How to Fireproof Your House from Wildfires?

As thousands of residents of California struggle for yet another record year of wildfires, it has gone beyond being able to live in the hope that things will get better. 

Not only are these fires becoming more regular, but they are burning with much greater ferocity thanks to droughts that have dried out vast areas of California. 

And while it’s everybody’s duty to take action against climate change, we simply don’t know when things will improve. 

One way to protect your home, your family, and yourself is to create a fire-resistant home.

And that’s what I’m going to show you how to do in this article. 

The Most Devastating California Wildfires in Recent Years

Wildfires of 2021

Both the frequency and scale of wildfires have gone up in the recent years. Not only in California but also we're seeing devastating wildfire incidents in the Oregon (Bootleg, Cougar Peak, Smith, Big Hamlin) and Washington (Schneider Springs, Green Ridge, Twintyfive Mile). Even parts of Idaho (Boundary, Scarface, Rush Creek) and Montana (Trail Creek, Alder Creek, Throne Creek) are suffering. 

In 2021 (as of September 12) alone, there have been a total of 7,377 wildfire incidents in the USA. Among them, 35 are major (burning more than 1,000 acres) incidents.

So far, the Dixie, Caldor, and Monument are the most devastating ones. All of the three wildfires are still active. The alarming news is that they've found their place in the list of 20 largest wildfires in California.

If we look at historical data, we find that there are three particular regions in the Northern California that suffer the most. These are —

Apart from these regions, Shasta, Eldorado, Amador, Santa Clara, Alameda, and Fresno are quite vulnerable.

The presence of forestland is a major reason why these regions are prone to wildfires.

2020 — The Year of Wildfires

In August 2020, all hell broke down in the Northern California. We witnessed four catastrophic wildfires burning the region for months. There were —

The North Complex Fire burned parts of Butte and Plumas Counties for over four months. While the North Complex fire ravaged Butte county again, the LNU Lightning Complex fires Lake, Napa, Sonoma, Solano, and Yolo Counties. Both of these two fires originated from lightning strikes on the same day.

But wait, there's more!

Last year's lightning strikes also caused the SCU (Santa Clara Unit) Lightning Complex fires. Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin, Merced, and Stanislaus counties struggled with 47 days of hell. The SCU Lightning Complex fires burned almost 400,000 acres of land, making it the fourth-largest wildfire in the history of California.

If that was the fourth-largest wildfire, which is the largest one?

It's the August Complex!

This massive wildfire affected the Coast Range of Northern California, particularly Glenn, Lake, Mendocino, Tehama, Trinity, and Shasta Counties. A total of 1,032,648 acres of land burned to ashes.

The Creek (Fresno, Madera) in 2020 was also another major wildfire of last year.

Major Wildfire Incidents of the Last Decade (2010 - 2019)

The infamous 2018 Camp Fire was the most destructive wildfire in the history of California. This wildfire in Butte County killed 85 people, destroyed almost 19,000 buildings, and burned over 150,000 acres of land.

The Tubbs Fire in 2017 also inflicted heavy losses. This time, the wildfire was burning 18 Northern California counties simultaneously for almost a month! Napa, Sonoma, and Lake counties paid the highest price. The city of Santa Rosa went through hell — all 22 people who lost their lives in this wildfire were from this city.

But the list doesn't stop here.

Here's the list of major wildfires of the last decade that I haven't talk about yet —

Why Is California Prone to Frequent Wildfires?

Both the number and size of wildfires in California are at an all-time record high in the state's history. And you don’t have to be a resident close to one of these fires to see and smell the impact. 

People living in the Bay Area regularly see the sky tinted with clouds of smoke and that unmistakable smell of burning wood. 

But what’s at the heart of all these fires?

1. Climate Change

The science behind any fire is simple. You need a flammable material that is also dry. And the dryer the material is, the more combustible and susceptible to even the smallest spark it becomes. 

With global climate change driving many decades of drought-like conditions in large parts of California, vast areas of the state are now so dry that plants and trees are dying. And that leaves plenty of dry wood and shrubs to spread, well, like wildfire. 

