HOME HARDENING
CREATE DEFENSIBLE SPACE
While many of us take precautions inside the home, we fail to protect the exterior against fire exposures.
Fires require heat, air, and fuel to burn. The summer months naturally provide heat, and air naturally occurs year-round. The only factor you can control is the fuel around your home. Fortunately, there are many ways to minimize readily available fuels. After clearing debris from the roof and gutters, move to the base of the home and rake or leaf-blow to remove all flammable materials. Also, move wood piles, lumber, garbage, and pallets away from structures. Similarly, keep propane and gas tanks away from the house. Choe explains, “Cleaning gutters in the dry season matters because dried leaves lying in gutters create the perfect wick from the ground to the roofline. Class A roofing material and an 18” clearance of noncombustible material next to your foundation free of needles and leaves buys time for the wind to change direction.” A bit further out from the foundation, evaluate your landscaping. Cut away dead plants, keep dry grass trimmed low throughout the season, and look into fire-resistant options for plantings closest to the home. In forested areas, trim lower branches six to ten feet from the ground and ten feet from any structures. If you have a wood deck, treat it as part of the home, eliminating nearby fuels. “Defensible space begins at the ground’s surface for the first five feet of your structure,” explains Choe. “Mulch, dead leaves, and wood planters are torches waiting to happen when embers rain down during ember storms. Trimming tree branches a minimum of 6-10 feet from the ground prevents vertical fuel that can quickly spread fire from bushes to roof overhangs. My approach is to recommend this as part of ongoing maintenance vs. one-off cleaning. Seasonal maintenance will take 15-30 mins per side of your home. Trimming up 20% of overcrowded growth can reduce exposure much more than expensive remodels.”
According to Lo Choe, Owner of Aura Fire Safety in the San Francisco Bay Area: “If we’re talking about the leading cause of destruction during wildfires, 9 out of 10 times, it’s embers and not ribboning flames. That little piece of knowledge still blows most homeowners away!” This knowledge allows homeowners to assess threats differently. Embers are small bits of fire that can be carried significant distances with a bit of wind. That means it doesn’t take an inferno to damage your home—a spark from your neighbor’s chimney, an open grill, or a backyard burn down the road can be enough to ignite with the right fuel. To protect your home, start by clearing and inspecting the roof. Remove dry leaves, pine needles, and twigs. Then check for loose or missing roofing material. An ember can easily ignite flammable material on the roof or find its way into unprotected openings. The same applies to gutters, so be sure to check and clean them out regularly. Similarly, vents along the foundation and attic can provide access to embers. When replacing vents, look for those made with ember-resistant fine metal mesh. Choe says, “Swapping to ember-resistant vent covers for less than $300 alters your property’s chance of survival.” Another tip: While you’re inspecting the exterior of your home, seal any gaps along windows, corners, or the roofline where embers can enter the home’s frame. Also, fill holes around entry points for cables and pipes. These small tasks create a protective barrier and increase your reaction time if embers target your home. “Details make the difference, and most details are out of sight up high,” Choe warns.
11
May 2026
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