Private Client Select

The Ember Threat: Understanding How Wildfires Spread

Industry research shows that most homes ignite in a wildfire from embers and small flames. Embers are burning pieces of wood or vegetation that can travel miles in the wind, starting spot fires and igniting homes, debris, and other combustible materials. As the threat of wildfires continues to escalate across many regions, proactive preparation is one of the most effective ways to reduce potential loss and protect both property and lives. Assessing vulnerabilities and implementing preventative measures not only helps safeguard homes but also supports broader community resilience.

Private Client Select recommends using this checklist as a guide to prepare your home and surrounding structures during the wildfire season. The readiness steps you take ahead of a fire can go a long way in supporting your community’s first responders.

Protecting the Home Structure

• Clear leaves, pine needles, and other debris from the roof and gutters. This will reduce the risk of embers igniting combustible material on or near your roof. Install gutter guards to prevent combustible debris build-up.

• To reduce ember penetration, replace or repair loose or missing roof shingles or tiles and caulk any gaps or openings on roof edges. Install bird stops or ember stops into gaps between roof tiles and decking.

• Seal any cracks or gaps in the eaves. Flying embers can get lodged in the cracks, or enter the attic.

• Install specialty aftermarket ember resistant venting certified by the state fire marshal. Unlike standard vents, they are designed to prevent embers from passing through into the attic.

• Clear combustible debris, including dead vegetation and leaves, from under wood decks. Screen or enclose areas below decks with 1/8” thick metal mesh to prevent debris accumulation.

• Remove combustible items stored under decks or porches, such as patio cushions, fuel cans, propane tanks, wood scraps, etc.

0–10 Feet From the Home

• Replace bark mulch within ten feet of all structures. Consider using rock, gravel, or bare soil in these areas. If it can catch fire, don’t let it touch your house, deck, porch, or other structures.

• Remove highly flammable planted vegetation including juniper bushes, Italian cypress trees, oleander, acacia, rosemary, and ornamental grasses. To maintain juniper bushes and Italian cypress greater than ten feet from structures, use a pressure washer to blow out the dead material.

• Trim trees that hang over your home or other structures, as they are more likely to transfer fire to your home. In addition, these trees will continually deposit combustible debris on the roof and in the gutters. Trimming trees away from the roof also reduces the risk of rodent intrusion.

• Move wood piles away from any structure (we recommend 30 feet away) or cover with a fire-resistant tarp.

10–30 Feet From the Home

• Prune low-hanging branches on tall trees six to ten feet from the ground to lessen the likelihood of fire “laddering” up the trees. For smaller trees, prune low-hanging branches no more than one-third of the tree’s height. Remove tall grasses, leaf debris, and any other combustible material from under trees.

• Space trees to have a minimum of 18 feet between the crowns, with the distance increasing according to the steepness of the slope.

• Remove dead thatch from palm trees, which ignites easily from flying embers. The thatch can also detach during windy conditions and damage property and/or spread flames to your home or elsewhere on your property.

30–100 Feet From the Home

• Reduce native grasses and brush. If it is brown, trim it down to reduce fire intensity. Don’t let debris and lawn cuttings linger; dispose of these items quickly. Native vegetation must be reduced up to at least 100 feet from the home, per most fire agency ordinances.

• Keep flammable vegetation away from your propane tank, water tank, and solar panels.

• Space trees to have 12 feet between the treetops. Ample spacing can help slow the spread of fire.