DRAFT Home Hardening
Practices for making your home more wildfire prepared
Home Hardening is the process of preparing your home to better withstand wildfire. By using fire-resistant building materials, sealing vulnerable openings, and keeping the area around your home clear of debris and flammable items, you greatly increase its chances of survival. Most homes ignite from windblown embers—not towering flames—so even small upgrades, like installing ember-resistant vents or clearing gutters, can make a big difference. Home hardening starts with simple steps that add up to powerful protection.
Home Hardening Elements
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Zone 0
The area nearest your house, from 0′ to 5′, including the surfaces of the structure, decks, and steps, is the most vulnerable to embers that accumulate at the base of a wall and/or ignitions when embers ignite vegetation or other combustible materials located close to the structure. We call this “ZONE ZERO,” because it’s ground-zero when it comes to protecting your home from embers. There should be ZERO combustibles in this zone!
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Vents
Vents on homes create openings for flying embers. Ember entry through vents can result in ignition of combustible materials in the attic or crawl space, and result in a building burning from the inside out. The importance of ember and flame entry into vents during wildfires has resulted in the development of commercially available vents designed to resist the intrusion of embers and flame, and recommendations for new or retrofit vents to protect existing openings.
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Soffits and Eaves
Eaves are located at the down-slope edge of a sloped roof and serve as the transition between the roof and fascia/wall. The soffit is the material beneath the eaves that connects the far edge of your roof to the exterior wall of your house. Eaves and Soffits are vulnerable to damage from wildfires due to accumulation of hot gasses. Enclosed soffits can protect eaves and should be constructed with non combustible materials for protection from heat and flame.
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Gutters
Combustible debris such as leaves and pine needles can accumulate in gutters. If ignited, combustible debris in the gutter may ignite the edge of the roof covering. Depending on the condition of the wood and presence (or absence) of metal flashing at the edge of the roof, debris in the gutter may make it easier for fire to enter the attic. Gutters should be constructed of metal and screened to keep out debris. Proper flashing between roof and gutter is very important.
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Roofs
An untreated wood shake or shingle roof covering is the greatest threat to a home. All roofs should have Class A rated materials for ember resistance. Wind-blown debris will accumulate on roofs and in gutters. Dry debris can be ignited by wind-blown embers. Regularly remove vegetative debris from your roof and gutters. Chimneys require a spark arrestor screen with openings no smaller than 3/8 – inch and no larger than 1/2.