These ten simple yet highly effective steps (in no particular order) can protect homes from wildfire.
1. Maintain defensible space in the critical area between 0 and 5 feet from your home by using noncombustible materials such as gravel, brick, or concrete.
2. Maintain defensible space in the area 5 to 30 feet from your home by removing dead vegetation, removing shrubs under trees, pruning branches that overhang the roof, and thinning trees. Trailers/RVs and storage sheds in this area should be moved or have defensible space around them.
3. Reduce siding risks by using noncombustible siding or maintaining a 6-inch ground-to-siding clearance.
4. Use a roof covering fire-rated Class A, which offers the best protection for homes.
5. Regularly clean debris from the roof, since debris can be ignited by wind-blown embers.
6. Regularly remove debris from gutters for the same reason. Gutter covers, if used, should be noncombustible.
7. Use noncombustible materials for fences and gates to reduce the risk of burning fencing catching your house on fire.
8. Cover vents with 1/8-inch mesh and box-in open eaves to keep burning embers out of your attic.
9. Protect your windows by using multi-pane tempered glass, and close the windows when a wildfire threatens.
10. If you have a deck, use boards that comply with California requirements for new construction in wildfire-prone areas. Also remove combustibles from under the deck and maintain defensible space.
From the book Land On Fire: The New Reality Of Wildfire In The West by Gary Ferguson (Timber Press, 2017)