Home Hardening

With the two fires we saw locally in 2024 down and across the lake, followed by the huge fires in LA County in January 2025, and the bad memories of the Valley Fire in 2015, the threat and heartbreak of losing our homes and dealing with the aftermath has never been closer. There are steps homeowners can take to make their homes significantly less likely to burn, and insurance companies have already started to inspect properties and make demands on homeowners to make such changes to be eligible or renewed for fire insurance.

If possible, BHA encourages homeowners to consider investing in upgrades to harden your home against wildfire. This benefits you, your neighbors, and the community by helping maintain insurability as a community, reducing the chance of your home becoming an additional ignition source for your neighbors’ homes in a wildfire, and reducing the workload and risk for firefighters and first responders during a fire.
Some of these are relatively easy and affordable, such as clearing Zone 0 and sealing cracks and vents. Others would be expensive, but hopefully will result in some insurance savings over time.

• Create defensible space around your house and outbuildings: Zones 0, 1 and 2

  • Remove all plants, trees, brush, firewood, trash cans, furniture, equipment, mulch, bark, wood chips, cooking grills, or anything flammable at least 5 feet away from your home and outbuildings.

  • Cover the ground from the base of your home out 5 feet with non-flammable materials like stone, brick, pavers, or concrete — and keep it clear.

  • Trim tree limbs to be 10 feet or more away from any structures.

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• Seal structures against ember entry

  • Have all trim, exterior paneling, and foundation joints and cracks caulked.

  • Add Vulcan vents and/or tight mesh metal screens to all foundation, roof attic, and soffit vents.

  • Use metal screens for chimneys and other vents (dryer, fans, etc.)

  • Weatherstrip garage doors — top, bottom and sides.

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• Add or replace siding, roof and doors with non-flammable materials.

  • Replace or cover wood siding with fiber cement board, stucco, brick, or stone.

  • Covering just the lower 2-3 feet of your home with non-flammable siding or facings has shown benefit in stopping burning brands from igniting the lower edge of wood siding.

  • For trim or other exterior surfaces that cannot be replaced with non-flammable materials, paint with intumescent (fire-resistant ) paint.

  • When replacing a roof, use Class A-rated material, such as composite shingles, metal, tile, or slate.

  • Replace exterior wooden doors or garage doors with metal doors.

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• Windows and sliders:

  • Replace old windows and sliding doors with double-pane tempered glass, with metal frames (vinyl will melt).

  • Consider fire-resistant closeable window shutters if practical (similar to metal hurricane shutters).

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• Water sprinklers:

  • Exterior sprinklers covering the house sides/perimeter and roof.

  • Interior sprinklers for new construction — can stop fires that start through embers entering broken windows.

  • Note: Many sprinklers drawing on the Buckingham water system all at once will reduce water pressure and supply for firefighters. If possible, install a separate tank to supply sprinklers for a critical period only, or use a swimming pool as a water supply for exterior sprinklers. If you are located on the water, use the lake. However, these other water sources will require a separate pump and power for that, so plan accordingly.

Resources:
CalFire – Defensible Space
CalFire – Home Hardening
CalFire – Fire-Smart Landscaping
NFPA - Prepare Your Home