Steps to protect your home from wildfires
Research from the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, or IBHS, shows you can help make your home more resistant to wildfires by following these steps.
Watch for embers.
Embers can enter your home through attic vents and crawlspaces. Installing screens yourself or with a hired specialist can help keep them out.
Damage can also be caused by embers landing on a wooden roof. Think about upgrading to shingles with a high rating for fire-resistance. These are made with special materials to protect your roof from falling embers.
Maintain your deck.
Windblown embers also pose a threat to attached decks. To help minimize your risks, don't store anything on or below your deck that might easily catch fire.
If you’re thinking about upgrading your deck, consider making the space between boards at least a quarter inch to reduce fire spread.
Continue exploring ways to protect your home.
IBHS has a guide that shows other ways to help protect your home and family from future wildfires.
You can find tips to maintain your roof and gutters, create a buffer space around your home and more. Check out the wildfire ready home prep guide.
They also have roadmaps homes and businesses can follow to help limit wildfire damage. To explore your next steps and assess your risk, review their wildfire adaptation roadmaps.
