5 Ways to Protect Your Home from Wildfires

wildfire

Wildfires are unfortunately a real concern for many homeowners across the nation, especially on the western coast. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, forests are becoming drier for longer, increasing the chances of wildfires burning more land.

While wildfires cannot always be prevented, you can take steps to protect your home and valuables by making your property more fire-resistant.  

1: Protect Your Home from Wildfires with New Windows

If you’ve been considering window replacements, consider fire-resistant glass windows if you live in an area that is prone to wildfires. This type of glass reduces the amount of heat that can enter your home. If a wildfire is raging outside, having fire-resistant glass could help prevent your windows from cracking or breaking from intense heat.

2: Protect Your Home from Wildfires with New Doors

Doors made from steel, metal, or wood with a fire-resistant core could help keep your home better protected from wildfires. Replacing the garage doors and entry doors of your home could help ward off wildfires for a longer period of time, allowing your family to safely evacuate.

3: Protect Your Home from Wildfires with Defense Zones

When making your home fire-resistant, it’s important to create defensible zones around your property. These defense zones are made by removing or limiting the amount of flammable material directly around your home. For example, you could:

  • Remove dead vegetation from gutters and your yard
  • Pick up any fallen branches from your yard
  • Trim branches so they are at least 10 feet away from your home and 6 feet from the ground
  • Replant flammable plants if they are near your home
  • Keep patio furniture away from foliage

If you own any flammable objects, such as a propane grill, it’s advised that you keep them at least 30-feet away from your home.

4: Protect Your Home from Wildfires with Spark Arrestors

To help protect your home from wildfires, consider a spark arrestor if you have a working chimney. Chimneys are typically fitted with spark arrestors to prevent flammable debris from coming into your home and they also prevent sparks from jumping out of the chimney. This type of device could also prevent any wildlife, such as birds or squirrels, from forming nests in your chimney.

5: Protect Your Home from Wildfires with New Siding

You can further protect your home from wildfires by getting new fire-resistant siding. Some siding materials that are less combustible include fiber cement, metal sheeting, stucco, brick, and stone.

Any additional siding on top of wooden frames can only further help to make your home more fire-resistant. In addition, these siding materials may also help protect your home from hail, rain, and strong winds.

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