GuidesEnvironmental and housing risk6 min read

Wildfire preparedness checklist for your household

Most homes lost to wildfire are not touched by a wall of flame. They are lit by wind-blown embers landing in gutters, vents, and dry mulch.

Clear the first 30 feet

Defensible space slows fire and gives crews room to work. The five feet closest to the walls matter most.

Replace bark mulch with gravel or bare soil within five feet of the house
Move firewood, propane tanks, and patio cushions at least 30 feet away
Trim branches back 10 feet from the roof and chimney, and remove dead limbs
Keep gutters, roof valleys, and the space under decks clear of needles and leaves

Harden the house against embers

Small openings decide the outcome. Embers find them hours before or after the fire front passes.

Screen attic, crawlspace, and foundation vents with 1/8-inch metal mesh
Close gaps in eaves, and box in open deck undersides
Keep a Class A roof in good repair and replace missing tiles or shingles
Store a hose long enough to reach every side of the house

Pack for a fast exit

Wildfire evacuations often come with minutes of notice and no power to print or charge anything.

Keep a go bag per person with medication, chargers, N95 masks, and a change of clothes
Photograph every room for insurance and store it in the cloud
Back the car in, keep the tank above half, and know two ways out of the neighborhood
Agree on an out-of-area contact and a meeting point outside the fire area

Plan for smoke, not just flame

Smoke reaches far beyond the fire and lasts for days, which matters for kids, older adults, and anyone with asthma or heart conditions.

Pick one room to keep sealed, and run a HEPA purifier or a box-fan filter in it
Fit N95 masks for adults ahead of time, since cloth masks do not filter smoke
Track air quality daily and move indoor activity when it climbs
Set the HVAC to recirculate and replace the filter with a high-MERV one

Common questions

When should we leave during a wildfire?

Leave as soon as an evacuation warning is issued for your area. Waiting for an order often means driving in smoke on crowded roads, and roads can close without notice.

Does homeowners insurance cover wildfire damage?

Most standard homeowners policies cover fire, including wildfire, but limits and coverage for rebuild costs vary. Confirm your dwelling limit reflects current construction costs and ask about smoke and loss-of-use coverage.

What is defensible space?

It is the managed area around a home where vegetation and flammable items are reduced so fire slows down and firefighters can defend the structure safely.

See where your household stands

The Household Resilience Check scores this dimension along with seven others in about five minutes.

Take the Household Resilience Check →