HELP YOUR HOME STAND-UP TO WILDFIRE
Rapidly spreading by strong winds and dry fuels, wildfires have the potential to transform tiny embers into raging fires in a matter of minutes. Although no home can be fully fireproof, you can take measures to make your own home more fire-resistant and provide your family with more time to flee.
Here are ten upgrades that are worth considering, why they are important, and what they usually cost.
1. Fire-Resistant Roofing
Why it is important: Your roof is your home's most exposed area in a wildfire. Embers swept through the air can fall on shingles, setting off a fire that extends rapidly to the inside of your house.
What to Do: Class A fire-rated materials such as metal, clay tile, or composite shingles will not ignite and will prevent fires from spreading.
Estimated Cost: $10,000 – $25,000
2. Ember-Resistant Vents
Why it matters: Embers will easily pass through attic, crawl space, or soffit vents, starting multiple fires inside the house.
What to Do: Fine-mesh-screen ember-resistant vent covers keep embers out without hindering ventilation.
Estimated Cost: $200 - $1,000
3. Dual-Pane or Tempered Glass Windows
Why it Matters: Wildfire radiant heat can break windows, allowing flames and embers to enter.
What to Do: Dual-pane or tempered glass windows are significantly more heat-resistant, providing a crucial barrier.
Estimated Cost: $3,000 – $10,000 for the typical home
4. Fire-Resistant Siding
Why it Matters: Wood siding is highly flammable when struck with fire.
What to Do: Fiber cement, stucco, or masonry siding are not combustible and provide a solid outer barrier.
Estimated Cost: $10,000 – $20,000 to replace siding, depending on the size of your home
5. Defensible Space Landscaping
Why it Matters: Wildfires need fuel to spread, and the typical home yard has plenty. Trees, shrubs, wood chips, and wooden trellis are all lovely features of a home that can be deadly in a wildfire.
What to Do: Clearing brush, planting trees far enough apart, and planting fire-resistant vegetation creates "defensible space" that prevents flames from spreading to your house. Alternating the use of bark mulch with gravel, stone, or a moist lawn creates a fire break between your house and a moving wildfire.
Estimated Cost: $1,000 – $5,000, depending on the size of your yard.
6. Sealed Eaves and Soffits
Why it Matters: Open eaves and gaps beneath roofs allow embers to get trapped and smolder.
What to Do: Sealing them with fire-resistant materials removes hidden ignition sources.
Estimated Cost: $2,000 – $7,000
7. Fire-Resistant Decking and Fencing
Why it Matters: Wooden decking, fences, and patio furniture act like tinder, carrying fire right up to the house.
What to Do: Installing non-combustible decking, fencing, and outdoor furniture made from metal, masonry, or composite instead of wood removes that risk.
Estimated Cost: $5,000 – $15,000
8. Gutter Guards
Why it Matters: Decaying pine needles, sticks, and dry leaves accumulating in your gutters provide an ideal fuel for embers.
What to Do: Gutter guards and periodic rooftop debris cleaning reduce the likelihood of ignition.
Estimated Cost: $500 – $2,000
9. Fire/Smoke Detection and Sprinkler Systems
Why it Matters: Flammable furniture, carpets, drapes, building materials, and dry vegetation provide easy fuel for spreading flames.
What to Do: Interior and exterior sprinkler systems linked to a fire/smoke detection system can stop or slow spreading flames by creating a barrier of moisture and extinguishing embers. While these systems may not be powerful enough to extinguish a raging blaze, sprinklers can slow or prevent the spread of flames, providing your family with valuable time to escape and firefighters with time to arrive at the scene.
Estimated Cost: $2,000 – $10,000
10. Fire-Resistant Exterior Doors
Why it matters: Wooden doors can ignite when exposed to extreme heat.
What to Do: Replacing wooden doors with metal or solid-core doors will help make your home more fire resistant and, importantly, protect your main routes of escape.
Estimated Cost: $1,000 – $3,000
Final Thoughts
There is no one perfect solution to protecting your home from wildfires—rather, you will need to layer multiple solutions to make your home as flame-resistant and safe as possible. From roofs to landscapes, every improvement enhances your home's ability to withstand flame, heat, and embers. Even modest investments, like ember-resistant vents and defensible space, can make a huge difference when seconds matter.
Wildfire Home Protection Checklist
GOOD (budget-friendly first steps)
Gutter cleaning & guards ($500 – $2,000) – Keep leaves and needles from fueling fires.
Defensible space landscaping ($1,000 – $5,000) – Clear out brush, use ember-resistant plants.
Ember-resistant vents ($200 – $1,000) – Keep embers out of attic/crawl spaces.
Sealed eaves & soffits ($2,000 – $7,000) – Keep hidden ember ignition out.
BETTER (mid-level improvements)
Dual-pane/tempered glass windows ($3,000 – $10,000) – Resist heat and shattering.
Fire-resistant decking/fencing ($5,000 – $15,000) – Remove fire paths to home.
Exterior fire-rated doors ($1,000 – $3,000) – Solid shield from heat and flames.
Sprinkler/misting systems ($2,000 – $10,000) – Moisture barrier for greater protection.
BEST (Highest degree of protection)
Class A fire-rated roofing ($10,000 – $25,000) – Covers roof against embers.
Non-combustible siding ($10,000 – $20,000) – Keeps exterior walls from burning.
Complete fire-resistant exterior retrofit (varies) – Comprehensive upgrades for worst areas.
