Designing for Wildfire Resilience
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To protect lives and property, we must build homes that resist fire and are designed to survive the growing threat of wildfires. Here’s how
Our mission is to advance the design and construction of wildfire-resilient homes by promoting fire-smart materials, defensible landscaping, and community education to safeguard lives and propertyWHO IS THIS INFORMATION FOR
This site helps homeowners understand how design decisions can dramatically improve protection against wildfires — from the roof to the garden.
The information focuses on remodeling or refurbishing existing homes rather than on new buildings or reconstruction.
KNOW YOUR RISKS & WHY IT MATTERS
More urban areas than ever are now threatened
Wildfires are becoming more intense and more frequent, because of climate change, human activity and land use pattern.
Extreme wildfires could rise by 14% in the next decade, 30% by mid-century, and 50% by the end of the century. - UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and GRID-Arendal, 2022
Global fire impacts
Recent years have seen unusually severe fires across the world from Australia to Europe to North and South America, claiming hundreds of lives and causing billions of dollars in damage.
2024 saw the worst wildfires in a century in Europe, burning more than 500,000 hectares and causing an estimated EUR4.1 billion in damages. In summer 2025, Europe is on track for the worst wildfire season on record, with France, Spain, Portugal and Greece hit heavily. The 2023 US fire season burned approximately 1.1 million hectares, causing $10.4 billion in insurance losses. In January 2025, the wildfires in Los Angeles marked one of the costliest wildfire disasters in modern US history.
Expanding risk zones
There will be a global increase of extreme fires, but wildfires are no longer confined to traditional hotspots, such as the western US, along with western Canada, southern and eastern Australia, and southern Europe
More regions are becoming vulnerable to fires they weren’t seeing previously.
Urban expansion into wildlands is growing at a rapid pace and exposing more people and assets to wildfire.
Homeowners can make a real difference to building resilient communities
Simple wildfire mitigation measures, like creating defensible space and using fire-resistant roofing, can lower a home’s risk by about 20%, according to HazardHub. More comprehensive efforts can reduce risk by up to 70%.
As the number of people and property exposed to wildfires increases, designing wildfire-resistant homes is not just smart, it’s essential for protecting families and homes.
Wildfire resilient design starts with understanding your risk exposure
Wildfirerisk.org defines four main factors that assess your location wildfire risk: likelihood, intensity, exposure, and susceptibility.
Knowing how these factors affect your home and community can guide you in choosing the most effective risk-reduction actions and design safer environments.
How do we assess the risk to homes from wildfires
Hazard
Likelihood
Intensity
Vulerability
Exposure
Susceptibility
The combination of wildfire likelihood and intensity with things people care about, such as homes, infrastructure, or natural resources.
Assesses how easily a home can be damaged when a wildfire happens.
Measure of the energy expected from a wildfire., mainly depends on physical landscape (topography) and vegetative fuel available to burn.
Probability of wildfire burning in a specific location. Mainly a factor of weather, topography.
Ignition Resistant Homes
X
Land Use Planning
Risk Mitigation Strategies
How do homes typically catch fire
There are three main ways that wildfires can set houses on fire
Burning bits of wood or vegetation that can travel over a mile in the wind and ignite roofs, gutters, decks, or nearby plants
Burning bits of wood or vegetation that can travel over a mile in the wind and ignite roofs, gutters, decks, or nearby plants
Flames from vegetation or structures reach the home itself. Winds make this happen much faster.
Proactive planning and design decisions for both buildings and surroundings can have a profound impact on structure survivability and damage reductions from wildfires.
Extreme wildfires could rise by 14% in the next decade, 30% by mid-century, and 50% by the end of the century.
UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and GRID-Arendal, 2022
“Wildfires don’t usually burn homes because of giant flames hitting the walls. The real danger is from thousands of tiny embers carried by the wind. They can slip into small gaps in your roof, vents, or siding - and that’s how many homes actually ignite.”
Embers are the biggest risk
Research shows that 90% of home losses in wildfires are caused by embers and low-intensity ground fires, rather than from large, fast-moving fire fronts (NFPA).
Hazardous Fuel Management
Emergency Response
Evacuation and Readiness
How can we reduce risks
Prevent ignition
START WITH YOUR HOUSE
What does it mean to be fire-ready
Limit Fire Damage – Houses and neighbourhoods should be designed and maintained to slow the fire’s spread, giving firefighters a better chance to protect your home.