2. Human Errors

Now, even with completely dry material, you need something to ignite the flames. Fires don’t just start on their own. 

In some cases, you can blame nature for a lightning strike at the wrong time in the wrong place. Most often, though, human error or malicious intent is to blame for the fires. 

In some cases, it’s an illegal campfire. But there have also been severe incidences of fires caused by corporations. Like the energy company Pacific Gas and Electric Company who eventually had to accept liability for the Tubbs fire of 2017. 

3. Years Of Fire Suppression and Dead Vegetation

This might sound crazy, but let me explain.

For decades, California suppressed every possible fire in the state, and it did so extremely well. The problem is that those actions built up enormous reserves of dead vegetation that became very dry. And that’s what has become a major problem as it provides the ideal starter fuel for wildfires. 

All that undergrowth in forests would normally have burnt away every year in small and controllable fires. But now we’re dealing with the effects of those decisions. 

4. Strong Winds

And finally, there is the strong Santa Ana wind which has brought increased wildfires in the winter months due to dry air and strong wind blowing in from the Great Basin area starting in October. 

Fires at this time of year spread three times faster, and they have been responsible for the vast majority of economic losses. And scientists are now exploring the link between climate change and stronger Santa Ana winds.

That link would complete a vicious circle of all four of these main reasons for wildfires. 

How To Retrofit A Fireproof House?

If you’re building a new house completely from the ground up, then you should talk to your architect about designing it completely in a fire-resistant way. 

But for most people, it’s going to be a case of figuring out ways to add some fire resistance for added protection. 

1. Start With The Roof

Your roof is the most vulnerable part of your house and where most fires spread. 

Unfortunately, this could also be the most expensive thing to retrofit. If you have wood shingles, then you’re not going to have much fire resistance at all. Consider replacing them with non-combustible building materials like composite tiles or, if suitable, install a metal roof. 

You also need to make sure there is no combustible material under the roof tiles where hot embers could get in. 

2. Protect Vents

The second step to a fireproof home is to find all the outside vents in your house and fit them with a metal mesh.

Avoid any fiberglass or plastic covers as these will melt very quickly when the heat builds up outside. 

3. Assess Eaves And Soffits

Next, you need to take a close look at eaves and soffit vents. Many older homes have open eaves where heat can build up and concentrate, resulting in the roof catching fire. 

To improve a fireproof home, make sure your eaves are properly soffited with fire-resistant materials. 

Also, check that the soffit vents are small enough not to allow burning embers in and possibly into the attic.

4. Upgrade Your Windows

First of all, you should have multi-pane tempered glass windows. These will withstand dangerous heat a lot better without shattering and then allowing embers to enter your home.

If you have a lot of landscaping and vegetation close to your house, then also consider installing non-combustible screens or shutters.

5. Remodel Walls

All of your external walls have to be made with or covered in fire-retardant building materials. That means possibly covering them from the foundation to the roof with stucco fiber, fiber cement, or an approved external insulation and siding material. 

In recent years, they are commonly used construction materials, but it’s best for homeowners to make sure in an older building whether there is anything on the walls and siding that could catch fire. 

6. Check Your Rain Gutter

Ideally, you should have a metal gutter if your home is in an area prone to wildfires. But it’s also important to keep your gutters completely clear throughout the year. 

Leaves and plant debris will completely dry out and very quickly catch fire. 

7. Cover Your Chimney

Add a metal screen to your chimney to stop embers from getting out and in. Our landscape has become very dry even in winter months when you might light a stove at night. And that could cause a significant risk of a blaze very close to your home. 

8. Upgrade Fences

While it might not be financially possible to replace an entire boundary fence with non-combustible material, that might also not be necessary. 

There are two things you can do.

Firstly, make sure that the fence doesn’t connect to your home for any flames to spread to the main building, a garage, or even a separate shed.

Alternatively, replace the last section of a fence that does connect to buildings with fire-resistant materials to reduce the risk of fire spreading. 

