Earlier this year, the wildfires raging across Southern California made headlines – but the fact is, wildfires happen all around the world, and all across the United States.

What do you need to do to protect your home from wildfire?

Eyes Up

Because of its size and orientation, the roof is the most vulnerable part of your house. If you’re replacing your roof, make sure you use fire-resistant materials. Replace eaves with short overhangs and flat ledges – wildfire embers might latch on to the roof’s ledges and eaves, causing your house to flame.

Just Say No to Embers

Cover your exterior attic vents and under-eave vents with metal wire mesh no larger than 1/8 inch to keep embers out. Install a fire block in the gap between the top of framed walls and the foundation of the house – that’s an opportunity to limit oxygen from feeding the fire, preventing it from spreading. Likewise, enclose the foundations of your home to prevent wind-blown embers from getting in underneath it.

Defensible Space

Your home’s surroundings can make a huge difference in its ability to withstand the threat of fire. Reduce or remove flammable vegetation, and plant fewer flammable species. Clear all combustibles from the space outside your home. Utilize noncombustible landscaping materials like gravel, brick, or concrete. And be sure to trim trees so that no branches reach within 10 feet of the flue opening of any stove or chimney. 

Keep It Clean

The debris on your roof and in your rain gutters can put your home at risk of wildfire – it’s all too easy for wind-blown embers to spark them into flame. Regular maintenance helps keep this risk low.

Know Your Policy

Verify your coverage now, before you need to file a claim – then you’ll have time to augment your policy if you feel under-protected.  

For more than 30 years, Beall Financial and Insurance Services, Inc., has been helping corporations and individuals protect their most important assets. The agency’s client base covers a spectrum of niche businesses, such as craft breweries, that require specialized insurance packages and knowledge. With California offices in Redlands and Newport Beach, Beall Financial and Insurance Services serves clients nationwide.