Home Hardening
We are in wildfire country here in the Sierra Nevadas. California’s wildfires are often aided by extremely high winds, causing embers to travel long distances. Logging and forest management practices, such as Clear-cutting and fuel breaks, can aid in the production and spread of embers during extreme weather events. When caught in a wildfires path, slash piles and bark left over from clear-cutting produces embers and the high winds spread the embers over the fuel breaks. It is more important now then ever to prepare yourself and your home in the event of a wildfire.
Every household should have a Wildfire Action Plan and Evacuation Plan for your family, animals, and important personal belongings. In the event of an evacuation due to wildfire, can you be confident it will stand up to the blaze? Following the methodology of Home Hardening can give your home a greater chance of being there when you return.
Here are some tips and resources to harden your home against wildfires.
Create a Non-Combustible Zone around your home. Maintain a 5 foot perimeter of rock, concrete, or pavers around your home. If you have wooden fences or gates that make contact with a house or structure, replace the last section with metal. Remove plants, firewood, and patio furniture from next to your home and place them at least 5 ft away.
Ember Resistance- keep gutters, roof, and vents free of debris that might catch fire. Replace vents with ember resistant vents (these vents have a special channel that traps embers and prevents them from entering the attic.) Secure all gaps were embers can enter the home: underneath siding, eves, and soffits. Cover crawlspace gaps and under decks with non flamable materials such as metal roofing or concrete board.
Defensible Space: Focus on the next 30-100 feet around your home. Clear all branches or trees at least 10ft from your home and other trees. Clear brush and fuel sources from the ground. Space trees with at least 10ft in between canopies.
Look to Cal Fire’s website, linked below, for the full Home Hardening Checklist.
Home Hardening Demonstration. The structure on the left has combustable landscaping and wooden fencing, the structure on the right has 5 ft of non-combustable landscaping and an Iron fence.
Below are links for a complete guide on Fire Preparedness and Home Hardening
Calaveras County offers specific guidance on wildfire preparedness on their fireprevention.calaverasgov.us website.
Cal Fire’s guide to hardening your home: https://readyforwildfire.org/prepare-for-wildfire/hardening-your-home/
Develop your Wildfire Action Plan so you are prepared in the event of an evacuation. https://readyforwildfire.org/prepare-for-wildfire/wildfire-action-plan/
Please share your home hardening photos and stories with us on Facebook at Ebbetts Pass Forest Watch.
