Within the last 18 years more than 100,000 structures - including homes and residences - were destroyed by wildfires. Wildfires themselves aren't new, but over the last decade, they have been increasing in prevalence, particularly in areas that are prone to drought such as California. With the National Interagency Fire Center's latest outlook predicting significant wildfire activity across various regions this year, homeowners are increasingly looking for ways to protect their homes.
With many states reporting wildfires each year, as well as many homeowners wondering what they can do to help reduce their risk and mitigate some of the enormous costs associated with rebuilding, home buyers may also seek homes that are built with wildfire danger prevention in mind.
As with many issues that can impact a vast number of people, a homeowner's first step in protecting themself begins with making sure they are informed. That's why we've taken information from a report by Headwaters Economics showing the number of structures that are reported to be destroyed by wildfires over the past 18 years, and used Fixr.com cost guides to see how much prevention methods cost. We also carried out interviews with the insurance and construction experts to get their valuable insight into the subject.
The Structural Damage Caused by Wildfire Year on Year
The graphic above shows how many structures (homes and businesses) have been destroyed by wildfire from 2006 to 2023, represented by the house icons that appear in red. In 2018 alone, more than 20,000 homes and businesses were destroyed by wildfires, with an additional nearly 18,000 destroyed in 2020.
Ten states are currently dealing with large wildfires, with a total of 26,240 wildfires having been reported by July 22nd of this year.
Warmer and drier conditions are also predicted to continue through the remainder of the summer and into fall, which may result in increased wildfire activity for the rest of the year as well. This begs the question: to what extent does building in fire-prone areas contribute to the spread of the disaster? To gain an accurate understanding of this we spoke to Professor John Bailey at Oregon State University who shared that, "This would be a minor contributor to wildfire spread (the big picture 100,000-acre landscape blow-ups) but a major contributor to spread and destruction within a community.”
Those first structures to start burning during an incident produce a lot of heat to ignite nearby structures (in higher density neighborhoods) and a lot of embers that go sailing downwind to other structures.
The data shows an increased need for homeowners and builders to start considering protections needed for new builds and for homes being built in areas prone to wildfires or in nearby communities.
The States With Most Structures Destroyed by Wildfires
This graphic shows the number of structures destroyed by wildfires in each state over the past 18 years and which percentage they represent out of the total structures destroyed in the United States. California leads this group by a significant amount with 65,557 structures lost, which represents 61.5% of the total number of structures destroyed by wildfire between 2006 and 2023.
Other states with significant losses include Texas with 5,683 structures lost (5.3%), Oregon with 5,039 (4.7%), Colorado with 4,249 (4%), and Washington with 3,570 (3.4%). And while these states may have had the most total losses so far, they are not the only areas that are at risk. While in general the probability of your home being destroyed by wildfire remains low, if you live in a high-risk state, you may want to consider taking some precautionary action.
What Can Homeowners Do to Prepare Their Homes for Wildfires?
While homeowners may not be able to prevent wildfires from starting, there are things that can be done to help reduce some of the risk of damage. The NFPA has a checklist available to help homeowners start taking steps to protect their homes. They recommend starting at the home itself and clearing it of any flammable debris such as cleaning gutters and clearing out landscaping. Having a professional clean out gutters has an average cost of $200-$400.
To help prevent sparks and ensure safety, it's important to move flammable materials such as firewood or leaves away from the structure. Establishing a defensible space is crucial, but it is equally important to xeriscape using plants that resist burning. Kim Abrams Bishop, CEO of Abrams Roofing, advises that "plants such as agave, aloe, and lavender that resist burning" are excellent choices due to their naturally occurring fire-retardant properties and low water use. Additionally, she suggests that "gravel and rocks mixed in instead of wood chips prevent the movement of flames through openings." Frank Wickstead, Owner and Partner at Alair Buckhead advises “Keep trees at least 30 to 100 feet away from the house and prune them to reduce fire risks.”
Make a House Fire-Resistant
Homeowners can also take steps to clad their home's exterior in flame-retardant materials. Fiber cement siding, steel siding, and metal roofing are all Class A-rated materials that can help prevent combustion. ”We recommend fire-resistant roofing materials like metal, concrete, or clay tiles which won’t ignite from airborne embers. These materials may cost more upfront but provide long-term protection,” says Jonathan Stowell, the CEO of Five Guys Roofing. A metal roof can cost $7,514 to $109,344 on average, while concrete tiles and clay tiles can cost $20,000 to $35,000, and $11,046 to $22,266, respectively.
