Wildfire Home-Hardening: A Defensible-Space Checklist

Defensible Space, Explained

Most homes lost to wildfire are ignited by wind-blown embers, not a wall of flame. Hardening the structure and managing the area around it in defined zones gives your home the best chance of surviving and signals to insurers that the risk is being actively managed.

1. Zone 0 (0–5 feet): keep the area immediately around the home noncombustible, no mulch, plants, or stored items against the walls.
2. Zone 1 (5–30 feet): lean, clean, and green, well-spaced, well-irrigated plantings and no ladder fuels.
3. Zone 2 (30–100 feet): reduce and space vegetation to break up the path of a fire.
4. Harden the structure: ember-resistant roof, gutters, and siding, and screen vents and openings to block embers.
5. Maintain it: clear roofs and gutters of debris and keep zones managed through the season.

Frequently Asked Questions