FIREWISE COMMUNITY
HOW TO PREPARE YOUR HOME FOR WILDFIRES
WILDFIRE RISK REDUCTION STEPS THAT CAN MAKE YOUR HOME SAFER DURING A WILDFIRE
BE PREPARED FOR EMERGENCIES
WILDFIRE RISK REDUCTION STEPS DURING A WILDFIRE
Develop, discuss, and participate in an emergency with everyone in your home.
Include details for handling pets, large animals, and livestock.
Know two ways out of your neighborhood and have a predesignated meeting place.
Always evacuate if you feel it’s unsafe to stay. DO NOT WAIT to receive an emergency notification if you feel threatened by a fire or emergency.
Create or update a home inventory to help settle claims faster
Fully approved firewise community
TALK TO YOUR LOCAL FORESTRY AGENCY OR FIRE DEPARTMENT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SPECIFIC WILDLIFE RISK WHERE YOU LIVE.
Tell your homeowners insurance providers you live in an approved community and you may get a better rate.
VEGETATION MANAGEMENT
HOME IGNITION ZONES
To increase your home’s chance of surviving a wildfire, choose fire-resistant building materials and limit the amount of flammable vegetation in the three home ignition zones. The zones include the Immediate Zone: (0 to 5 feet around the house), the Intermediate Zone (5 to 30 feet), and the Extended Zone (30 to 100 feet).
LANDSCAPING AND MAINTENANCE
To reduce ember ignitions and fire spread, trim branches that overhang the home, porch, and deck and prune branches of large trees up to 6 to 10 feet (depending on their height) from the ground. Remove plants containing resins, oils, and waxes. Use crushed stone or gravel instead of flammable mulches in the Immediate Zone (0 to 5 feet around the house). Keep your landscape in good condition.
FIRE RESISTIVE CONSTRUCTION
ROOFING AND VENTS
Class A fire-rated roofing products, such as composite shingles, metal, concrete, and clay tiles, offer the best protection. Inspect shingles or roof tiles and replace or repair those that are loose or missing to prevent ember penetration. Box in eaves, but provide ventilation to prevent condensation and mildew. Roof and attic vents should be screened to prevent ember entry.
DECKS AND PORCHES
Never store flammable materials underneath decks or porches. Remove dead vegetation and debris from under decks and porches and between deck board joints.
SIDING AND WINDOWS
Embers can collect in small nooks and crannies and ignite combustible materials; radiant heat from flames can crack windows. Use fire-resistant siding such as brick, fiber-cement, plaster, or stucco, and use dual-pane tempered glass windows.
BE PREPARED
EMERGENCY RESPONDER ACCESS
Ensure your home and neighborhood have legible and clearly marked street names and numbers. Driveways should be at least 12 feet wide with a vertical clearance of 15 feet for emergency vehicle access.