Preparing for Wildfires in California: Practical Steps for Homeowners and Renters
Wildfires remain one of the most significant hazards affecting California communities.
Whether you live in foothill suburbs, coastal canyons, or urban-wildland edges, proactive wildfire preparedness reduces risk and speeds recovery. Focus on defensible space, home hardening, emergency planning, and indoor air protection to protect people, pets, and property.
Create and Maintain Defensible Space
– Establish a fuels-reduced zone around your home by clearing dry brush, dead vegetation, and fallen leaves.
Maintain a lean, clean, and green area close to structures.
– Space trees and large shrubs to prevent fire from moving from the ground to the canopy. Remove lower branches within several feet of the ground to reduce ladder fuels.
– Store firewood and flammable materials away from the house and uphill from structures when possible.
Harden Your Home Against Embers
– Replace or screen vents with ember-resistant products; install metal screens on eaves and roof openings to block embers.
– Use non-combustible or Class A roofing materials—tile, metal, and asphalt shingles rated for high performance are preferable.
– Replace or protect wood siding, decks, and fences with fire-resistant materials or treatments. Enclose underside of decks to prevent ignition from embers.
– Use tempered or multi-pane glass for windows and install exterior shutters or heavy drapes to protect interior from radiant heat and flying embers.
Make an Evacuation and Communication Plan
– Identify multiple evacuation routes from your neighborhood in case primary roads are closed. Practice timing and movement with family members.
– Prepare a go-bag for everyone in your household that includes essential documents, medications, water, snacks, flashlight, batteries, a portable phone charger, and copies of identification and insurance.
– Coordinate meeting points and emergency contacts, and sign up for local alert systems and wildfire maps so you receive real-time evacuation notices.
– If you have pets or livestock, plan transport and temporary housing options, and keep carriers, leashes, and vaccination records ready.
Protect Indoor Air Quality and Health
– Wildfire smoke poses serious health risks. Have N95 or equivalent respirators available and know how to fit them properly.
– Create a clean room in your home by sealing leaks around doors and windows and using portable air purifiers with true HEPA filters.
Run HVAC systems with fresh-air intake closed and a high-efficiency filter if outdoor air quality is poor.
– Monitor local air quality through official sources and avoid outdoor exertion when smoke levels are elevated.
Insurance, Financial Preparedness, and Documentation
– Review homeowner or renter insurance policies to understand coverage, limits, deductibles, and procedures for filing claims after fire damage.
– Keep digital and physical copies of important documents—property deeds, insurance policies, medical records, and photos of valuable belongings—in a secure, portable format.
– Consider pre-planning temporary housing and budgeting for out-of-pocket expenses that often arise immediately after evacuations.
Community Action and Resources
– Participate in neighborhood defensible-space programs, chipping days, and community wildfire preparedness events. Collective action reduces risk across whole neighborhoods.
– Work with local fire agencies and community organizations to learn about fuel-reduction projects, evacuation routes, and volunteer opportunities.
Start now: assess your property, assemble your emergency supplies, and practice your evacuation plan. Small changes—clearing a narrow zone around your home, installing ember-resistant vents, or keeping a filled go-bag—can make a decisive difference when wildfire threatens.