Rebuilding After a Wildfire: First Steps
If your home was destroyed in a wildfire, the first few weeks shape everything that follows. This guide walks through what to do, what to delay, and what to avoid.
New Construction in Fire Zones: What to Specify
If you are building a new home in a wildfire-prone area, the specifications you write into your plans are the difference between a house that merely passes code and one that genuinely resists fire. Here is what to specify.
The California FAIR Plan and Home Hardening
The FAIR Plan is California's insurer of last resort, not a regular policy. Here is what it actually covers, how hardening factors in, and the realistic path back to the voluntary market.
Decks and Fire: Materials, Detailing, and Under-Deck Enclosure
Attached wood decks are one of the most common wildfire ignition points. This article covers decking materials, under-deck enclosure strategies, Chapter 7A requirements, and realistic costs for a deck retrofit.
Fences and Fire: How Fences Carry Fire to Homes
Wood fences attached to houses are a well-documented ignition pathway in wildfires. This article explains how fences carry fire, what the last five feet should be made of, and realistic retrofit options.
Fire-Resistant Landscaping Plants by Region
No plant is truly fireproof, but some burn far more readily than others. This guide walks through lower-flammability options by region — SoCal, NorCal, Colorado, the PNW, Arizona, and the Texas Hill Country.
Tree Spacing, Limbing, and Irrigation for Fire Safety
Trees are a defensible-space decision, not a landscaping decision. This guide covers crown spacing, limbing height, irrigation, and what to keep or remove near your house.
Home Hardening Budget Tiers: What $5K, $25K, and $100K Gets You
A realistic look at what three different home hardening budgets actually buy for a typical 2,000 sq ft Western home in 2025–2026, from the $5K weekend to a $100K capital project.
Fire-Resistant Siding: Fiber Cement, Stucco, Metal, and Treated Wood
A comparison of fire-resistant siding options for wildfire zones, covering fiber cement, stucco, metal, masonry, and ignition-resistant treated wood, with Chapter 7A requirements and realistic installed costs.
Chapter 7A of the California Building Code, Explained for Homeowners
Chapter 7A is the part of the California Building Code that governs construction in wildfire-prone areas. Here's what it requires, where it applies, and how to read it as a homeowner rather than a code official.