How to prepare your home for wildfire season
By Thumbtack Staff•Last updated Oct 24, 2022
Last updated Oct 24, 2022
Table of Contents
- 1. Use fire-resistant materials when building or renovating
- 2. Create three Home Ignition Zones
- 3. Maintain your outdoor area and landscaping features
- 4. Clean your home’s exterior and make repairs
- 5. Ensure fire and emergency vehicles can access your property
- 6. Keep emergency supplies handy
- 7. Create a “clean room”
- Hire pros on Thumbtack to prepare for wildfire season
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If you live in an area that’s prone to wildfires, it’s time to take action to protect your biggest financial investment: your home. Use these wildfire preparedness tips to help protect and harden your home during wildfire season.
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of steps to take and that, even if you take these steps and others, you can never completely avoid wildfire risk. We’ve included helpful links throughout the article to online resources with more information.
1. Use fire-resistant materials when building or renovating
Whether you’re building a new home, making repairs or tackling a renovation project, use materials that have the best chance of resisting fire. Here are some examples of materials you should consider for different areas in and around your house:
Roofing
Flying embers can set your roof on fire. If possible, don't use wooden shingles or shakes as your roofing material. Instead, choose concrete, clay, metal or slate. Also, make sure all your eaves are boxed in and ventilated, and inspect your current roof for repairs or missing pieces that need to be replaced.
Remember that it’s always best to contact a reputable roofing professional to install or replace your roof and make repairs.
Siding
Choose fire-resistant materials like brick, fiber cement, cement shingles or stucco for your home’s siding. If you have wood siding, treat it with UL-approved fire-retardant chemicals.
Chimney
Use correctly sized wire mesh screen arrestors on your chimneys. If you’re not sure which specifications to choose, hire a chimney inspection professional. You can also call your local fire department for advice.
One more tip: if you’re not using the chimney during fire season, close the fireplace flue.
Deck or porch
Use non-combustible or fire-resistant materials such as metal and fiber cement, if possible. If you’re building a new deck or porch, avoid leaving any space underneath these structures by building it to the ground. And remember to seal stilts with a non-combustible material like metal or brick. When in doubt, talk to a deck contractor near you about your options.
Windows
Avoid installing single-pane and large windows. Instead, choose dual- or triple-pane thermal glass windows, shatter-resistant glazing and fire-retardant shutters. You can also purchase fire-retardant drapes.
Fences
If your fencing is located close to your home, try to construct it using non-flammable materials such as metal.
2. Create three Home Ignition Zones
You’ll have a better chance of preventing embers and flames from reaching your home by creating a Home Ignition Zone (HIZ). An ideal HIZ consists of three zones:
- Zone 1: The immediate zone, located 0-5 feet away from your house.
- Zone 2: The intermediate zone, located 5-30 feet away from your home.
- Zone 3: The extended zone, located 30-100 (sometimes 200) feet away from your home.
In Zone 1, prioritize removing combustible, flammable materials that are close to your structure. Zone 2 is where you focus on maintaining your landscaping, such as keeping your grass 4 inches high or lower and clearing vegetation. In Zone 3, continue thinning vegetation so you can slow down and interrupt a wildfire that’s nearing your home.
Visit the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) website and read the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) “Home Builder’s Guide to Construction in Wildfire Zones” for more detailed instructions on what to do in every zone.
3. Maintain your outdoor area and landscaping features
Grass, wood, brush and other types of vegetation in your yard can be extremely flammable. Luckily, there are many things you can do to reduce your fire risk:
- Trim tree branches that are close to your home, porch or deck.
- If you have plants that contain wax or resins, it's best to remove them.
- Plant low-maintenance vegetation that is slow-growing, drought-resistant, non-invasive and wind-resistant.
- Remove vines from your exterior walls.
- Create “firebreaks” in your yard by installing hardscape features, such as paved walkways and concrete patios.
- Opt for stone or gravel instead of mulch in Zone 1.
- Choose patio furniture made from non-combustible materials, such as metal.
- Install garden hoses that can reach your home and other structures.
- Place propane tanks and gas grills at least 15 feet away from your home, and put a mesh screen over the grill. The farther away, the better.
- Remove flammable furniture covers, cushions, papers and brooms. Try to store any combustible materials in fire-resistant containers and place them away from your home.
4. Clean your home’s exterior and make repairs
During wildfire season, stay on top of basic home maintenance — especially around your home’s exterior. Here are some maintenance tips from the NFPA and FEMA that can help you protect your home:
- Clean your roof and gutters. Get rid of debris and fallen foliage like leaves and pine needles, which are combustible. You can also contact your nearest gutter cleaning service if you’re pressed for time.
- Fix and replace broken windows. Also, fix any window screens that have become loose.
- Remove items that are under your deck, patio or porch. This includes leaves, trash and other combustible materials. Also, use wire mesh below these structures to prevent these materials from accumulating.
- Keep flammable materials away from your exterior walls. Firewood, mulch and leaves should all be placed far away from your home.
- Remove debris from your exterior attic vents. You should also install metal mesh screening over attic vents, soffit vents and louvers. Don’t use fiberglass or plastic mesh; these materials can melt.
5. Ensure fire and emergency vehicles can access your property
Review your local government codes to figure out if your driveway allows fire department vehicles to access your property with ease. And if you have any gates on your property, make sure they open inward. Your gates should also be big enough for emergency vehicles to pass through.
Lastly, get rid of any obstructions that may block emergency responders from accessing your property. This may mean removing fallen trees or trimming overhanging branches that are blocking the road or driveway.
6. Keep emergency supplies handy
In the event of an evacuation, it’s imperative to have an emergency kit. Safely store all essential documents, including medical records, identification documents and health insurance policies. Include items such as flashlights, tinned food, bottled water and a first aid kit in your emergency kit. Always include some clothing, toiletries and medication as well.
Don’t forget to pack batteries and your mobile device chargers. It's important to store masks and respirators in your home, but don’t forget to put some in your emergency kit, too.
7. Create a “clean room”
What in the world is a clean room? Simply put, it’s a designated room inside your home that can keep smoke levels and harmful particles to a minimum. If it’s safe to stay indoors during a wildfire, you can retreat to this room and reduce your exposure to smoke.
It’s important to note that there should be no cooking or smoking in your clean room, and all doors and windows must be closed. You can put a portable air cleaner in the room, and you should keep the room as cool as possible using your HVAC system or fans. However, turn off your HVAC system’s fresh air option if your system brings in air from outside. You might have to close the intake as well.
Hire pros on Thumbtack to prepare for wildfire season
Thumbtack pros can help you get your home ready for wildfire season. Roofers, landscapers, lawn care professionals, tree trimmers — there are many pros who can tackle wildfire preparation projects inside and outside your house.
And for additional home safety tips, talk to a Thumbtack home guide specialist. During a 30-minute video consultation, specialists can provide recommendations on how to create a safer home and avoid costly repairs. Book your consultation today, so you can have peace of mind.
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