Go Beyond Code
Codes set the floor, not the ceiling. Aim for true fire resilience, not just compliance.
Each home’s environment demands different safety features, design with that reality in mind.
Forest/Woodland Homes
Go above and beyond minimum requirements. Add features like fire shutters, ember-resistant vents, non-combustible siding.
Desert Homes
Lower tree risk but still consider wind-driven fires and defensible space.
Use Common Sense & Context
Each home’s environment demands different safety features. We need to design with that reality in mind.
“Don’t just do the minimum that the code requires. Building codes allow for homes that are only ignition resistant, even in areas we know will face wildfires. Our responsibility is to go beyond the minimum - building homes that are as non-combustible as possible.“
BAR Architects
What do different building material terms mean?
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A material that can catch fire and burn easily when exposed to flames or heat. Examples include wood, untreated siding, paper, and some plastics. Combustible materials are the most at risk in wildfires.
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A material that resists burning and slows the spread of fire, but may still char, melt, or eventually ignite under extreme heat. Fire performance has been tested (e.g. class A)
Fire-resistant materials help protect a house and give firefighters more time to respond.
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A material that will not catch fire under normal conditions, even when exposed to flames. Examples include brick, stone, concrete, steel, and cement board. Non-combustible materials provide the strongest protection against wildfire.
DEFENSIBLE SPACE - YOUR OUTDOORS & LANDSCAPING
Defensible space is the buffer created between a home and surrounding vegetation to slow the spread of wildfire.
Defensible space is typically organized into three zones around the home plus a broader community zone, addressing both individual property protection and neighbourhood-scale resilience
Research and CalFire standards show that maintaining up to 100 ft around a house can make a critical difference, though in some places, like Los Angeles County, requirements extend to 200 ft.
These distances are guidelines; the right amount of defensible space depends on your site. Steeper slopes allow flames to climb faster, while terrain and wind patterns can direct fire toward a home more aggressively.
In higher-risk sites like these, increased defensible space and additional home-hardening measures may be necessary.
Creating and maintaining defensible space, tailored to your site’s risks, is one of the most effective and affordable way to protect your home.
Source: adapted from Sustainable Defensible Space; “Wildland Urban Interface Resilience Homeowner Handbook”; Defensiblespace.org
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO
Improve Water Access & Fire Response Readiness
Indoor fire sprinklers are mandatory in many countries around the world and must be installed in all new homes. Just like indoor sprinklers stop kitchen fires from spreading, exterior sprinkler systems can be a frontline defence against wildfires.
Roof- or landscape-mounted sprinklers can project water more than 60 ft or 20m around a home, soaking vegetation, walls, and roofs. This creates a protective barrier that blocks embers before they ignite.
Defending your home
If you have a swimming pool, it can double as a built-in water source and with the right pump, it can power outdoor sprinklers or even act as a hydrant for firefighters.
No pool? Consider adding a cistern (underground storage tank) or a rain barrel for a backup water supply. That can be the difference between your home getting saved or not getting saved when every second counts.
Other water storage options
Some systems turn on automatically when there is a wildfire warning in your area, spraying both your home and garden, even if you are not there.
Smart, Automatic Systems
Sustainability considerations
In areas with limited water, excessive irrigation is not sustainable.
But there are solutions:
Use stormwater infiltration to keep moisture in the ground and reduce flood risk.
Reuse grey water from bathrooms, laundry, or kitchens to reduce water usage
Install smart irrigation systems that minimize water waste.
“Exterior sprinklers and smart water systems give your home an added layer of defence and may even provide firefighters with the resources they need to save your property”.
Mike Montague, Dharam Consulting
Solar power and safer homes
Did you know? Many wildfires don’t actually start inside homes, they often begin because of downed power lines or other energy source problems outside. This is one reason why experts suggest turning to solar energy as part of wildfire-resistant design.
Solar panels with battery storage mean your home doesn’t rely as much on long electrical wires, which can spark and start fires if damaged.
Reduce dependence on power lines
Gas stoves, heaters, and appliances are not only flammable but also harmful for the environment. By switching to electric appliances powered by solar or other renewable energy, you reduce both fire risk and your carbon footprint.
Move away from gas
In California, all new homes are now required to have solar panels. This is part of a bigger effort to move toward zero net carbon homes and also helps wildfire resilience.
California’s Example
“Solar panels and electrification don’t just make homes greener. They also help communities reduce the risks of wildfires caused by old, unsafe energy systems”.
