In California, the threat of wildfire is a constant reality. Yet most homes lost in wildfires are not destroyed by the advancing wall of flames.<\/p>\n
Instead, they are ignited by wind-driven embers that can travel miles ahead of the fire front. These fiery particles seek out the smallest vulnerabilities, lodging in gutters, slipping through attic vents or settling into dry debris near your home.<\/p>\n
Home hardening is the initiative-taking process of closing these pathways, shifting your home\u2019s defense from reactive to resilient. By systematically upgrading your home\u2019s materials and maintaining a five-foot \u201cember-resistant zone,\u201d you are not just hoping for safety, you are actively taking steps to protect you and your home.<\/p>\n
Trying to fire-harden your entire property at once can be overwhelming and cost-prohibitive. It\u2019s best when doing repairs and replacements to make fire hardening a priority. Cal Fire offers numerous recommendations and strategies<\/a> to protect your home from wildfires:<\/p>\n Clear combustible vegetation and debris within five feet of your home, as research demonstrates that embers are more likely to ignite materials situated close to the structure, increasing the risk of structural ignition during a wildfire. Fire-resistant building products continue to improve every year. When it is time to replace a roof, fence, siding, windows or landscaping, spend a little time researching today\u2019s fire-resistant alternatives. Many of these products are surprisingly affordable and often require less maintenance overall than traditional materials.<\/p>\n With so many Santa Clara County neighborhoods bordering open space or foothills, fire hardening is one of the smartest investments a homeowner can make. You may even find out that fire hardening could lower your insurance costs or be essential to maintaining coverage.<\/p>\n While no retrofit can guarantee your home will survive every wildfire, taking these practical steps today can reduce your risk and protect your family and home.<\/p>\n San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight columnist Neil Collins is CEO of the Santa Clara County Association of Realtors, a trade association representing more than 6,000 real estate professionals in Santa Clara County and surrounding areas. Contact Neil at\u00a0[email\u00a0protected]<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In California, the threat of wildfire is a constant reality. Yet most homes lost in wildfires are not…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":409836,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[88,90,89],"class_list":["post-409835","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-san-jose","tag-san-jose","tag-san-jose-headlines","tag-san-jose-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/409835","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=409835"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/409835\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/409836"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=409835"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=409835"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=409835"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nReplace wood mulch with noncombustible alternatives such as gravel or decomposed granite.
\nKeep rain gutters free of leaves, pine needles and twigs. Consider installing gutter guards to prevent debris from accumulating.
\nSeal cracks and gaps where embers could enter the home.
\nTrim tree branches that extend over your roofline.
\nInstall a metal mesh spark arrestor on your chimney.
\nEnsure you have multiple outdoor hose bibs and enough garden hose to reach all sides of your home in an emergency.
\nReplace wooden gates that attach directly to your home with noncombustible materials such as powder-coated steel or aluminum.<\/p>\n