How to Protect Your Home and Prepare for Fire Season This Year

We are already in the midst of fire season, with devastating wildfires popping up from Spokane to Los Angeles and across California. As homeowners, it is easy to assume the worst will not happen to us, but the reality is that we must prepare today. Having lived in Sonoma County during the massive fires there, I know firsthand how terrifying it is to watch a hillside burn and wonder if your family will lose everything. During those chaotic weeks, my father had to evacuate and stay with us, and many of my clients sadly lost their homes around the time of the Paradise fires. What I want to share with you are the practical, real-world steps those clients wish they had taken before disaster struck, so you can make your home more defensible and your life easier to rebuild if the unthinkable happens.

Document Your Belongings on Video

My absolute number-one recommendation is to walk through your house today and film a highly detailed video inventory of everything you own. Do not just scan the room; open your closets, pull open your drawers, and look inside your kitchen cupboards. As you film, verbally name the brands of your items. For instance, walk by your mirror and state that it is from Pottery Barn, or point out your Restoration Hardware chair. Show the inside of your kitchen drawers and note that you have two can openers and five spoons. You might think this level of detail is unnecessary, but it makes a massive difference when filing an insurance claim.

If you tell your insurance company that you had a toaster and a blender, they will likely price those items out at the cheapest possible Walmart baseline. If you actually owned a hundred-dollar toaster or a five-hundred-dollar designer blender, you will lose out on that money unless you have proof. Go into your closet and call out your handbags, even if they are fifty or a hundred dollars, because that is real money you would have to replace. Take a video of every picture frame, vase, and piece of art. That fifteen-dollar picture frame from years ago might cost forty-five dollars to buy now, and you will not remember to claim it without a visual record. Do not forget to film your patio furniture and landscaping too, as some policies cover outdoor assets. If you want to go next-level, build a spreadsheet and keep receipts of your major purchases.

Maintain True Defensible Space

Creating defensible space around your property is one of the most effective ways to protect your home from spreading wildfires. If you live in fire-prone regions like California, Washington, or Colorado, you must actively inspect your yard for hazards. Start by moving obvious fuel sources far away from your walls. A wood pile might be great for the winter, but during fire season, it is nothing more than kindling leaning against your house. The same goes for propane tanks and grills; move them to the far edge of your yard to prevent dangerous explosions if embers reach your property.

Many people do not realize that homes rarely burn from a direct wave of fire; instead, they are ignited by hot ash and embers floating through the air. These embers land in dry gutters filled with dead leaves or in dry, crispy bushes right next to front doors. Walk your perimeter and look for trees touching your house, vines growing over your roof, or dead landscaping that needs to be cleared. When planting new foliage, opt for fire-resistant plants like lavender. If you live in a rural area, aim to clear a defensible buffer zone of thirty, forty, or even fifty feet around your home to give firefighters a fighting chance to save it.

Pack an Emergency Go Bag

When a fire is heading your way, you will not have time to think, which is why having an emergency go bag is vital. In California, fire risks have expanded past the traditional June-to-October window, with major fires occurring even in the middle of winter in Los Angeles. Keep a designated bag ready containing your most important identity documents, such as your social security cards, birth certificates, and essential financial papers. Keep these items in a secure safe or locked drawer when they are not in your bag to protect them from opportunistic thieves who target evacuated neighborhoods, a widespread issue we witnessed during the fires in Lake County.

Beyond your legal and financial papers, decide ahead of time what sentimental items actually matter to you. When I went through evacuation scares, I realized I did not care about expensive handbags; instead, I grabbed old-school videos of my son, baby keepsakes, and physical photo albums. Write down a checklist of these irreplaceable items so you can grab them in minutes without panicking. Keep a change of clothes ready, and always keep sturdy shoes near your bed. We had friends in Santa Rosa who awoke to a fire literally at their front door before they even received an alert, proving that every second counts.

The Bottom Line

No matter where you live in the United States, there is always some risk of natural disaster, whether it is wildfires, hurricanes, or tornadoes. The key to surviving these events financially and physically is proactive preparation. Please take the time to do your home video walkthrough today, clean up your defensible yard space, and pack your emergency documents. If you are also looking to refinance your mortgage or have questions about home financing in these changing times, my team is always here to help you navigate the process. You can reach me directly at 786-933-2077 to get started.