The wildfires that began in and around Los Angeles last week spread with terrifying speed, forcing many people to flee the flames with little warning. As firefighters work to contain the blazes, the disaster serves as a reminder of the dangers of climate change, which has been found to increase both the severity and frequency of wildfires.
Last year, there were more than 8,000 wildfires in California, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection — roughly 800 more than in 2023. If you live in an area prone to wildfires, what can you do to minimize their threat to your home and the wider community?
First, it’s important to understand how fires spread. According to Doug Green, who runs a community wildfire program at the research institute Headwaters Economics, wildfires typically spread in any of three ways: flame contact, when a flame touches combustible material; radiant heat, when the heat of a fire raises the temperature high enough for a material to ignite; and ember generation, when a piece of burning debris ignites material.
“Why the embers are so problematic is that they can travel long distance,” said Yana S. Valachovic, a fire scientist at the University of California. “They can travel up to a mile or more.”
In the event of wildfires near you — and assuming you’re not in an urgent situation that requires immediate evacuation — be sure to close all windows and skylights. “You want to shut your structure down so that it’s not going to create more openings for embers to come in,” Ms. Valachovic said. “That also means actually closing the cat and dog door if you have those, because wind can push those doors open.”
Embers can also enter through vents. Consider installing special fire defense vents, or wrapping aluminum foil over vents in the event of a fire.
You should also clear your home’s exteriors of combustible material, especially any that is close to or touching it. “There’s been lots of science and research that has shown that by limiting the amount of flammable vegetation, bark, mulch and other items within that first five feet, you can significantly lower the risk of your home igniting,” Mr. Green said.
As for longer-term solutions, there are a number of modifications you can make to reduce your vulnerability to fire. For one, consider replacing the roof, gutters, fences or deck with nonflammable materials, such as metal or tile.
Wooden fences are especially troublesome in a fire. “Wooden fences become great wicks or fuses for fire to travel down along the property lines,” said Ms. Valachovic, who recommended replacing your fence with something nonflammable. “In the short term, you can tie your gates open so they’re not along that connection line,” she said.
Modifications like these can be expensive, though they don’t always have to break the bank. An analysis by Headwaters Economics looked at the costs of retrofitting a 2,000-square-foot home for wildfire resistance and found that minimal modifications can cost as little as $2,000. (A full upgrade, however, can cost as much as $100,000, the institute found.)
Educate yourself on how your home is susceptible to fires. Mr. Green recommends contacting your local fire department, which may offer to visit your property and spot any vulnerabilities. “Most of them will happily come out and take a look at your property,” Mr. Green said. “They’re the ones who are probably the most knowledgeable with the vegetation and the fire conditions and the operations in your community.”
