Wildfire protection, by zone
Most homes lost to wildfire are ignited by embers and by burning neighbours, not by the flame front. That puts the decisive work on the building itself and the first few metres around it. FireSmart Canada calls these the Immediate Zone (0–1.5 m), the Intermediate Zone (1.5–10 m) and the Extended Zone (10–30 m); CAL FIRE numbers its zones 0, 1 and 2 in feet. Every category below is filed by the zone it defends.
Start with the cheap structural fixes (vents, gutters, a clean Immediate Zone) before anything that needs water or a pump. Our retrofit priority guide ranks them.
Harden the structure
Exterior Sprinkler Systems
Keep your roof, walls and the 1.5 m around your home wet when embers arrive.
4 guides
Fire Retardant Gel & Spray
Coat siding, decks and fences with a protective barrier before you evacuate.
3 guides
Ember-Resistant Vents
Most homes are lost to embers that get inside — not to flames.
3 guides
Gutter Guards & Roof Protection
A gutter full of dry needles is a fuse leading straight into your attic.
1 guide
Fire Blankets & Structure Wraps
Aluminized wraps reflect radiant heat — used by the US Forest Service on historic cabins.
2 guides
Pumps, Hoses & Water Storage
When the hydrants go dry, your pump is the only pressure you have.
3 guidesClear the zones
Where you live changes the answer
Fire season, fuel and provincial programs, province by province.
- BC BC
- AB Alberta
- SK Saskatchewan
- MB Manitoba
- ON Ontario
- QC Québec
- NB New Brunswick
- NS Nova Scotia
- PE PEI
- NL Nfld & Labrador
- YT Yukon
- NT NWT
- NU Nunavut
Live map of wildfire hotspots in Canada and the US → · Wildfire mitigation contractors and free assessment programs →
Wildfire guides
The Home Ignition Zone, Explained
FireSmart Canada and NFPA Firewise divide the space around your home into zones. Here's what each one means and what to buy for it.
9 min readRetrofitting an Existing House: What's Worth It
Real 2024 costs for every component, the roughly $10,000 bundle that buys the most protection, and an honest admission that nobody has published a proper cost-effectiveness ranking.
9 min readHow Far Should Trees Be From Your House?
The official setbacks in Canada and the US, what the research actually found, and why 'cut down all your trees' is the wrong answer.
7 min readWhy Houses Burn When the Forest Doesn't
Post-fire photos keep showing destroyed homes surrounded by green trees. Understanding why is the single most useful thing a homeowner can learn.
10 min readHow to Build a House That Survives Wildfire
What the codes require, what the best voluntary standard adds, and what the extra actually costs — which, if you are already building to code, is about two thousand dollars.
11 min readDoes Home Insurance Cover Wildfire?
In Canada and the US, yes — fire is a standard peril. The real problems are underinsurance, what counts as an evacuation, and in parts of the US, whether you can get a policy at all.
7 min readSprinklers vs. Gel vs. Retardant: Which Active Defense Should You Buy First?
Three product categories claim to protect your house when the fire arrives. They work in different ways, on different timelines, and at very different prices.