Wildfires: how to protect your home and what to do when fire approaches

Wildfires are no longer just a problem for California, Australia or Greece. Fire seasons are getting longer across North America and Europe, and fires increasingly reach homes on the edge of towns.

This guide is adapted from FEMA’s Ready.gov wildfire guidance, which is in the public domain, and from the defensible space zones used by CAL FIRE and other fire agencies.

Defensible space around your home

Most homes lost in wildfires ignite from embers carried by the wind, not from the main flames. That’s why what’s right next to your house matters most.

Zone	Distance from house	What to do
Zone 0	0–5 ft (0–1.5 m)	Nothing that burns: no mulch, firewood, leaves or wood/plastic furniture. Gravel, concrete, bare soil.
Zone 1	5–30 ft (1.5–10 m)	Short, watered grass, widely spaced shrubs, branches pruned up 6 ft (2 m), nothing overhanging the roof.
Zone 2	30–100 ft (10–30 m)	Less dry vegetation, thinned trees, no continuous brush leading fire to the house.

The house

• Clear gutters and the roof of leaves and pine needles.
• Fine metal mesh (1/8 inch / 3 mm) over vents so embers can’t get in.
• Firewood at least 30 ft (10 m) from the house, not stacked against walls.
• Propane tanks away from vegetation, valve easy to reach.
• A garden hose long enough to reach around the house, and a water source.
• A ladder within reach for the roof.

When fire approaches

• Follow emergency alerts, local radio and fire service instructions.
• Get ready to leave: go bag, documents, pets, car facing out with a full tank. See the evacuation checklist.
• If you have time: close all windows and doors including garage doors, bring outdoor furniture inside, shut off gas, leave lights on so the house is visible through smoke.
• When told to go, go. Don’t wait to see flames.

If fire catches you on the road

• In a car: don’t drive through thick smoke or flames. Park somewhere clear of vegetation, windows and vents closed, engine running, headlights on. Get down on the floor and cover yourself with a wool blanket or jacket.
• On foot: find an area clear of vegetation (paved road, plowed field, riverbed). Lie face down, cover your head and breathe through clothing.

Smoke

Wildfire smoke can travel hundreds of miles and is especially harmful for children, older people, pregnant women and anyone with asthma or heart disease.

• Stay indoors with windows and doors closed.
• Run a HEPA air purifier if you have one. See indoor air quality.
• If you go out, wear a well-fitted N95 or FFP2 mask.
• Avoid outdoor exercise.

Prevention

• Follow local burn bans and never burn yard waste on dry or windy days.
• Never throw cigarette butts from a car or onto vegetation.
• Use designated fire pits and grills, never on windy days, and drown embers completely with water.
• Call the emergency number as soon as you see a wildfire.