COMMUNITY MATTERS
Wildfires do not stop at property lines. The safety of one home often depends on how well the whole community is prepared. By working together, neighbourhoods can make it easier for firefighters to access the area, reduce fuel loads collectively, and improve evacuation safety.
Actions that support community resilience
Ensure communities have clear, safe, and accessible roads.
What you could do
Keep roads wide enough for emergency vehicles (ideally 20 ft clear width).
Maintain cleared vegetation along driveways and community roads.
Use clearly visible, fire-resistant signage for street names and house numbers.
Establish multiple evacuation routes if possible.
Build strong community networks and emergency plans
What you could do
Create a neighbourhood communication plan
Identify vulnerable residents who may need extra assistance in evacuation
Partner with local fire agencies to run community drills and preparedness workshops
Coordinate fuel reduction and defensible space projects across properties
What you could do
Organise neighbourhood clean-ups to remove dead vegetation and debris.
Align on defensible space standards so no property becomes a weak link.
Share resources such as woodchippers or green waste dumpsters to make debris disposal easier.
Treat parks and community spaces as part of the fire defence system
What you could do
Manage common areas with the same defensible space principles as private yards.
Use fire-resistant landscaping
Install and maintain community water tanks or hydrants where possible.
“One of the biggest obstacles isn’t technology, it’s tradition. Many neighbourhoods and homeowner associations (HOAs) want homes to look a certain way, preserving a style that was set decades ago. The problem is that these older houses weren’t built with modern building science in mind. Updating them for wildfire resilience, often means changing their appearance, and and sometimes local rules even block these upgrades.”
Susan Bartlett, SOM
“Community is your first line of defence against wildfire. HOAs help bring people together around prevention and support, while neighbours looking out for each other makes a big difference. Communities must also plan ahead: ensuring access to all properties and keeping roads clear for fire trucks, understanding evacuation policies, and ensuring no one is left behind. These actions, taken together, make neighbourhoods stronger and more resilient.”
Michael Montague, Dharam Consulting
PRIORITISE WITH YOUR BUDGET
The Challenge
One of the biggest challenges in fire-resilient home design is balancing safety with cost and practicality. Fire-resistant materials can be more expensive, sometimes harder to find, and may even face supply chain delays if they aren’t produced locally. On top of that, some homeowners hesitate to use man-made materials designed to look like wood, even though they are far safer.
For people renting, buying, or building a new home, the ideal solution is to choose a location outside of high fire hazard severity zones. But in reality, many families are constrained by what they can afford, where they work, or the housing options available.
That’s why it’s important to make smart design and renovation choices within your budget.
Where to start?
If you could redesign or rebuild a standard suburban house, the biggest impact comes from upgrading the roof and exterior walls. Non-combustible materials like metal, concrete, or tile outperform traditional wood or vinyl siding, and they last much longer.
Yes, these materials can add costs — for example, roofing in metal or tile may be 25% more expensive than asphalt shingles or wood. But they not only improve safety, they may also reduce insurance premiums and give you peace of mind.
Making the most of your budget
If you have a budget and need to prioritise, here is a way to think about your investment.
Upgrade your roof to non-combustible material and protect the eaves on the underside of a roof, that's any part that's exposed. Roofs are often the first part of a house to ignite from embers. However, roofs re often one of most expensive investments.
If you can only do one thing, do this
Clear debris from roofs and gutters.
Create a defensible space by removing flammable materials near the home and choose gravel, stone, or concrete near the foundation
Install ember-resistant vents and screens.
Remove any combustible materials from top and under decks, patios, balconies
Enclose under-deck or patio areas with non-combustible materials, e.g. metal mesh
Small changes, big difference – The top 5
Cost Benefit Matrix for Wildfire – Resilient Upgrades
Priority Indicator considers quick wins, low tech upgrades, and DIY solutions, as well as areas that are most vulnerable to wildfires.
Cost Indicator considers relative and high-level costs.
“The use of concrete, metal, or other cement-based materials is key to fire resiliency. There are many modern materials that look like wood but are made from fire-resistant alternatives. Using these, both structurally and aesthetically, is essential for making a home resilient to wildfires.”
But material choice isn’t just about safety, it can also be about savings.
“Another strategy is to check for government-funded rebates that support fire-resilient building. Local, regional, or state governments may help pay for upgrades when you renovate or build new. It’s a way of using your tax money to offset costs and invest in safer, stronger materials.”