How to Fireproof Your Home From Wildfires: What is Home Hardening?

By Kelly Butler and the Mercury Team

Wildfires are becoming more frequent and destructive, putting more homes at risk every year. In January 2025, wildfires tore through Los Angeles County, burning over 55,000 acres, destroying more than 16,000 structures, and tragically taking 29 lives. It’s a harsh reminder of how unpredictable and dangerous wildfire season can be. However, steps like hardening your home and creating a defensible space can help give your home a better chance of combating a wildfire.

In this blog, we’ll provide information on how to fireproof your home so you can reduce risk, stay prepared, and protect what matters most.

Understanding Wildfire Threats

Wildfires can start in many ways—lightning strikes, downed power lines, or even something as simple as an unattended campfire. But how do wildfires start and spread so quickly? Once a fire ignites, it moves in three main ways:

• Ember attack: Tiny, burning embers can travel miles ahead of a wildfire, landing on roofs, in gutters, or through vents, where they can easily start new fires.
• Direct flame contact: If flammable materials like dry plants or wooden fences are too close to your home, they can catch fire and spread the flames.
• Radiant heat: Even without touching flames, intense heat from a wildfire can ignite nearby structures.

That’s why home hardening and defensible space are so important. What is home hardening? It’s the process of making your home more fire-resistant—e.g., fireproof roofing, ember-resistant vents, and dual-pane windows. Meanwhile, creating defensible space means clearing flammable debris and maintaining a safe distance between vegetation and your home. These two strategies work together to give your home the best possible chance of withstanding a wildfire.

Home Hardening Essentials

Strengthening your home against wildfires starts with key structural improvements. But what materials are fire-resistant, and how can they help? Here are some strategies to help harden your home:

Roofing and Eaves

Your roof is one of the first things embers land on during a wildfire, so making it as fire-resistant as possible is key. Choose Class A fire-rated roofing materials such as metal, tile, or composition shingles to create a strong defense. Keeping gutters clear of dry leaves and installing gutter guards can also help. Another key step? Sealing eaves and soffits so embers can’t sneak into small gaps.

Exterior Walls and Siding

Flames and extreme heat can ignite certain siding materials like vinyl or wood, so it’s best to choose non-combustible options like stucco, fiber cement, brick, or metal. Even tiny cracks in siding can allow embers to get inside, so make sure to seal gaps with fire-resistant caulk.

Windows and Doors

Did you know extreme heat can shatter windows and let flames inside? Upgrading to dual-pane, tempered glass windows gives your home extra protection. Fire-rated doors with secure weather stripping also help keep embers from slipping through tiny gaps.

Vents and Openings

Vents are often overlooked, but they can be an easy entry point for embers. Covering them with fine metal mesh (1/8-inch or smaller) or installing wildfire-resistant vent covers can help keep your home safe while still allowing airflow.

Defensible Space: Zones and Guidelines

Creating defensible space around your home is one of the best ways to reduce wildfire risk and maintain a firescaped property. Here’s how to break it down into three key zones:

Immediate Zone (0–5 feet from your home)

Keep anything flammable—like firewood, dead leaves, or outdoor furniture—away from your walls. Instead of mulch, use hardscaping materials like gravel, pavers, or stones, which don’t burn. If you have a deck, make sure there’s no debris underneath that could catch fire.

Intermediate Zone (5–30 feet out)

This is where you’ll want to manage plants and trees to prevent fire from spreading too easily. Keep grass trimmed, prune lower tree branches, and make sure shrubs and bushes aren’t packed too closely together. Removing dry brush and dead plants also helps stop fires in their tracks.

Extended Zone (30–100 feet or more)

This outer zone helps slow down a fire before it gets too close. Thin out trees so they have space between them, remove dead branches, and create firebreaks using things like driveways, walkways, or gravel paths.

Landscaped and Vegetation Management

Your yard can be a powerful defense against wildfires—if you manage it the right way. Here’s how to make your outdoor space safer:

Choosing Fire-Resistant Plants

Not all plants burn easily. Opt for fire-resistant plants that have high moisture content and low resin or sap, like succulents, lavender, and certain types of oak. These plants are less likely to ignite and can help slow down a fire. Just be sure to space them out and keep them well-watered.

