Chapter 22. Protecting Your Home from Embers and Nearby Fire
During a wildfire or vegetation fire, a home may ignite even when the main flames never reach the property. Wind can carry burning embers ahead of a fire and deposit them on roofs, in gutters, under decks, through vents, and among combustible materials beside a structure. Small fires started by these embers can then spread to siding, eaves, windows, fences, garages, and living areas.
Homeowners in Pleasanton, Dublin, Livermore, San Ramon, Danville, Sunol, and surrounding Tri-Valley communities should consider both the condition of the building and everything immediately around it. Regular inspection and maintenance can reduce ignition opportunities, although no improvement can guarantee that a home will survive a wildfire.
Identify Possible Ember Entry Points
Embers can enter through openings that appear insignificant during ordinary weather. Attic vents, foundation vents, crawl-space openings, roof gaps, damaged siding, open windows, and spaces around utility connections may allow burning material to reach combustible areas.
Inspect the exterior for:
- Damaged, missing, or unsuitable vent screens
- Gaps around roof edges, eaves, or siding
- Broken windows or screens
- Openings around pipes, cables, and utility penetrations
- Unenclosed spaces beneath structures
- Damaged weather stripping around garage doors
- Areas where birds, rodents, or insects have displaced protective materials
CAL FIRE recommends properly installed ember-resistant vents or noncombustible, corrosion-resistant metal screening where appropriate. Vent modifications can affect required airflow, moisture control, and building-code compliance. Consult the local building department and a qualified, licensed professional before covering or replacing vents. Review CAL FIRE’s current home-hardening recommendations.
Examine the Roof and Gutters
The roof is one of the largest surfaces on which embers can land. Its condition, construction materials, and accumulated debris can significantly affect vulnerability.
Have damaged shingles, tiles, flashing, roof edges, and coverings repaired appropriately. Remove leaves, needles, twigs, seedpods, and other debris from the roof, valleys, skylights, and areas around chimneys. Debris trapped beneath roofing materials or in small gaps can provide fuel for embers.
Clean gutters and downspouts regularly, particularly after wind, storms, or seasonal leaf fall. Check whether debris has accumulated beneath gutter guards rather than assuming that a guard eliminates the need for cleaning. Complete roof and gutter work safely; use an appropriate professional when height, slope, physical limitations, or electrical hazards make the work unsafe.
Protect Decks, Porches, and Exterior Stairs
Embers may collect between deck boards, where a deck meets an exterior wall, beneath stairs, or among items stored below a raised structure. Sweep decks and porches and remove leaves, dry vegetation, cardboard, scrap wood, and other combustible materials from underneath them.
Inspect boards, railings, supports, stairs, and connections to the house for damage. If a deck requires major repair or replacement, ask a qualified contractor about materials and construction methods appropriate for wildfire exposure and applicable local building requirements.
Outdoor rugs, cushions, umbrellas, fabric awnings, wicker furniture, brooms, doormats, decorations, and plastic storage containers may become fuel when exposed to embers. During periods of elevated fire danger, move combustible items into an enclosed location when officials recommend doing so and when sufficient time exists. Never delay an evacuation to move furniture or other possessions.
Look Closely at Fences and Gates
A combustible fence attached directly to a house can create a path by which fire reaches the structure. Leaves and dry vegetation may also accumulate along the bottom of a fence, around gates, or between fence boards.
Keep fence lines clear of dead plants and debris. Inspect where the fence connects with the house, garage, deck, or other structure. When replacing an attached section, discuss suitable noncombustible or ignition-resistant alternatives with the local fire authority, building department, homeowners association, and a qualified contractor.
Do not assume that a masonry wall makes the surrounding area safe. Combustible gates, plants, storage, and debris can still create ignition points.
Manage Vegetation Near the Structure
The first five feet around a home, deck, and attached structure are commonly described as the ember-resistant zone, or Zone 0. CAL FIRE recommends intensive fuel reduction in this area, including removing dead vegetation and debris, avoiding combustible mulch, relocating firewood, and limiting combustible furniture and planters.
Walk around the building and examine plants near windows, siding, vents, eaves, and decks. Remove dead leaves, flowers, branches, and weeds. Prune and space vegetation according to current professional guidance, accounting for plant type, size, location, slope, and local requirements.
Trees and shrubs require ongoing care. A plant that was appropriately separated when installed may eventually touch the roof, overhang a chimney, block access, or create a continuous fuel path. Consult the relevant fire authority before undertaking major vegetation removal, especially where protected trees, habitat requirements, easements, or homeowners association rules may apply.
CAL FIRE’s current defensible-space guidance explains Zone 0 and the wider vegetation-management areas around a structure. Local rules may be different or more restrictive.
Remove Everyday Combustible Materials
Common household items can become serious ignition sources when placed against a building. Regularly check for:
- Firewood, lumber, and construction materials
- Cardboard boxes and paper recycling
- Garbage and recycling containers
- Dry doormats and outdoor rugs
- Patio cushions and furniture
- Propane cylinders and fuel containers
- Wooden planters and baskets
- Toys, sporting equipment, and seasonal decorations
- Boats, recreational vehicles, and parked vehicles
- Leaves trapped behind storage units or appliances
Store fuels, propane, chemicals, and other hazardous materials according to manufacturer instructions, applicable fire codes, and local authority guidance. Never place them where they block an exit or emergency access.
Make Maintenance a Routine
Wildfire protection is not a one-time cleanup project. Wind, animals, plant growth, weather, remodeling, and everyday household activity continually change property conditions.
Conduct a brief exterior inspection each month and a more thorough review before and during fire season. Recheck the property after windstorms, landscaping work, roof repairs, construction, or prolonged dry weather. Renters should report building defects to the property owner or manager and clarify which outdoor areas they are responsible for maintaining.
Helpful Hint
Small combustible items near a structure may create serious risk. Walk around your property periodically and look at it from an ember-exposure perspective. Ask what could ignite if burning material landed on the roof, entered a vent, collected beneath a deck, or fell beside an exterior wall.
Important Safety Reminder
Home hardening and property maintenance must be completed before a fire approaches. Never remain behind during an evacuation to clean gutters, water vegetation, move furniture, or defend possessions. Follow current instructions from your local fire department, law enforcement agency, emergency-management authority, and CAL FIRE.
Important Preparedness and Safety Notice
This chapter provides general preparedness education, not real-time emergency instructions. Conditions, evacuation zones, routes, shelters, road closures, and public-safety directions can change rapidly. During an emergency, consult current information from authorized public agencies and follow all instructions issued by emergency officials. Call 911 for an immediate threat to life, active fire, serious injury, crime in progress, or another urgent emergency.
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