Wildfire readiness for California homeowners and renters
California’s wildland-urban interface means many communities face wildfire risk each year.
Preparing proactively reduces danger, protects property value, and keeps families safer when fires threaten.
Focus on three priorities: reduce fuel around your home, harden structures against embers, and have a clear, practiced emergency plan.
Create defensible space
– Clear flammable vegetation at least several feet from structures—trim grasses, remove dead brush, and prune tree limbs.
– Maintain a lean, green zone closest to your home by using low-flammability plants, irrigating appropriately, and keeping mulch to a minimum near foundations.
– Keep gutters, roofs, and eaves free of leaves and needles; embers commonly ignite debris in rooflines.
Harden your home against embers
– Use ember-resistant vents, install dual-pane or tempered glass windows, and seal gaps around soffits, eaves, and chimneys to prevent ember entry.
– Choose fire-resistant roofing, siding, and decking materials where feasible.
Metal, tile, stucco, and fiber-cement are better choices than untreated wood.
– Store firewood and combustible materials well away from your house and outbuildings.
Assemble an emergency kit and evacuation plan
– Build a grab-and-go kit with water, nonperishable food, first-aid supplies, masks (N95 or equivalent for smoke), flashlights, a battery-powered radio, chargers, and copies of important documents.
– Prepare evacuation bags for each household member and pets.
Include leashes, carriers, medications, and vaccination records.
– Map out multiple evacuation routes and a reunification plan in case family members are separated. Practice the plan regularly so it becomes second nature.
Manage air quality and health risks
– Wildfire smoke can travel long distances. Keep indoor air cleaner by closing windows and doors, using HEPA filters in portable air purifiers, and running central HVAC with clean filters on recirculate.
– Limit strenuous outdoor activity during heavy smoke.
Recognize vulnerable groups—children, older adults, pregnant people, and those with respiratory or heart conditions—who may need extra precautions.
– Have N95 or equivalent respirators available and know how to wear them properly.
Stay informed about utilities and alerts
– Enroll in local emergency alert systems and community notification services. Follow official agencies and local utilities for evacuation orders, road closures, and power-safety shutdowns (PSPS) notices.
– Plan for power outages: maintain a battery backup for critical devices, use surge-protected power packs, and consider a professionally installed backup generator if energy reliability is crucial.
Document, insure, and safeguard records
– Photograph or videotape your home and possessions to speed insurance claims. Store digital copies offsite or in cloud storage.
– Review homeowner or renter insurance to understand coverage for fire damage and displacement; ask your agent about endorsements for debris removal and additional living expenses.
– Keep an up-to-date inventory of valuables and serial numbers.
Get involved in your neighborhood
– Join or start a community Firewise or neighborhood resilience program. Shared mitigation—clearing fuel breaks, coordinating defensible space, and helping vulnerable neighbors—multiplies impact.
– Volunteer with local emergency response organizations to better understand protocols and help build community capacity.
Wildfire preparedness is an ongoing process, not a one-time effort. Regular maintenance, practiced plans, and community coordination significantly reduce risk and improve outcomes when fires occur. Taking these steps now helps protect lives, property, and peace of mind.