Southern California is often considered one of the most desired places to live in the world. The beautiful coastline, Hollywood Hills, national parks, and sunny weather are just some of the reasons so many people choose to reside here.

In recent years, however, wildfires in Southern California have become more frequent, threatening homes from Malibu to Los Angeles, Calabasas to Ventura. The good news is that there are many things you can do as a homeowner to protect your home and family in the case of a wildfire in California.

Wildfire Map:

First, you must always remember to look at a wildfire map to see if your home is near a threatened area. New wildfires can pop-up in seconds, so it’s important to stay up to date. The University of California fire map shows in real time “wildfires near me,” allowing you, the homeowner, the opportunity to better gauge the level of preparedness for your home and family.

Prepare Your Home:

A wildfire near your home does not have to end with ashes; there are many steps a homeowner can take to prepare their home for the potential threat of wildfire.

Roofing:

• Often considered the most structurally vulnerable part of your home, it’s important to use materials with a Class A fire rating for your roof. Steel comes highly recommended and is often marketed as a building material that will be standing for decades, if not centuries, and is not easily destructible.
• Also be sure to clean out gutters that may be home to dried up leaves and sticks--otherwise known as kindling for wildfire.

AC Repair, Solar Energy & Affordable Home Heating:

• Both AC repair and affordable home heating may not transparently seem like ways to protect your home from wildfire, but it’s important that any heating or electric units in your home are up to code.

• A faulty AC or heating unit could in fact start a fire in your home, and with the dry Southern California air and Santa Ana winds, could easily spread and fuel wildfire energy.

• Solar energy will come in handy during a fire when electricity is often cut by local electrical providers. Most solar energy panels will remain working during a power outage if you have a battery backup or inverter.

• In California, electricity is often cut before a wildfire is even threatening a neighborhood. This is to prevent wind from downing active power lines and sparking new fire. With solar, homeowners can still go on with their day without the impact of having their lights, wifi, and other sources of energy shut off.

Insulation:

If your home is being threatened by poor air quality due to a wildfire, proper insulation can help protect your lungs and the air quality inside your home! Heavy smoke from wildfire can enter a home, even if all doors and windows are shut. Steel doors and windows are a great option to keep the elements where they belong...outside. Air sealing and adding insulation to your attic, floors, ducts, and walls will not just help to keep the smoke out,