The wildfires currently raging across Southern California are a stark reminder that many of our homes are tinder boxes waiting to go up in smoke. While you can’t predict when or where wildfires will strike, there are a number of steps you can take to harden your home. Here are just a few from our toolkit.
CalFire uses the term “defensible space” to describe a buffer between buildings on your property and the grass, trees, shrubs, or other wild areas surrounding it. By creating a defensible space around your home, you can slow or stop the spread of wildfire and save your property from a tragic ending from embers, flames, or excessive heat. This space also provides firefighters a safe space to work while protecting your home. Learn more.
It’s important to keep your property lean and green to help protect your family and home, but “home hardening” is also essential to improve your home’s chance of surviving a wildfire. A few ideas: re-roof with materials such as composition, metal, clay or tile; install dual-paned windows with one pane of tempered glass to reduce the chance of breakage in a fire; or remodel your walls with ignition resistant building materials. Get more tips from CalFire.
