Home Hardening

Step 1

Locate Your Plan Unit

Step 2

Review Your Resident Action Plan

Resident Action Plan

Buildings cannot be made fireproof, but the chance of your home standing strong during wildfires increases when you reduce the ignitability of your home through home hardening and the creation and maintenance of defensible space.

During the Marshall Fire, embers were responsible for 70% of recorded structure damage – the other 30% were damaged from direct flame contact (Holstrom et al., 2023).

Home hardening is the only defense against embers. Material used to build homes tends to produce larger and more abundant embers that can travel farther distances than embers from burning grasses, shrubs, and trees (Zhou et al., 2019).

Almost all homes in CCCFPD (99%) are at risk of long-range embers, and 62% are at risk of radiant heat from burning vegetation under severe fire weather conditions.

Low-cost actions:

B. Cover chimneys and stovepipe outlets with 3/8th to ½ inch corrosion-resistant metal mesh.

C. Minimize debris accumulation under and next to solar panels.

E. Cover vent openings with 1/16th to 1/8th inch corrosion-resistant metal mesh. Install dryer vents with metal flappers and keep clean and closed unless in use.

G. Clear debris from roof and gutters regularly.

I. Install metal flashing around and under garage doors that goes up at least 6 inches inside and outside the door.

J. Use noncombustible lattice, trellis, or other decorative features.

K. Install weather stripping around and under doors.

L. Remove combustible materials from underneath, above, and within 5 feet of deck.

M. Use noncombustible patio furniture.

N. Cover all eaves with screened vents.

O. Establish and maintain a 5-foot noncombustible buffer around the home. See Wildfire Partners Video

There are many low-cost actions you can start with to harden your home (Figure 3.a.7).

Keep home-hardening practices in mind and use ignition-resistant materials if you replace a hail-damaged roof or remodel your home. Also, remember that many home hardening practices are required by Jefferson, Boulder, and Gilpin Counties for new buildings and certain remodels (Figure 3.a.2).

Fire models cannot predict ember production and radiant heat produced from burning structures, but the areas in CCCFPD with a high density of structures, such as Wondervu, have elevated risk for home-to-home ignition from radiant heat and embers. Reducing the ability of embers to penetrate and ignite your home is recommended for everyone in CCCFPD.

Residents can increase their homes’ chance of survival by making it harder for embers to enter and ignite their homes (image from Healthy Building Science).

Roofs, siding, decks, windows, vents, and gutters are particularly vulnerable to embers from wildfire, and actions that prevent embers from penetrating your home can offer additional benefits such as reduced maintenance costs, greater durability, and increased energy efficiency:

Roofs should be rated Class A and made of noncombustible materials 1 such as some composites, metal, cement, or tile, which tend to be more durable against wind, snow, and hail as well as wildfire.
Siding and decking should be made of ignition-resistant or noncombustible materials, which is particularly effective when homes also have a 5-foot noncombustible border of dirt, stone, or gravel around them. Non-wood siding and decking, such as stucco, brick, metal, and some composites, are often more durable and require less routine maintenance than traditional wood.
Multi-pane windows have greater resistance to radiant heat and provide better insulation and energy efficiency to your home. Windows often fail before a home ignites, providing a direct path for flames and airborne embers to enter a home (CSFS, 2021).
Enclosed eaves and vent screens reduce the penetration of wind-born embers into structures, and can deter pests and critters from nesting in your home’s vents and eves (Hakes et al., 2017; Syphard and Keeley, 2019).
Fences and gates should be made of noncombustible materials within at least 8 feet from the home (and at least 20 feet away from a home or structure for double combustible fences). Fences can serve as pathways for wildfire to travel between vegetation and structures and from structure to structure (Maranghides et al., 2022). Wooden fences attached to homes served as one of the leading causes of home loss during the Marshall Fire (Holstrom et al., 2023). Ignition-resistant and noncombustible fences are more durable and require less maintenance than wood fences, and are recommended within 8 feet from the home, or beyond when possible.

Actions to plan and save for:

A. Use noncombustible or ignition-resistant siding and trim (e.g., stucco, fiber cement, fire-retardant treated wood) at least 2 feet up around the base of your home. See Wildfire Partners Video

C. Use multipaned glass for skylights, not materials that can melt (e.g., plexiglass), and use metal flashing.

D. Install a 6-inch vertical noncombustible surface on all gables above roofs.

F. Install multi-pane windows with at least one tempered-glass pane and metal mesh screens. Use noncombustible materials for window frames.

G. Install noncombustible gutters, gutter covers, and downspouts.

H. Install ignition-resistant or noncombustible roofs (composite, metal, or tile).

I. Install 1-hour fire rated garage doors.

K. Install 1-hour fire rated front and back doors.

L. Use ignition-resistant or noncombustible decking. Enclose crawl spaces.

N. Use noncombustible eaves and soffits.

P. Replace wooden fences with noncombustible materials and keep at least 8 feet away from the home (at least 20 feet away for double combustible fences).

Research from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) clearly illustrates the benefits of home hardening for reducing the chance of home ignition from embers. Please see the video below.

Annual Safety Measures & Home Maintenance

Reviewing safety protocols, creating defensible space, and hardening your home are not one-time actions, but part of annual home maintenance when living in the WUI. During a wildland fire, homes that have clear defensible space are identified as sites for wildland firefighters to engage in structure protection, and homes that are not safely defensible will not usually receive firefighter resources.

Suggestions below come from the home ignition zone checklists from the CSFS:

Clear roof, deck and gutters of pine needles and other debris.
Rake and remove all pine needles and other flammable debris HIZ 1.
Remove all flammable debris under your deck or porch.
Mow grass and weeds in HIZ 2 to a height of 4 inches or less.
Remove branches that hang over the roof and chimney.
Remove branches infringing upon driveways.
Dispose of slash from thinning trees and shrubs by chipping, hauling to a disposal site or piling in open areas for burning later. Any accumulation of slash that’s chipped or otherwise should be isolated 30 feet or more from the home (see slash management recommendations below).
Remove flammable vegetation within 10 feet of woodpiles, propane tanks, and gas meters.
Post signs at the end of the driveway with your house number that are noncombustible, reflective and easily visible to emergency responders.
Verify that your home telephone number, cell phone, and/or email are properly registered through emergency alert systems for Gilpin, Boulder, and Jefferson Counties.
Review the contents of your “go-bag” and make sure it is packed and ready to go. Your go-bag should include supplies to last at least three days, including cash, water, clothing, food, first aid, and prescription medicines for your family and pets. Keep important documents and possessions in a known and easily accessible location so you can quickly grab them during an evacuation.
If you have an outdoor water supply that is available to responding firefighters, make sure it is clearly marked. Put a hose and nozzle in a visible location. The hose should be long enough to reach all parts of your home. DO NOT leave sprinklers on in the case of evacuation as this can cause issues with water pressure for firefighters defending your neighborhood.