Routine Maintenance

A little upkeep goes a long way. Trim trees and bushes regularly, clear out dead leaves and branches, and remove dry, dying plants. Keeping your grass short and hydrated can also prevent flames from spreading too quickly.

Combustible Items and Storage

Wood piles, propane tanks, and even outdoor furniture can be fire hazards if they’re too close to your home. Store them at least 30 feet away or in a fire-resistant shed to keep them from becoming fuel for a wildfire.

Additional Preventative Measures

Here are some simple ways to add another layer of defense and protect your home from wildfires:

Gutter Guards and Screens

Leaves and debris in your gutters can easily catch fire when embers land on them. Installing gutter guards or regularly cleaning out your gutters helps prevent this hazard and keeps your roof safer.

Sprinkler and Irrigation Systems

A well-watered yard is less likely to burn. Consider installing exterior sprinklers or rooftop sprinkler systems to help keep your home and surrounding landscape moist during fire season.

Fire-Resistant Decks and Patios

If you have a deck or patio, avoid using flammable materials like untreated wood. Make sure it’s made from fire-resistant materials like composite decking, concrete, or stone.

Emergency Planning and Communication

Make sure your home has smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, and an evacuation plan in place. Stay connected with community alert systems to receive real-time wildfire updates.

Insurance Considerations

Now that you have an idea of how to fireproof your home, it’s time to protect your property further with homeowners insurance. Some of the benefits of homeowners insurance include:

• Dwelling protection: Covers damage to your house due to a wildfire and other covered losses.
• Personal property: Protects your household items in the event of a covered loss such as a wildfire.
• Extended replacement cost: Provides additional coverage up to 150% of the dwelling’s policy limits to repair or rebuild your home due to a wildfire or another covered loss.
• Additional living expenses: Helps cover living expenses if your house becomes uninhabitable due to a wildfire or another covered loss.
• Personal liability protection: Helps pay for bodily injury or property damage caused to others if you’re found liable.
• Guest medical protection: Helps pay for your guests’ medical expenses if they accidentally get injured on your property.

Not all homeowners insurance policies automatically cover wildfire damage, so it’s important to review your policy and confirm what’s included. Some insurers also offer discounts or premium reductions for fire-resistant upgrades, so keep detailed records of any fireproofing upgrades.

Ongoing Upkeep and Final Checks

Fireproofing your home isn’t a one-time job. It requires regular upkeep to stay effective, so keep these considerations in mind:

• Regular inspections: Make it a habit to clean your roof and gutters each season to remove dry leaves and debris that could catch fire. Once a year, check your siding, vents, and landscaping to ensure everything is in good shape and ember-resistant.
• Community and local regulations: Stay informed about fire codes, local ordinances, and Firewise community guidelines in your area. These programs offer valuable tips and may even provide resources to help you improve wildfire protection.
• Reassessing and upgrading: Wildfire risks evolve, so it’s a good idea to re-evaluate your home’s fire resistance from time to time. Consider upgrading materials or adding new protective measures to keep your home as safe as possible.

Ask the Expert

Q: Can making fire-resistant upgrades to my home help lower my insurance premiums?

A: Yes, it definitely can. When you take steps to protect your home, like installing a fire-resistant roof or new windows and doors, you’re lowering your wildfire risk. And insurance companies, like Mercury, take that into account, meaning you might qualify for a discount. Just make sure to save your receipts or take some photos so we can apply any savings you’re eligible for.

- Kelly Butler, VP, Chief Underwriting Officer for Mercury Insurance

Conclusion

Hardening your home with fire-resistant materials and creating defensible space around your property gives your home the best chance to withstand a wildfire, so keep these tips in mind to make improvements.

Even with all the right precautions, wildfires can still be unpredictable. Take a moment to review your homeowners insurance policy and make sure you have the coverage you need. If you’re looking for cheap home insurance that still provides great wildfire protection, Mercury can help customize a policy tailored to your needs and budget.

Contact us today for a fast, free quote!