Protect and Fire-Proof Your Home in a Wildfire Zone: 6 Tips From Experts

By now, you’ve no doubt seen the horrific images out of Los Angeles, CA. The devastating wildfires in Pacific Palisades have destroyed thousands of acres, forcing folks in 10,000 homes to flee.

Among the displaced and the distraught are dozens of celebrities like Spencer Pratt and James Woods, both of whom lost their homes to the fire. In fact, the latest reports say that over 1,000 structures have been destroyed and several deaths have been confirmed. 

While harmful fires in California have increased in the last decade, harmful wildfires have been popping up nationwide, from Oregon to Arizona, to Maryland and even New Jersey. 

Many now are rightfully concerned about whether their homes are properly protected from wildfires. While no one can completely fireproof their home, hardening can help shore up vulnerable areas.

What To Know Before Buying A Home In A Fire Zone

If you’re in the market for a house in the Western U.S., where wildfires have become common, the reality is you’ll likely encounter a home that is in a fire zone. 

In 2024, approximately 5.5% of homes in the United States were considered at severe or extreme risk of fire damage, according to Realtor’s latest climate report.  Nearly 39.1% of these high-risk homes (worth $1.7 trillion) are in California.

“When buying a home in wildfire-risk areas, you should start by researching the local fire history, fire maps, and hazard zones to understand wildfire patterns,” says fire industry veteran Troy Marshall, vice-president of fireproofing at NanoTech Materials. “You’ll also want to verify the availability of a reliable water source for firefighting, such as a well, pond, or even a pool.”

Scorching temperatures and drought conditions make it nearly impossible to prevent some fires, but it’s to a home buyer’s benefit to do their research. To assist with that. Realtor.com® displays wildfire risk information for homes and communities in our listings. 

This information is available for free to help home shoppers make informed decisions and to empower homeowners to protect their properties. 

Empowered with this information, you can then make the decision if buying a home in a fire zone is right for you. And if you’re willing to make the leap, here are some ways to keep your home safe.

1. Understand What Your Insurance Covers

Once your home goes under contract, you’ll likely start the search for home insurance. After all, how to protect your home goes beyond dealing with the immediate danger; it’s also about preparing for the aftermath. 

But here’s the catch: If your house is in a wildfire zone, you might have difficulty finding a company that will cover it.

“Obtaining homeowners insurance in wildfire-prone areas can be challenging and expensive,” says King. “Some insurance companies may refuse coverage altogether, while others may offer policies with higher premiums or deductibles.”

One thing that might help you get coverage in a wildfire zone is if your neighborhood is a recognized community under Firewise USA or a similar organization. The organization is likely the only reason I didn’t have a harder time getting my home covered.

The takeaway: Start your research early, find out what coverage your neighbors secured, and be prepared for potential limitations and higher costs.

2. Harden Your Home By Updating Your Roof 

Short of making sure it isn’t about to fall down, most of us don’t think much about a roof when buying a new home. But if you live in a wildlife zone, you probably should.

“When considering a home, particularly in wildfire-prone areas, the material of your roof becomes a critical factor,” adds Marshall. “The roof is highly susceptible to embers during a wildfire, and non-combustible roof materials can prevent the spread of fire to the house’s interior.”

I was lucky enough to already have a metal roof on my home, which is often considered one of the best materials due to its exceptional longevity (sometimes up to 70 years). However, there are other good materials, including clay and concrete tiles, slate, fiber-cement composite, and asphalt shingles with fire ratings.

The takeaway: When shopping for homes in a wildfire zone, be sure the roof is noncombustible or at least offers some fire resistance. If it doesn’t, consider using this as a point of negotiation.

“If the existing roof is not fire-resistant, the buyer may use this as leverage to negotiate a lower price or request that the seller upgrade the roof as a condition of the sale,” says Denver real estate agent Sarah King, of Find Your Home Denver.

3. Install Ember-Resistant Vents 

Embers also tend to get trapped in vents or can blow into an attic or crawl space. This can lead to homes catching fire from the inside out. Fortunately, you can take protective measures to address this issue.

“Install flame- and ember-resistant vents, which protect against ember casts and direct flame impingement,” suggests Joe Torres, CEO of wildfire risk and mitigation company All Risk Shield. “Ember-resistant mesh in one-eighth to one-sixteenth will also offer protection.”

Always consult with a contractor or architect before installing ember-resistant vents to ensure that your home will still have adequate ventilation. You can also talk to your contractor about installing stucco, as it is among the most fire-resistant forms of siding. 

The takeaway: Be pro-active. Home preparedness starts before you get your is in peril. In addition, consider investing in fireproof safes for your most important valuables.

4. Create a Safe “Zero Zone” Around Your House

A quick explainer: A “zone zero” is something wildfire experts use to refer to an imaginary 5-foot-deep perimeter around your home, ideally containing zero fuel sources.

Look around your home, and see if there is anything resembling a “swarm of wood matches all landing here,” says Clark Stevens, architect of the demonstration Fire Resilient Home.

Those potential matches could be combustibles (like propane tanks) or flammable materials (like plants or wooden furniture). Remove them from your zone zero. Ideally, get them as far from the house as possible. And don’t panic about things that won’t ignite.

“No amount of wood matches will light a large wood surface that is not cracked or fuzzy,” says Stevens. “So don’t freak out about your wood siding; it will be fine. But, do freak if you (still) haven’t replaced your wood shake roofing.”

The takeaway: Investing in the outside of your home and the land it sits upon is just as important as protecting what’s inside.

5. Landscape Wisely

After clearing your zone zero, there’s still work you should do beyond it. Focus on getting rid of any dry or dead organic material that could be a fuel source for fires.

“Remove small trees like scrub oak and ground fuel like pine needles,” says Steve Leasure of fire damage restoration company Rainbow Restoration. “Cut branches hanging over the roof.”

You’ll also want to prune your trees to avoid something called a flame ladder—which is when fires climb up structures and ignite them. Prune branches at least 6 feet off the ground, thereby minimizing the potential for a flame ladder.

When in doubt, keep the outside of your home local. 

“Native plants can hold their hydration and health better than non-native plants,” says Cassy Aoyagi, president of FormLA Landscaping. “This makes them better at resisting high, dry heat. Non-natives, by contrast, can escape our gardens and become fuel for fire.”

The takeaway: Keep a close eye on your foliage and maybe share the same advice to your neighbors!

6. Know Your Evacuation Routes 

Perhaps most importantly of all, you need to know how to leave your home safely should the worst happen. Wildfires can spread rapidly and that can equal the need for a speedy evacuation. 

While knowing how to protect your home from a wildfire is important, knowing how to get your loved ones to safety should be a top priority. 

“Understanding evacuation routes is absolutely critical, especially when purchasing a home in an area prone to wildfires,” says King 

Beyond the simple fact that not everyone can physically walk down a mountain during a fire, there’s also the question of how emergency responders would even reach our home if that one road became blocked.

“Moreover, if the existing route is not up to code, it exacerbates the situation,” says King. “Non-compliance with safety standards may mean the route isn’t equipped to handle a sudden influx of traffic during an evacuation.”

The takeaway: Regardless of whether you know all of the local safety codes, it never hurts to spend a bit of extra time driving around a potential neighborhood and making sure there are adequate ways to get in and out if one path becomes impassable.

Realtor.com is partnering with the REALTORS® Relief Foundation (RRF) to raise funds to support victims of the January 2025 Southern California wildfires. The REALTORS® Relief Foundation provides urgent housing-related assistance to homeowners impacted by disasters.

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