Your Free Wildfire Preparation and Safety Guide

Understanding Wildfire Risk in Your Area

Wildfires affect millions of people across North America each year. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, the United States has experienced an average of 58,084 wildfires annually over the past decade, burning approximately 7.6 million acres per year. These numbers have grown significantly since the 1980s, when annual acreage burned averaged around 2 million acres. Climate change, prolonged droughts, and increased development in wildland areas have all contributed to this trend.

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The risk of wildfire varies greatly depending on where you live. States like California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, and Arizona experience particularly high wildfire activity during their fire seasons. However, wildfires now occur in unexpected places. For example, the 2023 Maui fires in Hawaii killed over 100 people, demonstrating that wildfire risk extends beyond traditional fire-prone regions. Even areas that have not experienced major fires historically may face increasing risk.

Understanding your specific wildfire risk involves learning about several factors. Your proximity to forests, chaparral, or grasslands matters significantly. Properties within one mile of wildland areas face higher exposure. Your home's elevation, local weather patterns, and vegetation type also influence risk. State forestry agencies and local fire departments maintain maps showing fire danger zones and historical burn areas in most regions.

You can research your area's wildfire history through several resources. The U.S. Geological Survey maintains the Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (MTBS) database with detailed historical fire maps dating back to 1984. Your local county assessor's office, fire department, or emergency management agency can provide information about previous fires in your neighborhood. Speaking with long-term neighbors about their experiences during past fire seasons offers practical local knowledge.

Takeaway: Map out where you live in relation to wildfire-prone areas and research your region's fire history. This information forms the foundation for all other wildfire preparation steps.

Preparing Your Home's Exterior for Fire Safety

Creating a defensible space around your home is one of the most effective ways to reduce wildfire risk. Defensible space refers to the area surrounding your structure where vegetation and debris are managed to slow the spread of fire and reduce heat exposure. Research from the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety shows that homes with properly maintained defensible space have significantly higher survival rates during wildfires. In some cases, homes with good defensible space survived while nearby homes without such protection burned.

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The concept of defensible space typically involves three zones. The immediate zone extends 0 to 5 feet from your home's exterior. In this zone, remove all dead plants, leaves, needles, and branches touching or overhanging your roof and gutters. Trim tree branches so the lowest branches are at least 6 to 10 feet above the ground. Clear leaves and needles from roof surfaces and gutters regularly, especially during fire season. Avoid placing mulch or wood chips against your home's foundation. Instead, use gravel or rock landscaping in this zone, or maintain bare soil cleared of vegetation.

The intermediate zone extends from 5 to 30 feet from your home. Thin tree density by removing smaller trees and creating spacing between larger trees. Prune lower branches so there is clearance between different trees. Remove dead trees entirely, as these burn readily and can fall onto your home. Space trees so that when they grow, their canopies do not touch. Remove tree branches overhanging your roof or those within 10 feet of your chimney. This zone should allow sight lines through trees rather than appearing as a dense forest.

The extended zone reaches from 30 to 100 feet from your home, or to your property line if that is closer. Even in this outer area, remove dead and dying trees. Thin vegetation to reduce overall fuel density. Clear fallen branches and leaves. For those with larger properties, you may continue these practices beyond 100 feet if you wish to further reduce wildfire risk. However, homes on smaller lots can still create meaningful protection within their property boundaries.

Additional exterior preparations include maintaining clear roof surfaces, removing pine needles from gutters monthly during fire season, and installing metal or tile roofing if your roof requires replacement. Metal gutters are preferable to plastic ones. Screen gutters and roof edges with fine mesh to prevent ember entry. Keep tree branches away from chimneys and vents. Install spark arrestors on chimneys. These hardware modifications help prevent embers from entering your home during a fire.

Takeaway: Focus on clearing the immediate 5-foot zone around your home first, as this is where the greatest risk exists. Even if you cannot complete all 100 feet, this work provides meaningful protection.

Home Hardening: Protecting Vulnerable Entry Points

Home hardening refers to physical modifications that reduce your home's vulnerability to wildfire. Research from California's FireWise USA program demonstrates that homes with hardened features—such as metal gutters, ember-resistant vents, and dual-pane windows—have substantially higher survival rates. During the 2018 Camp Fire in California, which destroyed nearly 19,000 structures, buildings with hardened features often stood while nearby homes burned. These modifications work because wildfires involve two primary threats: direct flame contact and flying embers. Most homes ignite from embers, not direct flame contact.

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Your roof represents your home's most critical vulnerable area. Embers easily enter spaces under roof edges and eaves. If you need roof replacement, install Class A-rated roofing materials. Metal, tile, or asphalt shingles rated Class A provide good protection. Wood shingles are flammable and do not meet fire safety standards. Ensure roof installation follows building codes with no gaps or exposed wood. Screen eaves, overhangs, and ventilation gaps with 1/8-inch metal mesh or smaller to prevent ember entry. This is critical—embers can enter tiny spaces and ignite interior materials.

Vents require hardening because they provide entry points for embers. Install metal mesh screening with 1/8-inch openings or smaller over all foundation vents, crawl space vents, soffit vents, and dryer vents. Existing plastic soffit vents often melt or ignite. Metal mesh screening can be installed over existing vents without requiring complete vent replacement. For gable vents, install exterior metal louvers or metal mesh screening. Attic ventilation is necessary for home function, but it must be protected against ember entry.

Windows present another vulnerability. Multi-pane tempered glass windows withstand heat better than single-pane windows. While replacing all windows is expensive, prioritize replacing windows with direct exposure to vegetation, such as those facing your property's forest edge. Install metal window frames or boxes rather than wood frames. Consider installing exterior metal screens for additional protection, though standard window screens are not fire-rated.

Additional hardening improvements include replacing wood siding with fire-resistant materials such as stucco, fiber cement board, or metal. Keep wood siding clear of vegetation. Use metal flashing where different materials meet on your home's exterior. Enclose deck undersides with fire-resistant materials. Use metal deck railing rather than wood. For decks, avoid open joist construction that allows embers to accumulate underneath. Install metal gutters and keep them clear of debris. Use metal chimney caps and spark arrestors.

Takeaway: Start with roof screening and vent covers, as these are relatively inexpensive but highly effective. These modifications prevent embers from entering your home's interior, which is where most home ignitions occur.

Creating a Wildfire Evacuation Plan for Your Household

Evacuation planning is essential for safety when wildfires approach. According to the National Fire Protection Association, evacuation orders often come with limited notice—sometimes just hours or even minutes to leave. Families that have pre-planned their evacuation have higher rates of safe departure and reduced evacuation-related injuries. During the 2021 Dixie Fire in California, evacuation orders were issued to nearly 230,000 people in a single day, demonstrating how quickly situations can escalate.

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Your evacuation plan should include multiple escape routes from your home and neighborhood. During major wildfires, standard routes become congested or blocked by fire or fallen trees. If you have only one road out of your neighborhood, learn alternative routes immediately. Drive alternative routes to become familiar with them. On a map, mark two different ways to leave your immediate area, three different ways to leave your broader region, and at least one way to leave your county entirely.