As wildfires spread, here's how to protect your home from blazes

Enjoy complimentary access to top ideas and insights — selected by our editors.
Want unlimited access to top ideas and insights? Subscribe Now

(Bloomberg) --As a warmer, dryer climate triggers wildfires in places where such peril was once unthinkable, scores more people are faced with the prospect of fending off disaster. More than 7 million homes in the US are already exposed to fire risk, a figure seen climbing to nearly 13 million over the next 30 years, according to a 2022 study. 

"It's a complicated situation, but what people do right around their home and right on their home will make a big difference," says Michele Steinberg, director of the wildfire division at the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). 

With warnings mounting of an intense wildfire season this year, here are practical tips on how to protect yourself, your property and your community.

How do I fire-proof my home?

Experts say there are no fire-proof homes – only fire-resistant ones. And while the cost to build a fire-resilient house is similar to traditional ones, hardening an existing home can be much more expensive. 

Retrofitting roofs and exterior walls with fire-resistant materials can cost more than $62,000, according to a 2018 report coauthored by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS). But doing so can save on homeowners insurance or even allow you to get coverage in places where high fire risk would normally preclude eligibility. 

For those with a limited budget, prioritize your roof (replacing wood shingles with asphalt or clay tiles) and exterior walls (installing dual-pane, tempered windows and coating doors and siding with flame retardants). Shielding air vents from burning debris also helps, says IBHS chief engineer Anne Cope. Whether you install ember-proof vents or cover conventional vents with a metal screen, use a golf tee to ensure that the mesh is tight enough: If the tee can easily enter the screen, embers can, too. Outside, Cope recommends creating five feet of hardscape around the house to create a firebreak. 

"You want to keep anything that could transmit the fire to the house away from the house," says Steinberg. That means regularly removing dead, dry vegetation in your yard and giving up certain landscape designs, such as window flower boxes and wall-hugging shrubs.

How can I protect my community?

Getting your neighbors and home owners association (HOA) on board can help stop a fire from spreading through an entire neighborhood. Check with your HOA to ensure that building codes encourage the use of fire-resilient materials. In Colorado, where communities have historically favored wood facades, a new law bars HOAs from restricting the use of less-flammable facades. 

The NFPA has also created a program called Firewise USA that enables you to conduct a neighborhood-wide risk assessment, identifying the weak spots and eliminating fire hazards across adjacent properties. For instance, if a shared fence is made from wood, it could accelerate a fire's spread.

Lastly, talk with local fire officials and forestry management to understand the conditions under which a wildfire could break out in your area. When those conditions occur, exercise extreme caution. Same goes for Red Flag Warnings issued by the National Weather Service to indicate enhanced fire danger. Best practices include canceling outdoor barbecues, wetting your lawn and bringing flammable outdoor furniture inside.

What about wildfire smoke?

As tens of millions of Americans experienced last summer, when smoke from Canada's burning forests turned skies orange as far away as Georgia, even far-off blazes can pose a health threat. Wildfire smoke contains a type of fine particulate matter that, long-term, increases the risk of lung cancer and, short-term, can trigger coughing and breathing difficulties. It's particularly  harmful to children, senior citizens, pregnant people and patients with certain illnesses such as asthma.

Health officials recommend staying indoors whenever wildfire smoke is prevalent. Look up the Air Quality Index – available in many weather apps or online – for real-time monitoring. If you have to go outside, wear a mask designed to filter out particulate matter, such as N95, KF94 or KN95. Keep it on even if you ride public transportation because ventilation systems can still expose you to particulates.

Inside, consider using a high-quality air filter such as HEPA or a MERV13 to improve indoor air quality. Dusting, mopping and vacuuming your home also helps. And, if you have air-conditioning, make sure it doesn't bring in outside air; instead, set your AC to recirculate air.

Prepare for the worst

Despite all the efforts to withstand a blaze, homeowners should always prepare for the worst. That preparation includes but isn't limited to: 

Have a Go Bag: Everyone in your household should pack an easy-to-carry backpack containing items necessary in an evacuation. The US Federal Emergency Management Agency suggests water, non-perishable food and enough supplies to last three days.

Plan evacuation routes:  Find at least two escape routes, whether you're at home or on a trip. As large fires could knock out mobile services, bring a print map for navigation.

Know your local shelter:  Driving near forest fires can be thorny and dangerous. If it's too late to escape the area, find a safe zone in your neighborhood. Your local fire department, the Disaster Recovery Center or theAmerican Red Cross can point you to shelters.

Buy insurance: Although wildfires are typically included in standard homeowners insurance, coverage and terms vary and insurers are increasingly withdrawing from high-risk areas. 

"Be sure you have the right amount of insurance to be able to rebuild your home and replace your belongings," says Janet Ruiz, a director at the Insurance Information Institute. Let your agent know if you've remodeled your home, submit photos or video and create an up-to-date home inventory list. 

After a fire, document damages in detail, especially for large or out-of-the-ordinary items, says Thomas Brocksmith, a wildfire claims expert at Crawford and Company. To avoid potential disputes, keep all impaired items until an adjuster reviews them.

To contact the author of this story:

Coco Liu in New York at yliu1640@bloomberg.net