Why this site exists
Wildfire guidance is scattered across fire agency handouts, building codes, research reports and insurance pamphlets. Much of it is written for contractors or officials. FireproofHomes pulls it together and explains it for the people who actually do the work: homeowners.
Based in California
FireproofHomes is based in Southern California, where wildfire is a fact of life. We know the Santa Ana winds, the brush-covered hillsides and the insurance letters that have so many California homeowners worried. That's why our guides start with California's rules and resources, from CAL FIRE's defensible space zones to the state's Zone 0 rulemaking and the Department of Insurance's Safer from Wildfires program. The building science applies anywhere wildfire is a risk, so homeowners in other states will find the guides useful too.
How we write our guides
- We base our guidance on public fire agencies, building codes and independent research, and we list our sources on every guide.
- Every guide shows the date it was last updated. Rules like California's Zone 0 regulations are changing, and we revise guides when they do.
- We focus on what you can do, starting with the steps that cost the least and matter the most.
- If we ever earn money from a link on a page, we will say so on that page.
What we are not
We are not a fire agency, and nothing here replaces an inspection from your local fire department or advice from a licensed contractor. Rules vary by state, county and fire district, so always check what applies where you live.
Get in touch
Spotted something out of date, or have a question you'd like us to answer in a future guide? Email hello@fireproofhomes.com.