A Wildfire Is Approaching: What Can You Do to Protect Your Home Before You Evacuate?
If a wildfire is approaching and you have not previously completed much defensible space or fire hardening, there are still a few things you may be able to do to improve your home's chances of surviving, but your safety comes first.
Never delay evacuation to protect your property. If authorities issue an evacuation order, leave immediately. Do not stay behind to complete this checklist.
The best protection happens before and during fire season, through defensible space and home hardening. But if you have adequate warning and time to prepare before evacuation becomes necessary, focusing on ember exposure and combustible materials around your home can make a meaningful difference.
If You Have 30+ Minutes
If conditions are safe and you have significant warning, focus on removing the easiest sources of fuel around your home.
Clear Debris From Your Home
Walk around the structure and remove anything that could catch an ember.
Focus on:
Dry leaves and pine needles
Dead vegetation
Branches and yard debris
Combustible mulch next to the home
Debris in gutters and roof valleys
Flammable materials stored against the house
If you have time, clear debris from under decks and porches as well.
Embers can travel ahead of the main fire and land in these areas, where a small ignition can grow into a structure fire.
Move Combustible Items Away From the House
Move patio furniture, doormats, cushions, umbrellas, potted plants, children's toys, firewood, trash/recycling bins, decorations, BBQ grills with a propane tank, and other combustible items as far away from the structure as practical (at least 30 ft).
If you have a detached garage or other secure location that is not at immediate risk, use it—but don't spend time moving items if doing so delays evacuation.
Close All Windows and Doors
Make sure every window and exterior door is fully closed and locked.
Don't leave garage doors open. If you have automatic garage doors, make sure they are closed before you leave.
If You Have 15–30 Minutes
Now focus on the most vulnerable areas of your home.
Address Your Vents — Only If Safe
Vents are one of the most significant pathways for embers to enter a home.
If you have not installed ember-resistant vents, a temporary emergency measure may be to cover accessible vents with aluminum foil tape or another appropriate noncombustible material to help reduce ember entry.
However:
Only do this if the vents can be reached safely from the ground or another safe location.
Do not climb onto your roof or use a ladder in dangerous conditions.
Do not delay evacuation to complete this step.
This is a temporary emergency measure, not a replacement for professionally installed ember resistant vents.
Once the immediate threat has passed, consider upgrading to properly designed ember resistant vents as part of your home's long term fire hardening.
Clear Your Roof and Gutters
If you can safely access them, remove dry leaves, pine needles, and other debris from gutters and roof valleys. A high powered leaf blower will make this easier!
However, never climb onto a roof when wildfire conditions are approaching if doing so puts you at risk.
Your roof is one of the largest surfaces exposed to falling embers. A clean, Class A roof is significantly better prepared than a roof covered in dry combustible debris.
If You Have Less Than 15 Minutes
At this point, prioritize the highest-impact actions and get ready to leave.
Move Vehicles to Safety—If You Can Do So Quickly
If it is safe, move vehicles into a garage or park them in an open area away from vegetation and structures.
Keep vehicles pointed toward your escape route and make sure you can leave without delay.
Pull Combustible Items Away From the Home
If you haven't already, quickly move:
Patio furniture
Propane grills
Firewood
Trash and recycling bins
Combustible decorations
Do not attempt to move heavy propane tanks or fuel containers if doing so creates a safety risk.
Close the Garage
Make sure your garage door is closed before leaving. If you have an automatic garage door, keep your vehicle's remote accessible in case you need it during evacuation.
Close Fireplace Dampers
If your home has a fireplace, close the damper if it can be done quickly and safely. This can help limit ember entry through the chimney.
Turn Off HVAC Systems if Appropriate
If your system allows it and doing so is safe, turn off HVAC equipment that could draw smoky air or embers into the home.
Follow your equipment manufacturer's guidance when possible.
What About Trees Touching the House?
If you have a tree or large branch directly touching your roof or structure, it represents a potential pathway for fire to reach your home.
However, do not attempt to cut down trees or perform major pruning as a wildfire approaches.
Tree work requires equipment, time, and safe conditions. Attempting it during an active wildfire emergency can put you at serious risk.
This is something to address before fire season, as part of your home's defensible space plan.
The Most Important Thing: Don't Wait Until the Last Minute
This checklist is intended for homeowners who have adequate warning and time before evacuation becomes necessary.
It is not a substitute for preparation.
The best time to protect your home is when there is no fire nearby.
A properly prepared home may already have:
A well maintained Zone 0
Appropriate defensible space
A Class A roof
Ember resistant vents
Clean gutters with ember guards and rooflines
Protected decks
Reduced ladder fuels
Combustible materials stored away from the structure
These measures can significantly reduce the number of vulnerabilities that need to be addressed during an emergency.
Your Safety Comes First
If an evacuation warning is issued, start preparing to leave.
If an evacuation order is issued, leave immediately.
Do not remain behind to protect your home. Do not return after evacuating to perform additional work unless emergency officials have officially determined that it is safe to return.
Wildfires can change direction rapidly, and conditions can become dangerous with little warning.
The goal of wildfire preparation is to make your home more resilient before the emergency, not to put yourself in danger trying to save it at the last minute.
The Best Last Minute Protection Is Year Round Preparation
Last minute actions can help reduce some immediate vulnerabilities, but they should never be your primary wildfire strategy.
Defensible space and fire hardening work together as a layered defense. Reducing vegetation and combustible fuels around your home can lower fire intensity, while hardening vulnerable parts of the structure can reduce the chance of ignition from embers.
If you live in a wildfire prone area, don't wait for the next evacuation warning to start.
Fire Hard Property Defense helps homeowners identify vulnerabilities and prioritize practical improvements, from defensible space and vegetation management to ember resistant vents, gutter protection, and other home hardening upgrades.
If you're overwhelmed and don't know where to start, a professional site consultation can help you create a clear plan to improve your home's wildfire resilience, before the next fire is on the horizon.
