USAA Wildfire Guide: Prepare, stay safe, protect yourself and your property

Your ability to survive a wildfire and reduce your risk of property damage can improve with good planning and preparation. The more you know about wildfire preparedness and wildfire home protection, the better you'll be able to reduce your home's risks and lessen the potential damage. This guide will help you with tips to prepare your property, ways to stay safe and how to recover from wildfires.

We're here to help you pinpoint spots around your home that are most vulnerable to flying embers and sparks. We'll also walk you through the steps to help fortify different zones of your property against the threat of an approaching wildfire by creating a “wildfire defensible space.”

Don't wait until danger is at your door to figure out what to do. Let's find simple and low-cost actions you can take to protect your home and your family before a wildfire threatens you.

Prepare: Make your home more resistant to wildfire.

With housing developments expanding into wildland areas and droughts affecting otherwise mild climates, even if you don't think you live in a wildfire-prone area, your risk may be greater than you realize. Don't make the mistake of thinking that a fire down the street isn't a threat.

Wind-blown embers and radiant heat can threaten your home long before the flames are feeding off your property. It's critical to plan for the worst. One of the best ways to do that is to conduct an examination of your home, inside and out, paying special attention to five critical areas.

1. Roof. Make sure yours has a Class A rating, which means the covering and underlayment provide the most effective resistance to fire. If not, plan to replace it when possible. Consider installing metal angle flashing at the edge of the roof to reduce fire risk.
2. Gutters. Keep them free of debris such as leaves and pine needles. Even if the actual wildfire is down the road, swirling embers can ignite the dried leaves and cause massive damage.
3. Foundation. Decks, porches, and fences made of nonflammable materials are ideal, but no matter how they're constructed, they should be kept clear of leaves and debris. Consider installing metal flashing where wood decking meets the siding, especially if it's combustible.
4. Windows and vents. Double-paned or tempered glass can withstand approaching heat. Clear out window screens and attic vents. If possible, build in under-eave and side-roof vents to make it more difficult for embers to blow in.
5. Landscaping. Keep organic flammable materials such as trees, shrubbery, and mulch from direct contact with your house as they can lead fire to the siding. If you're building a home — or planning to revamp garden beds, walkways and other outside features — it's prime time to explore fire-resistant landscaping Opens in New Window.‍ ‍ ^{See note 1}

Create a wildfire defensible space.

A wildfire defensible space is a natural or landscaped area around a structure that's been adapted to reduce fire hazards. This space is critical to slowing or stopping the spread of wildfire as it approaches your property, and it gives your home its best chance of survival.

A wildfire defensible space is divided into three zones. Each zone has a “mission” and a set of protective measures to take based on its proximity to your home.

Here are some of the ground rules for creating a wildfire defensible space:

Zone 1: 0 to 5 feet from your home

The goal is to prevent fire from coming right up to your home. As the immediate area surrounding your home, it's critical to remove anything that could be ignited from flying embers.

• Install nonflammable ground cover (rock, cement, stone), and plant only a few fire-resistant plants around your home.
• Ensure corners, nooks and crannies are free of leaves and other debris that can gather and ignite with wind-blown embers.
• Keep your deck area, both underneath and on the top, free of combustible materials such as brooms, propane tanks and firewood.
• Keep plants pruned to prevent excessive growth.
• Don't store firewood or other combustibles within this zone.
• Trim trees so branches don't overhang the roof.
• Keep the roof deck and gutters clear of debris, such as leaves and pine needles.
• Clear ground debris like fallen leaves, twigs, and pine needles.
• Keep grass mowed and watered.

Zone 2: 5 to 30 feet from your home

The goal is to reduce fuels that feed a wildfire approaching your home. This intermediate area can be critical in slowing a wildfire, so diligent upkeep is crucial.

• Store gas and propane tanks appropriately.
• Remove dead or dying trees and shrubs.
• Trim lower branches on mature trees 6 to 10 feet from the ground or one-third the height of the tree, whichever is less.
• Thin shrubs so there are at least 15 feet between them. Keep them pruned to prevent excessive growth and remove dead stems annually.
• Mow or trim wild grass to a maximum height of 6 inches.
• Keep organic material that can fuel a fire from accumulating greater than 4 inches deep.
• Keep woodpiles at least 30 feet away and uphill from all structures. Clear any combustibles or flammable vegetation.

Zone 3: 30 to 100-plus feet from your home

The goal is to improve forest health and wildlife habitat and safety. As in Zone 2, landscaping plays a primary role in preventing a wildfire from reaching your home. It's important to work with your neighbors to create a wildfire defensible space that protects both your homes if there's less than 100 feet of space between them.

• Keep dead or dying trees to no more than three per acre.
• Clear smaller plants between trees.
• Maintain trees along roads and paths by keeping lower branches trimmed to help firefighters access roads and property.
• Pruning trees 10 feet up from the ground can also help keep a ground fire from climbing into the forest's crown.

Stay Safe: Ensure your family's safety during wildfire.

First and foremost, if you feel it's unsafe to stay, evacuate immediately. Don't waste precious time debating whether to wait for an emergency notification or trying to hold a wildfire at bay with a garden hose.

1. Be ready to react. Designate a safe room or go to a community building where smoke levels are lower. The designated safe room should be closed off from outside air. Include a portable air cleaner to keep indoor pollution levels low. Be prepared to place wet towels under door and window openings.
2. Know what to do inside. Know how to evacuate your pets. When you're making your evacuation plan, include your pets or livestock. Make sure your pets have the supplies they need like food and medication. Evacuating livestock may be a larger task, so it's important to establish and practice a plan.
3. Turn off air-conditioning and air-circulation systems. Move furniture away from windows and sliding glass doors. Turn on lights in each room for visibility in case of smoke. Close all doors and windows, but don't lock them. Remove flammable curtains, close all metal blinds and nonflammable window coverings.
4. Know what to do outside. If there's a safe building nearby, get inside immediately. If not, go to an area clear of vegetation. Don't go outside until the fire has passed and the outside temperature has dropped.
5. If you're in a vehicle and can't get to a safe building, turn on headlights and hazard lights to make your vehicle more visible in heavy smoke. Turn off your air conditioner and close all vents.
6. If there's not an active wildfire in your area but you want to be prepared for future wildfires, create a wildfire action plan Opens in New Window.‍ ‍ ^{See note 1} Practice it with your family to minimize panic and avoid injury when the threat is real.

Recover: Steps to take if you've been impacted by a wildfire.

1. Take steps to protect your personal safety. Listen to authorities and local news for updates to find out when it's safe to return home and if water is safe to drink.
2. Inspect your property and assess the damage. If property damage is found, consider filing a claim.
3. Take photos of any damage before you remove debris or make temporary repairs. If you need to make temporary repairs to prevent further damage, save the receipts for reimbursement consideration. Avoid making permanent repairs until your claims adjuster has assessed damage.
4. File a claim if your vehicle is damaged by a natural disaster. Take photos of any damage before you remove debris or make temporary repairs.

If there's only damage to your auto glass, file an auto glass claim. If there's damage to more than just your auto glass, file an auto claim.

If you need to make temporary repairs to make it safe to drive, save the receipts for reimbursement consideration.