Back in 2003, during a hot and dry October, over one million acres of California’s land burned in wildfires across the state. In the immediate aftermath, new studies came out that showed the main reason for wildfire spread was due to embers, not direct flames. By 2005, a new term for protecting your home against fire damage became popularized as “home hardening” and it became the basis for dozens of new construction laws and home renovation requirements in California. 

The January 2025 Los Angeles area fires are now the costliest wildfire event in US history, with total damage estimates nearing $70B-$100B. Those fires happened in densely populated areas, as they spread from house to house. Similarly destructive California wildfires in the past rarely saw damages above $10B, but those mostly occurred in rural areas. 

There are two main areas to focus on for your home hardening. One is the materials and methods used in building your home and the other is addressing landscaping that surrounds your house. This advice can be employed anywhere to prevent your home from succumbing to a rapidly spreading fire. What was once considered a niche concern for homeowners in dry regions is now more of a necessity for large areas of the country and for anyone who wants to protect their home.

Hardening your home structures

Preventing fire intrusion into homes is a good idea, but does incur some costs for implementation. To date, incentives and rebates have been great ways to help communities update to more fire resilient materials and methods. 

In California’s Marin County, local programs will match grants of up to $1,500 for home hardening and $1,000 for brush clearing to help homeowners make their homes safer. California lawmakers have also introduced state bills to create thousands in annual tax credits to offset costs of wildfire home hardening. 

When you’re building new or renovating a home, reducing fire danger usually adds a bit in costs over cheaper alternatives, and in many cases, the more fire-resistant option is a better, longer lasting solution (i.e. cement board siding far outlasts wood siding). The good news is if your home isn’t already equipped with hardening options, it’s something you can choose to do during future renovations. 

Roof and vents: Your roof is the most vulnerable part of your home when it comes to fire danger. And while roofs are commonly replaced about every 25-30 years on most homes, it’s a good idea to pick fire resistant roofing materials whenever you can. Metal or tile roofing is best, asphalt shingles are good, but wood shakes are generally dangerous (and also don’t last as long). 

Vents found in a typical roof along with a screened cover that can be added to cover them

The best way to protect your home and your roof from spreading fires is to cover all holes found in vents and soffits with 1/8-inch metal mesh that blocks embers from entering your attic while still allowing normal airflow. Retrofitting your home with proper vent screening is one of the most cost-effective wildfire hardening measures anyone can do.

Siding and windows: It’s a good idea to use fire-resistant materials like stucco, fiber cement, or brick whenever possible, as these will outlast alternatives. Multi-pane windows with tempered glass are much more resistant to intrusive fire heat than single-pane windows and have the added benefit of better insulation, keeping your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. For any existing wood siding, periodically check it for moisture or insect intrusion, and consider upgrading someday to better materials.

Fire-resistant fencing made from aluminum

Decks and fencing: Composite or heavy timber decking is generally safer than standard wood in fires. However, any fencing that connects directly to your house can act as a wick, bringing fire closer to your structure, so opt for fire-resistant fence materials, or use metal gates to create a “break” in any wood fencing directly contacting your home.

Fire spreading through filled gutters

Gutters: Keeping your gutters clean is key to preventing the spread of fires. Gutters filled with dry leaves are perfect traps for floating embers that can ignite and help spread fire into your roof and across an entire neighborhood.

Develop a zone of defensible space

The consensus among fire experts is to create a defensible space around your home that puts some separation between combustible plant materials and your home. These are generally divided into several zones.

Zone 0 (0-5 feet): This immediate home area should be as non-combustible as possible. Use gravel, pavers, or concrete walkways to create a buffer around the first few feet nearest your structure. Remove all dead vegetation, wood piles, and flammable materials against your house. This is your most critical zone and where you should concentrate your attention.

Zone 1 (5-30 feet): Keep this area lean and green. Space plants apart, remove dead vegetation promptly, keep grass mowed, and prune tree branches at least 10 feet away from your house and at least 6 feet up from the ground.

Before/after photo of Zone 2 space cleared of undergrowth in San Diego, CA

Zone 2 (30-100 feet): Create horizontal and vertical spacing between plants and trees. Thin out vegetation, remove understory plants that allow fire to climb from the ground to the tops of trees, and maintain cleared areas around any outbuildings.

Extended Zone (100-200 feet): If you have this much property, thin trees and remove heavy accumulations of dead vegetation. The exact distance depends on your slope as properties on steep hillsides will require more clearance downslope.

Embers traveling through the air cause wildfires to spread across neighborhoods and can sometimes land up to a mile away from a spreading blaze. All along the West Coast, any hot day with high winds during a dry time of year can create favorable conditions for a fire. 

A UC Berkeley study analyzing five recent California wildfires found that homes without any preventative measures survived unscathed only 20% of the time while homes with both defensible space and home hardening measures were undamaged 48% of the time, or more than double the survival rate.

Having a clear 0-5 foot zone up against your home and protecting your roof vents with metal mesh are two of the most critical (and affordable) ways you can prevent fire damage, not only helping stop wildfires from spreading, but also keeping your home and your family safe.