The recent Los Angeles wildfires have devastated thousands of homes, leaving communities grappling with loss and recovery. As homeowners begin the rebuilding process, it’s crucial to incorporate fire-resistant investments that can enhance resilience and reduce risks in the future. With climate change increasing the frequency and intensity of wildfires, smart building strategies can protect your home, improve property value, and potentially lower insurance costs.
Be sure to work closely with your architects and engineers to ensure that modifications align with local building codes and best practices. Additionally, ordering a ClimateCheck property-level climate risk report here can provide valuable insights into your home’s specific wildfire risk and help tailor mitigation strategies to your location. You can also visit our state and city pages to learn about the risk of a region: City of Los Angeles. State of California or read in more detail about per-state risk on our blog: Wildfires: States with highest risk to real estate property.
1. Use Fire-Resistant Building Materials
- Roofing: Opt for Class A fire-rated materials such as metal, clay tile, slate, or asphalt shingles that resist ignition from embers.
- Siding: Choose non-combustible materials like fiber cement, stucco, or brick to reduce fire spread.
- Windows: Install dual-pane, tempered glass windows to withstand heat and reduce the chance of breakage from flying embers.
- Doors: Use solid-core or metal doors with fire-resistant weather stripping.
2. Create Defensible Space Around Your Home
Fire-resistant landscaping can reduce the spread of flames and improve firefighter access. Use the three-zone strategy:
- Immediate Zone (0-5 feet):
- Remove all combustible materials (mulch, dry leaves, firewood).
- Use non-flammable ground cover like gravel, rocks, or stone.
- Keep the area clean and clear of debris.
- Intermediate Zone (5-30 feet):
- Trim tree branches at least 6-10 feet off the ground.
- Space out trees so their canopies don’t touch.
- Choose fire-resistant plants like lavender, sage, and agave.
- Extended Zone (30-100 feet):
- Remove dead vegetation and underbrush.
- Keep trees well-spaced to break fire paths.
3. Upgrade Vents and Openings to Keep Embers Out
Wind-driven embers are a leading cause of home ignition during wildfires. Protect your home by:
- Upgrading vents: Install ember-resistant mesh screens (1/8-inch or smaller).
- Enclosing eaves and soffits: Use non-combustible materials to seal openings.
4. Install Fire-Resistant Decks, Fences, and Attachments
- Decking: Choose fire-resistant materials like composite decking or fire-retardant-treated wood. Keep the space beneath decks clear of flammable materials.
- Fencing: Use metal, concrete, or fire-resistant wood for any fencing attached to your home.
- Gutters: Install metal gutters with debris guards to prevent leaf accumulation.
5. Improve Water Access & Fire Response Readiness
- Hose Accessibility: Ensure long hoses can reach all areas of your property.
- Secondary Water Sources: Install fire-resistant pumps for pools or wells.
- Fire Sprinklers & Suppression Systems: Consider indoor sprinklers or an exterior home fire protection system.
6. Regular Maintenance & Risk Monitoring
Wildfire risk is dynamic, so ongoing maintenance and risk monitoring are critical.
- Regularly clean gutters and roofs to remove debris.
- Keep trees and shrubs pruned to prevent overgrowth.
- Monitor climate risk trends with a property-level ClimateCheck risk report.
By integrating fire-smart building practices and climate risk insights, homeowners can rebuild safer, stronger, and more resilient communities in Los Angeles and beyond.