Authorities advise avoiding materials such as wood siding, which is flammable, and vinyl siding, which is both combustible and prone to spreading flames. In addition to using flame-retardant roofing and siding materials, experts recommend several other measures to improve your home's fire resistance.
“You should think about replacing your windows with fire-resistant glazing. Overly hot temperatures can cause regular glass windows to melt and break and allow flames and embers to enter your home,” advises George Matusyan, Owner and Operational Manager at United Windows Pro. Retrofitting options include installing ember-proof vents. “It basically prevents embers from entering the home and igniting it from the inside,” says Shlomo Cherniak, Owner of Cherniak Home Services. “Additionally, to improve fire resistance, fences, and wooden decks can be replaced with non-combustible materials,” continues Cherniak.
In addition to materials, design features play an important role in fire resistance. “reducing the number of windows on exposed sides can significantly lower wildfire damage risk,” says Peter Duncanson, Vice President of Training and Development at ServiceMaster Restore.
Work as a Community to Help Prevent the Spread of Wildfire
There are also ways that homeowners and their communities can come together to help each other in combating wildfire. Bailey says that a homeowner can "have a major effect on a wildfire's ability to spread within the community when/if they are that "first structure", the one on the edge of town maybe, or a few houses in, that doesn't catch fire because it is "FireWise": clean roof and gutters, well-maintained landscaping, defensible space in one form or another."
He continues to state that...
"If none of those houses catch fire with all the heat and embers flying, then the whole neighborhood and community are more likely to survive. It really speaks to the idea of neighbors talking about this stuff and helping each other! Folks can work with their local Fire Departments on home improvements, and coordinate with trash collectors for joint debris removal days."
Being well-informed about the science and local environment helps everyone understand the best ways to prevent structural damage and fire-spread. Bailey advises, "support your local forest and rangeland managers who are trying to manage the land better outside the urban interface."
Homeowners in wildfire-prone areas must advocate for forest management practices that balance human development with ecosystem preservation. Effective forest management, such as thinning and controlled burns, can significantly reduce wildfire severity.
Make Sure to Have Adequate Insurance Coverage
Having adequate insurance coverage is essential to protect your home and property from potential fire damage. Review your current insurance policy to ensure it covers fire-related incidents and offers sufficient coverage for your home's structure, personal belongings, and any additional living expenses you may incur if you need to temporarily relocate. “Homeowners insurance typically covers wildfire damage, but coverage limits can fall short of actual rebuilding costs. Out-of-pocket expenses often include deductibles and any costs exceeding policy limits,” says Vonda Copeland, Owner of Copeland Insurance Agency.
Homeowners in high-risk areas should consider policies with higher coverage limits, lower deductibles, and additional living expense coverage in case they must evacuate.
Building Techniques to Protect Homes Against Wildfires
When building a new home, it's possible to take even more steps to protect the building from the risk of wildfire. While things like flame-retardant siding can help prevent combustion, making sure that the frame of the home is also flame-retardant can help prevent even more damage. By building the frame with materials like concrete modular units (CMUs), insulated concrete forms (ICF), and steel framing, it is possible to create a home that is far more durable and able to withstand natural disasters.
Framing material | Average costs per square foot (materials only) |
CMU | $3 - $5/sq.ft. |
Steel | $9 - $11/sq.ft |
ICF | $14 - $18/sq.ft. |
Homes built from one of these materials and clad in flame-retardant materials like steel or fiber cement can help ensure that properties don't ignite. While there may be some damage to landscaping, the homes themselves can often withstand not only wildfires but also earthquakes and other disasters more easily than a stick-built home.
With the reduced risk of flame and other issues, many insurance companies will give lower rates for homes made out of materials like ICF, and homes like this may also have lower energy rates, making them more affordable long-term for homeowners, who may be more willing to pay upfront for these premiums.
Wildfires significantly impact insurance premiums in high-risk areas. Homeowners can potentially lower premiums by investing in fire-resistant building materials, maintaining defensible space, and participating in community fire safety programs. Some insurers offer discounts for these proactive measures.
The Role of Homeowners in Wildfire Damage Prevention
While wildfires can have many causes, the higher temperatures and drier climates caused by climate change are undoubtedly leading to the higher rates of wildfires in recent years. With the significant losses of property and life that can occur, it makes sense for homeowners and residents of these most affected areas to take steps to protect themselves and their properties. Whether it's retrofitting an existing home to help make it less combustible, or building with non-combustible materials, these steps can go a long way toward lowering the costs associated with fire damage each year and keeping homeowners, families and belongings safer.
Promoting resilience requires a collaborative approach. Agencies, homeowners and government must work together to spread awareness of risks and solutions. Preparation through community involvement and policy incentives motivates change.
