Wildfire preparedness isn’t just for homeowners who live in the woods. Homes in rural areas, suburbs, and cities can all be vulnerable to wildfire—particularly from wind-blown embers that can travel well beyond the edge of a fire. The good news is that homeowners can take practical steps to make their properties more resistant to ignition.

Think of wildfire protection as a combination of maintaining the property around your home, reducing places where embers can collect, and strengthening vulnerable parts of your most valuable asset.

Start With the First Five Feet

One of the most useful places to begin is the area immediately surrounding your home.

Create a 0–5 foot noncombustible zone around the house and attached structures. Remove leaves, pine needles, dead vegetation, wood mulch and other combustible materials from this area. Consider gravel, stone, concrete or other noncombustible surfaces instead.

This advice applies even when your yard is small. In fact, homeowners in established neighborhoods can often make a meaningful difference simply by focusing on this area.

Keep Your Roof and Gutters Clear

Your roof is one of the most important parts of your home's wildfire defense.

Regularly remove leaves, needles and other debris from the roof and gutters. Keep branches from overhanging the roof, and repair loose or missing roofing materials. When reroofing, consider Class A fire-rated roofing, such as appropriate metal, tile or composite roofing products.

Don't forget the spaces that aren't immediately visible. Vents can provide an entry point for embers, so homeowners should consider ember-resistant venting or appropriate metal screening.

Take a Look Under the Deck

Decks, porches and patios can collect leaves and other combustible debris—and material underneath a deck can provide fuel for a fire.

Keep the area beneath decks clear. Regularly clean between deck boards and remove leaves, needles and dead vegetation. Avoid storing firewood, cardboard, furniture cushions, propane or other combustible materials underneath or immediately next to the home.

Manage Vegetation, Not Just Trees

Fire-smart landscaping doesn’t mean removing every tree. The goal is to reduce continuous fuel and create separation between vegetation and the home.

As you move farther from the house, prune dead and dying branches, remove accumulated vegetation and maintain separation between grasses, shrubs and trees. On larger properties, creating breaks such as driveways, gravel paths and maintained lawn areas can help interrupt the path of fire.

Don't Forget Fences, Sheds and Other Structures

A wildfire doesn't necessarily have to reach your house directly to threaten it. A burning fence, shed, woodpile or other combustible item can become a pathway for fire.

This is particularly important in suburban neighborhoods, where homes may be close together. Your home's wildfire risk can be affected by what is happening on neighboring properties, too.

Your Easy Wildfire Home Checklist

Around the Home

• Remove leaves, needles and dead vegetation from around the house.
• Create a noncombustible 0–5 foot zone around the home where practical.
• Replace combustible mulch immediately next to the house with gravel, stone or another suitable noncombustible material.
• Keep firewood, propane, fuel and other combustible materials away from the house.
• Clean underneath decks and porches.
• Keep outdoor furniture and other movable combustible items away from the house when not in use.

Roof, Gutters & Vents

• Clean leaves and debris from the roof and gutters.
• Remove branches that overhang the roof.
• Repair missing or damaged roofing materials.
• When replacing a roof, consider a Class A fire-rated product.
• Inspect attic and other exterior vents and consider ember-resistant options.

Yard & Landscaping

• Remove dead or dying branches, shrubs and plants.
• Prune trees to reduce low branches and “fuel ladders.”
• Maintain separation between trees, shrubs and grasses where appropriate.
• Create breaks in vegetation with driveways, patios, gravel paths or maintained lawn.
• If you have a larger or sloped property, ask your local fire department or forestry agency about recommended defensible-space distances.

Property & Neighborhood

• Keep fences, sheds and other structures maintained.
• Reduce combustible connections between fences and the house.
• Keep your address and street number clearly visible.
• Talk with neighbors about wildfire preparedness—especially where homes are close together.

Insurance & Emergency Planning

• Review your homeowners insurance annually or call your insurance agent.
• Make a current home inventory, including photos or video of belongings.
• Know your evacuation routes and identify alternate routes.
• Sign up for local emergency alerts.
• Have a plan for pets, livestock and anyone who may need extra assistance.
• Keep important documents in a secure location and maintain digital copies.

A Little Preparation Can Make a Big Difference

Wildfire preparedness doesn't have to mean tackling every project at once. Start with the first five feet around your home, the roof and gutters, and anything combustible stored against the house. Then work outward through your landscaping and property.

Wildfire Resources

For homeowners who want to learn more, these organizations offer reliable, practical guidance:

• Ready.gov — Wildfire preparedness and evacuation information
• U.S. Fire Administration — Wildfire safety and home protection resources
• NFPA Firewise USA — Home ignition zones and wildfire preparedness
• Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety — Wildfire mitigation guidance
• IBHS Wildfire Prepared — Science-based home preparation guidance

Wildfire conditions and local requirements vary. Check with your local fire department, forestry agency and applicable building or vegetation-management authorities for recommendations specific to your property.

Sources

U.S. Fire Administration

NFPA

IBHS

Ready.gov