Home Hardening
Protect Your Home from Wildfire
Wildfires are an increasing concern across California, with many communities at risk of property loss and damage. Homeowners are encouraged to take proactive steps to protect their properties from embers, radiant heat, and direct flames, utalizing resources from CAL FIRE and partner organizations to provide guidance on home hardening measures, including practical retrofit options and low-cost improvements that can improve a home’s resilience.
An interactive tool is available below, courtesy of CAL FIRE, which allows users to explore different home hardening strategies and visualize their potential impact on property protection:
Wildfire Home Retrofit Guide
This guide, published by CAL FIRE’s Ready for Wildfire program, provides practical steps for making homes more resistant to wildfire. It explains how embers, heat, and flames threaten structures and offers clear recommendations for improvements to roofs, vents, siding, decks, and other vulnerable areas. The document is designed to help homeowners, it was written in collaboration by Living with Fire Tahoe, University of Nevada, Reno, University of California, and the Tahoe Resource Conservation district. It can be used by anyone across the state to better harden their homes, and has been distributed by Cal Fire.
This flyer from CAL FIRE’s Ready for Wildfire program shows easy, affordable ways to make your home safer from wildfire
Fire Hazard Severity Zones
Use this tool, developed by Cal Fire, to look up your address and see if you are in a Fire Hazard Severity Zone
Cal Fire Wildfire Hazard Severity Zones FAQ
Home Hardening Self-Assessment
From Cal Fire: "Take the Home Hardening Self-Assessment to see how prepared your property is for wildfire. In less than 10 minutes, this self-assessment will evaluate your home’s vulnerability to wildfire. A detailed report will be provided with tailored recommendations customized for your home. See what actions you can take today and what steps can be done in the future to make your home more resilient to wildfire. "
Home Hardening Retrofit In-depth Cost Review
