ROOFING
Roof covering
The roof has a large exposed surface and can collect wind-blown embers and debris.
What homeowners can observe
Accumulated leaves or needles, damaged covering, and gaps at roof edges or intersections.
A VISUAL HOMEOWNER GUIDE
Explore a Wildfire-Ready Home
Wildfire readiness is not a single product or project. Explore the structure and the space around it, save the areas you want to discuss, and find relevant local professionals.
Select a numbered area to learn what to observe and when professional help may be useful.
EVERY AREA, IN PLAIN LANGUAGE
Home and property considerations
All core information in the visual is also available here for search, assistive technology, and easy reference.
Home structure
ROOFING
Roof attachments
Skylights, solar equipment, chimneys, and other penetrations can create places where debris accumulates or gaps develop.
What homeowners can observe
Debris beneath or beside attachments, open gaps, exposed framing, and damaged flashing.
HOME HARDENING
Gutters
Combustible debris in gutters can be exposed to embers and can place heat next to the roof edge.
What homeowners can observe
Leaves, needles, damaged sections, gaps, and vegetation overhanging the roofline.
EMBER-RESISTANT VENTS
Ember-resistant vents
Wind-driven embers can enter openings and ignite combustible material inside attics, crawl spaces, or wall cavities.
What homeowners can observe
Vent locations, missing or damaged screening, visible gaps, corrosion, and nearby debris.
HOME HARDENING
Eaves and soffits
Open or damaged eaves can expose vulnerable cavities; debris can also collect at roof-to-wall edges.
What homeowners can observe
Open eaves, cracked or missing soffit material, gaps, and nests or debris.
HOME HARDENING
Siding and exterior walls
Gaps, combustible materials, and places where debris collects can increase vulnerability at the wall surface.
What homeowners can observe
Cracks, missing boards, gaps at joints, exposed sheathing, and combustible items against walls.
HOME HARDENING
Windows
Heat can damage glazing or frames and may expose the interior to fire or embers.
What homeowners can observe
Single-pane units, damaged seals or frames, missing screens, and combustible vegetation or furnishings immediately outside.
HOME HARDENING
Exterior doors
Gaps around doors can admit embers, while nearby combustible material can expose the opening to heat.
What homeowners can observe
Visible daylight, worn weatherstripping, damaged thresholds, and combustible storage near the doorway.
HOME HARDENING
Garage door
Large garage openings can have perimeter gaps, and garages often contain combustible items.
What homeowners can observe
Gaps at the sides or bottom, damaged seals, and combustible material stored close to the door.
HOME HARDENING
Decks, porches and stairs
Debris and combustible items on, beside, or beneath an attached deck can provide a path toward the structure.
What homeowners can observe
Leaves in gaps, material stored underneath, damaged boards, open undersides, and vegetation touching the deck.
HOME HARDENING
Fence attached to the home
A combustible fence connected directly to a building can carry fire toward the structure.
What homeowners can observe
Combustible fence sections or gates touching the home and debris collected along the fence line.
HOME HARDENING
Combustible attachments
Planters, furniture, trellises, stored material, and similar items can add fuel beside the building.
What homeowners can observe
Combustible items touching walls, under eaves, on decks, or near windows and doors.
Surrounding property
DEFENSIBLE SPACE
Immediate area around the structure (Zone 0 where applicable)
CAL FIRE identifies the first five feet from buildings, structures, and decks as the most important area for reducing the chance that embers ignite nearby material.
What homeowners can observe
Dead vegetation, combustible mulch, leaves, firewood, bins, furniture, and combustible fencing or gates connected to the home.
DEFENSIBLE SPACE
Zone 1 — within 30 feet
This area is managed to reduce fuels and interrupt paths toward the home.
What homeowners can observe
Dead plants, leaves, dry grasses, dense shrubs, low branches, and vegetation touching structures.
DEFENSIBLE SPACE
Zone 2 — within 100 feet
Reducing and spacing potential fuels farther from the home can help slow fire and support safer conditions for response.
What homeowners can observe
Tall grasses, dead vegetation, dense shrubs, crowded trees, and debris piles. Property lines may limit the distance you control.
TREE SERVICES
Trees
Branches and closely spaced crowns can contribute to vertical or horizontal fire spread.
What homeowners can observe
Dead limbs, branches near roofs or chimneys, crowded crowns, and ladder-fuel connections from shrubs to trees.
VEGETATION MANAGEMENT
Shrubs and grasses
Dead, dry, or continuous vegetation can carry fire across a property and toward structures.
What homeowners can observe
Dry grasses, dead material inside shrubs, plants beneath trees, and uninterrupted vegetation beds.
DEFENSIBLE SPACE
Firewood and material storage
Firewood, lumber, and other combustible storage can add concentrated fuel near structures.
What homeowners can observe
Stacks close to the home or deck, material beneath trees, and debris accumulating around storage.
HOME HARDENING
Accessory structures and outbuildings
Sheds and other structures can contain combustible material and may expose the home if they are close by.
What homeowners can observe
Roof or gutter debris, open vents, wall gaps, attached fencing, stored fuel, and vegetation around the structure.
HOME HARDENING
Property fencing
Combustible fencing can carry fire across a property, especially where it connects to a structure.
What homeowners can observe
Continuous combustible sections, dead vegetation along the line, and direct connections to buildings.
DEFENSIBLE SPACE
Propane and utilities
Utility and fuel-storage areas need clear access and vegetation management; requirements can vary by equipment and jurisdiction.
What homeowners can observe
Dry vegetation, stored materials, blocked access, or damaged components around equipment. Do not alter fuel or electrical systems yourself.
California guidance and local requirements
CAL FIRE describes defensible-space zones and home-hardening considerations, while counties and local fire authorities may apply stricter or more specific standards. Confirm current requirements for your address and project before starting work. Wildfire Navigator does not interpret code, determine compliance, or guarantee safety, insurance eligibility, or discounts.
Official guidance reviewed August 12, 2026: CAL FIRE Home Hardening ↗ and CAL FIRE Defensible Space ↗.