short, thin out dense brush, and leave gaps between shrubs and trees so a fire on the ground can't climb. More on all three zones
Home hardening guides
Where embers get in, and how to close each opening.
Each guide walks through one part of the house in plain language, with sources from fire agencies and building science researchers.
Ember-resistant vents
Why standard 1/4 inch screens fail and which mesh to use instead.
Read the guideRoofRoofs and gutters
Class A roofing, sealing tile gaps, and keeping gutters clean.
Read the guideWindowsWindows and doors
Tempered dual-pane glass, reinforced frames, and sealing door gaps.
Read the guideDecks & fencesDecks and fences
Clearing under decks and breaking the fence connection to your walls.
Read the guideLandscapingZone 0
The first five feet around your home, and California's new rules.
Read the guideStart hereThe complete guide
Every part of the house, ranked from cheapest fix to biggest upgrade.
Read the guideWatch, learn, act
See what a protected home looks like.
Short videos and trusted guides from the agencies and researchers who study how homes survive wildfire.
Trusted homeowner resources
- CAL FIREHome Hardening
California's official guide to how roofs, vents, windows, siding and decks resist embers and flame, with a link to a free self-assessment.
- IBHSWildfire Prepared Home: How-To Prepare Checklist
The research group behind the Wildfire Prepared Home designation, with a step-by-step checklist of science-based upgrades.
- California Department of InsuranceSafer from Wildfires
The state's list of home and property mitigation actions insurers recognize. Discounts vary by insurer and policy, so confirm with yours.
No contractor needed
Four things you can do this weekend.
Free or close to it, and they make a real difference.
- Clear the first five feetRake out mulch, leaves and needles next to the house. Move the woodpile out of Zone 0, ideally 30 feet away.
- Clean roof and guttersSweep debris off the roof and out of the gutters, especially in corners and valleys.
- Check every ventLook for torn, plastic, or 1/4 inch screens. Note which ones need 1/8 inch metal mesh.
- Make a go planPack a go bag, know two ways out of your neighborhood, and sign up for local emergency alerts.
Get a reminder before fire season.
One email each spring with what to check before fire season, plus a note when we publish new guides.