Defensible space zones are critical for preventing wildfires from reaching your house and other structures.
Protect Your Property from Wildfires with Defensible Space
7 Home Maintenance Tasks to Prevent Wildfire Damage
July 2024
Protecting your home and property from potential wildfire damage is something that should be considered all year long.
Here are seven regular home maintenance tasks that can help reduce your risk once wildfire season arrives.
1. Clean roofs and gutters
Inspect these areas at least twice a year.
2. Replace any loose or missing shingles or roof tiles to prevent ember penetration
The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) recommends you install a Class A fire-rated roof.
3. Repair damaged or loose window screens and any broken windows
Tempered glass, dual-pane windows are preferred.
4. Enclose eaves, fasciae, soffits, and vents to keep embers out
Use 1/8-inch mesh to cover vents, and box-in open eaves to create a soffited eave.
5. Protect attachments like decks, porches, and patios from ember exposure
Apply an exterior siding product around edges and to the bottom of support joists.
6. Do not connect wooden fencing directly to structures
New fences should be made of noncombustible or ignition-resistant materials (masonry, metal, heavy timber, or fire retardant pressure treated wood).
7. Keep firewood and propane storage tanks away from structures
Airborne embers can quickly ignite flammable items during a wildfire, so it's best to store them at least 30 feet away from all structures.
The Mutual of Enumclaw Wildfire Program is a service provided to members with Homeowners (HO-3 and HO-5) or Farm Property coverage.
We do not consider wildfire risk mitigation actions for our eligibility or rating plan. Mutual of Enumclaw uses a third-party vendor to assess wildfire risk and members can impact their score by clearing vegetation in the area surrounding the property. This can be done directly by the policyholder on their property and at the community level, such as through NFPA’s Firewise Community program.
The information we share on our site is intended to serve as a general overview. Please refer to your policy or contact your local independent agent for specific coverage details.
Related
Having a practiced routine is vital to staying safe. These tips can help you and your family prepare before wildfires even begin.
4 Steps to Prepare for a Wildfire—Before It Starts
Wildfire Prep Checklist: Home and Family
July 2024Start your wildfire preparation here with our checklist of helpful tips and additional resources for protecting your home and family from wildfires.
Wildfire Prep Checklist: Home and Family
Wildfire protection is part of the policy.
The Mutual of Enumclaw Wildfire Program and our partnership with Wildfire Defense Systems, Inc. (WDS) were created to help protect your property, at no additional cost to you.