How can you prevent wildfires at home?
Wildfire risk is no longer limited to a certain time of year. According to the USDA, conditions can continue throughout the year, which makes preparation important in every season. While wildfires are happening with greater frequency, you can take key steps to make a big difference in the number and severity of wildfires in your area.
Continue reading to learn how homeowners policies and renters insurance can help protect everything you’ve worked so hard for.
How do you prepare for a wildfire?
Preparing for a wildfire is about understanding how wildfires spread and ignite, especially for wildfire home protection. Here’s how you can protect your home and reduce the odds of a wildfire in your area.
Landscape to minimize and block wildfires
The area closest to your house plays an important role in wildfire home protection. Keeping this space well-maintained and choosing plants that are less likely to ignite can help reduce risk. Landscaping recommended for your immediate perimeter includes irrigated lawns and low-growing herbaceous (non-woody) plants. Shrubs and trees, particularly conifers, are not recommended for use near your home if you live in a wildfire-prone area.
Between 30 and 100 feet from your home, spacing out your trees and bushes can reduce the energy and speed of a wildfire. Maintain a minimum horizontal spacing of 10 feet between crowns, with this distance increasing if there’s slope.
Keep gutters and downspouts clean
Leaves and debris that collect on a roof can increase fire risk. Keeping gutters clear and in good condition can help prevent buildup. Noncombustible gutter guards and a drip edge along the roofline can offer added protection in these areas.
Inspect your fireplace chimneys twice every year
Routine chimney maintenance can help reduce buildup and supports safe operation. A professional inspection can also confirm that the spark arrester is working as expected.
Remove debris from under porches, decks, and crawl spaces
These areas can easily collect materials that contribute to fire risk. Keeping them clear can help reduce exposure and support the overall condition of the structure.
Install smart home fire and smoke sensors
Smart fire and smoke sensors can send alerts directly to a phone, helping homeowners stay informed even when away. Early awareness can make a meaningful difference in how quickly a situation is addressed.
Have an evacuation plan
Having a plan in place ahead of time can make it easier to act quickly if needed. Practicing that plan can help everyone in the household feel more prepared and at ease.
Make a natural disaster kit
One of the best ways to proactively prepare for the unexpected is to spend time putting together your own natural disaster survival kit.
How can you reduce wildfires on your property?
Fire professionals often talk about creating a “defensible space” around a home. Local fire departments may offer guidance based on the specific property and surrounding area.
Protect the area around your propane tank
Fuel sources such as propane tanks and firewood can increase risk when placed too close to a home. Keeping these items at a distance and maintaining a clear area around them can help reduce exposure.
Avoid building with combustible materials
When making updates, choosing fire-resistant materials can help support long-term protection. Features like a Class A fire-rated roof or metal fencing can help limit how fire moves across a property.
Manage smoking materials carefully
Smoking materials can pose a risk if not handled with care. A designated area with a safe way to dispose of items can help reduce the chance of ignition.
What should you do before, during and after a wildfire?
If a wildfire is reported near your home, stay alert and follow guidance from local authorities. If an evacuation order is issued, leave immediately. Preparing in advance and knowing what steps to take can help you act more quickly if conditions change.
Before a wildfire
- Put together an emergency go-kit with food, water, medications, important documents, a flashlight, a battery-powered radio, a first-aid kit and N95 masks.
- Clear dry leaves, brush and other flammable materials from around your home to help create defensible space.
- Help protect your home by cleaning gutters and roofs, covering vents and choosing fire-resistant materials when possible.
- Plan and practice evacuation routes with your household, including pets.
During a wildfire
- Monitor local alerts and leave immediately if authorities tell you to evacuate.
- If time allows, close windows, doors and shutters, turn off gas supplies if it is safe to do so, and move important items into your vehicle.
- Keep your car ready to go by parking it facing your evacuation route and keeping your keys nearby.
- Connect hoses and fill water containers if recommended by local officials.
If you cannot evacuate
- Call 911 and share your exact location.
- Stay inside with doors and windows closed.
- Fill sinks and tubs with water for emergency use.
- Use an N95 mask or a damp cloth to help reduce smoke exposure if needed.
After a wildfire
- Return only when authorities say it is safe.
- Watch for hazards such as downed power lines, lingering hot spots and leaking fuel sources.
- Continue following local safety updates as conditions develop.
How does homeowners insurance cover wildfires?
Standard homeowners policies typically cover damage to or destruction of your home due to fire, which can include wildfires. If your home was destroyed by a fire, your homeowners insurance dwelling coverage might help you pay to rebuild your home after meeting your deductible.
If a home becomes temporarily unlivable, many policies include additional living expense coverage to help with costs like lodging. Most renters insurance policies cover your personal property if it’s damaged by a wildfire or a covered event. Like homeowners insurance, you may also have coverage for additional living expenses if your place becomes unlivable.
Wildfire Defense Services
Some homeowners with eligible home policies may have access to wildfire defense services through American Family’s third-party partner, Wildfire Defense Systems, Inc. (WDS). When a wildfire may threaten an eligible home, WDS may provide loss prevention and response services such as removing flammable debris, sealing vents, setting up sprinkler systems and applying water-based fire-blocking gel or retardant. Eligibility, policy type, state availability and service deployment may vary, and services are not guaranteed.
Get the wildfire insurance that your home deserves
There’s never been a more important time to ensure you have the wildfire coverage your home needs. And by making steady progress towards the goal of reducing the risks of fire on your property, you can help to preserve and protect everything you’ve worked so hard for. Contact us for a custom quote today.
Frequently asked questions about wildfires
Does renters insurance cover wildfire damage?
Most renters insurance policies cover personal property damaged by a wildfire or another covered event. If a rental home or apartment becomes unlivable after a covered loss, renters insurance may also help with additional living expenses, such as temporary housing.
What is a defensible space around your home?
A defensible space is the area around your home that is maintained to help slow or reduce the spread of wildfire. This can include removing debris, spacing out trees and shrubs, keeping grasses and plants well-managed, and reducing flammable materials near structures or fuel sources like propane tanks and firewood.
How can landscaping help protect a home from wildfire?
Landscaping can help reduce wildfire risk by limiting plants and materials that ignite easily near the home. Irrigated lawns and low-growing herbaceous plants are often better choices for the immediate perimeter, while trees and shrubs should be spaced farther apart to help reduce how quickly fire can spread.
This information represents only a brief description of coverages, is not part of your policy, and is not a promise or guarantee of coverage. If there is any conflict between this information and your policy, the provisions of the policy will prevail. Insurance policy terms and conditions may apply. Exclusions may apply to policies, endorsements, or riders. Coverage may vary by state and may be subject to change. Some products are not available in every state. Please read your policy and contact your agent for assistance.
WDS and Wildfire Defense Systems are trademarks of Wildfire Defense Systems, Inc.® Wildfire Defense Systems is a third-party supplier and not owned or operated by American Family Mutual Insurance Company S.I. or its Operating Companies. WDS offers no guarantee that wildfire prevention and mitigation efforts, when provided, will prevent damage from occurring. WDS is not a first responder and their services are supplemental to all other public wildfire responders. Products, eligibility and availability vary based on the way you purchase insurance and by state. Exclusions may apply. Refer to your policy or talk to your agent for details.
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