Wildfires are an ever-present threat in our modern world, and rebuilding after a fire can be a daunting challenge. If you are planning to rebuild your home after a wildfire, it’s crucial to prioritize fire resistance in your construction, materials, and landscaping choices. The right approach can increase the chances of your home surviving future wildfires while also improving overall safety and energy efficiency.
In this comprehensive guide, we will outline the steps to follow and the best materials and techniques to use when rebuilding your home to be fire-resistant.
Before rebuilding, conduct a thorough assessment of your property and work with local authorities to obtain the necessary permits. Los Angeles has specific building codes and wildfire safety regulations that must be followed. Consider working with a professional fire mitigation specialist to ensure your rebuilding plan adheres to the latest fire safety standards. We also recommend investing the time and energy to put together your team of experts in expediting your building process. In addition to fire mitigation specialists, we recommend working with wildfire insurance consultants, and a licensed contractor who has experience in fire-resistant building or rebuilding from a wildfire (specifically so they can assist with how to navigate working with insurance, payments, claims and timelines) to assist you on this journey.
After you’ve secured permits, completed your soils and toxicity tests and have the approval to rebuild start looking at design and materials that are fire-resistant. Using fire-resistant materials is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of wildfire damage. For your roofing we recommend metal, class A asphalt shingles or using materials like clay or concrete when available. For your exterior think about materials that are essentially not wood. Stucco is very popular in California, you can apply a smooth stucco finish to your home for a chic spanish style look. Other fire-resistant exterior materials include cement, concrete, brick and stone. These materials are also great for insulation and can improve a homes energy efficiency just by being used.
When it comes to windows and doors if you follow California laws you should be covered. Those require tempered glass which is more resistant to heat and shattering. Other features like using dual-paned windows which have two layers and improve insulation while reducing the transfer of heat and steel or fiberglass doors can help with heat resistance and protection during a fire.
We all just watched the most devastating fire in California’s history consume Alta Dena and the Pacific Palisades, so saying you can build a fire-proof home is just not true. However, you can leverage fire-resistant design to help slow down the flames, or when winds are blowing embers, help protect them from catching a blaze on your property. A simple roof design with clean slopes and few niches removes crevices where embers can land and hide. Large overhangs can trap heat and embers, we recommend minimizing overhangs to decrease that risk. You can also invest in ember-resistant materials for your venting systems, crawl spaces, attic, fencing and decking to help decrease the risk of an ember catching flame on your property.
The same goes for your landscaping. Plants will always burn, but there are certain varieties you can choose that are more fire-resistant, and there are layouts and landscape design techniques that can be used to help minimize your risk of a fire starting or spreading in your yard. Below is one way to think about your landscape architecture, putting choices into zones.
Zone 1: Immediate Zone (0-5 feet from the house)
Use non-combustible materials like gravel, concrete, or stone mulch.
Remove all dead vegetation, dried leaves, and fire-prone plants.
Avoid wooden fencing that connects directly to the house.
Zone 2: Intermediate Zone (5-30 feet from the house)
Keep plants spaced apart to prevent fire from spreading.
Trim tree branches to ensure they are at least 10 feet away from any structure.
Use fire-resistant plants like succulents, lavender, and ornamental grasses.
Zone 3: Extended Zone (30-100 feet from the house)
Maintain proper spacing between trees and shrubs.
Regularly clear away dead leaves, branches, and debris.
Keep grass mowed and well-irrigated.
You can also invest in systems and tools for the exterior of your home that can pay for themselves if they are able to protect your home from burning during a fire. Mesh screens over your gutters help year round to keep debris from clogging them, but can also keep an ember from landing inside them can catching fire to dry leaves. Investing in a sprinkler system that can be used to protect your home is never a bad idea, pulling water from ponds, pools or fountains is a great way to dampen the area and protect your home. We also recommend investing in a generator, something that can be turned on to keep your sprinkler and other systems running if the power should go out.
Rebuilding your home after a wildfire is an opportunity to create a safer, more resilient living space. By choosing fire-resistant materials, implementing smart design strategies, and maintaining defensible space, you can significantly reduce your risk of fire damage in the future. Los Angeles is no stranger to wildfires, but with careful planning and proactive measures, you can rebuild a home that stands strong against the flames.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the Eaton or Palisades fire, we send our sincerest apologies to them. We are working with many fire victims to help them rebuild their homes and know how painful this journey can be. We are here as a trusted partner should you or anyone you know need one as they look to rebuild their home.