9. Prepare Your Decks

Replacing decks with fire-resistant materials is generally a good idea, but there are some things you can do with a smaller budget. One option is to install metal flashing where the deck meets the house.

Alternatively, replace the decking boards closest to your house with non-combustible boards to create a barrier to stop flames.

Create Defensible Spaces To Fight Against Wildfire 

So, we’ve covered what you need to do to create a fire-resistant home. Now we need to turn to your property surrounding your home to create even more fire safety. 

What Is A Defensible Space?

Smart Landscaping

Here are some tips for adding fire protection to your property. 

Zone 1: 

As tempting as it is to have beautiful plants, flowers, and evergreen shrubs all-around your house, that’s a landscaping plan that can cost you dearly and destroy your home. 

Here are some action items:

Zone 2:

This is where you need to be particularly smart and assess everything from the ground up to the tops of trees. 

Keep Driveways And Access Clear

You have to make sure that the access to your property is clear during wildfire season so that fire trucks and other emergency vehicles can gain access. 

If you live in a residential suburban area, then get together with your neighbors to make sure the main roads in the area are not unnecessarily narrow because of parked cars. 

And if you have concrete pillars or an entrance gate, make sure that it’s easy for a large fire truck to get in. You don’t want the fire department to spend valuable minutes trying to navigate a tight space. 

5 Essential Wildfire Prepping Tips to Follow

At this stage, you have plenty of information to prepare your home and property. Now it’s time for a few business and home safety tips.

1. Build Up Emergency Supplies

Preparing for wildfire season isn’t just about fire safety. Even if you’re not immediately affected by a nearby fire, you could be cut off from your nearest town to get essential supplies. 

That’s why it’s important to have a few weeks' worth of food and water supplies should a fire burn for longer. These should be mainly non-perishable goods, and you need to rotate them on a regular basis. 

2. Plan Backup Communication

One of the first things you’re likely to lose is your landline phone and internet connection. But even your cell phone connection can go if your closest towers are destroyed in the fire. 

That’s why you should have a two-way battery-powered radio. And encourage the people in other buildings around you to have one as well so that you can support each other and help out when needed. 

3. Learn First Aid Skills

Ideally, you should be long gone from your home before there is a risk of it being destroyed. But sometimes, these fires change direction so quickly that you need to move from providing fire safety to providing first aid. 

Find a nearby emergency aid course and pay close attention to what skills and materials you need to help someone suffering from burns or smoke inhalation. 

4. Create An Evacuation Plan

The first thing you need to do is look at a map of your area and find all the routes to safety. You never know where the fire might be coming from, so you need to be familiar with those roads. 

You also need to make a definitive decision about how close you will let a fire get before you evacuate. Mark a definite line on a map and then stick with that. 

If or when it comes to the day where a wildfire crosses that line, gather up your loved ones and pets and leave; don’t ever second guess your evacuation plan. 

5. Pack An Evacuation Bag

So many people have been caught out by the speed with which wildfires can move. That’s why you have to have all your essentials packed and ready to go at all times. 

These things should include passports and other important documents, medication, phones, laptops and tablets, and anything valuable. 

Just don’t let that all become five suitcases full of stuff. In an evacuation situation, you want to be able to get in your car within minutes to get to safety.

5 Best Wildfire Preparedness Essentials that Can Save Your Life

1. First Aid Kit

2. A Hard Casing for Your First Aid Kit

3. Adjustable Head Lamp

4. Emergency Weather AM/FM Radio

5. Fire Blankets

FAQ

Take Action For A Fire Resistant Home 

Creating a fire-resistant home doesn’t have to cost a fortune. There are plenty of things you can do from the above list to significantly reduce the risk of a catastrophic fire. 

Start with your landscaping, and then make some upgrades to the buildings starting with the low-cost items. It’s an investment that could save you a fortune and even your life. 

And it’s even possible that insurance companies will provide favorable quotes for homeowners that take proactive steps. 

Don’t forget to comment below if you have some additional tips.