House Hardening - ORE Community

Protecting Your Home from Wildfires

Oak Ridge Estates is a beautiful community, but its location makes it vulnerable to wildfires. Protecting your home from wildfires involves taking specific steps to make it more resilient. Home hardening includes using fire-resistant building materials, adopting safe landscaping practices, and implementing preventative measures to reduce fire risk and enhance property safety.

Home Hardening Tips

Consider the following home hardening strategies for every area of your property:

Roofs

Use composite, metal, clay, or tile roofing to resist fires.
Close gaps under roof tiles and shingles to block embers.
Regularly remove leaves and debris from the roof.

Chimneys

Cover chimney and stove pipe outlets with a non-flammable metal screen (3/8-inch to 1/2-inch openings).
Keep the fireplace flue closed during wildfire season when not in use.

Vents

Install 1/16-inch to 1/8-inch noncombustible, corrosion-resistant metal mesh over vents.
Replace vents with California State Fire Marshal-approved flame and ember-resistant vents.

Windows

Install dual-paned windows with at least one tempered glass layer.
Limit large windows facing vegetation to reduce radiant heat exposure.
Use window screens to catch embers.

Walls

Use fire-resistant siding like stucco, fiber cement, or treated wood.
Ensure the materials extend from foundation to roofline.

Decks & Patios

Use ignition-resistant materials like composite for decks.
Keep the area under decks free of flammable materials like leaves, debris, and wood storage.

Garages

Store a fire extinguisher and basic firefighting tools.
Ensure garage doors have battery backups for power outages.
Use weather stripping to prevent ember entry.

Fences & Driveways

Do not attach wooden fences directly to your home—use a noncombustible transition (e.g., metal gate or masonry wall) for the last 5 feet.
Use noncombustible materials (metal, masonry) for fence sections near structures.
Maintain at least 10 feet of vegetation clearance along driveways and access roads.

Water Supply

Keep garden hoses long enough to reach all areas, including roofs and decks.
Consider installing pumps for pools or wells to provide extra water during fires.

Wildfire Mitigation Tips for Landscaping

Zone 0 (0–5 feet from your home – Immediate Zone)

Remove all flammable vegetation and materials next to the home.
Avoid bark mulch—it’s highly flammable and can easily ignite from embers. Use non-combustible alternatives like gravel, rock, or bare soil.
Use hardscaping (pavers, stone paths, concrete) to create a fire-resistant buffer.
Avoid placing wood piles, patio furniture, or plants under eaves or next to windows.

Zone 1 (5–30 feet from your home – Intermediate Zone)

Keep grass mowed to 4 inches or shorter.
Space trees so that canopies are at least 10 feet apart.
Prune tree limbs up to 6–10 feet from the ground.
Remove dead plants, leaves, and pine needles from the yard and roof regularly.
Maintain space between shrubs and other plants to prevent fire from jumping plant to plant.

Zone 2 (30–100+ feet – Extended Zone)

Create fuel breaks with driveways, walkways, or lawns.
Remove ladder fuels—low-hanging branches or shrubs under trees.
Thin vegetation and remove debris to slow the spread of wildfire.
Maintain healthy, hydrated landscaping—dry or stressed plants are more flammable.

General Landscaping Practices

Choose fire-resistant native plants with high moisture content and low resin/sap.
Install irrigation systems to keep vegetation healthy.
Keep roof gutters, downspouts, and yard clear of leaves and pine needles.
Regularly inspect your property for areas where embers could accumulate.

Resources for Hardening Your Home

🔥 Fire Information Engine—Preparing Your Home
🔥 University of California—Fire Resources and Information
🔥 IBHS Wildfire Guidance for Home & Business Owners