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Wildfire Science

Why Every Home in a Wildfire Zone Needs More Than Defensible Space

6 min readHome hardening & defensible spacePublished January 15, 2026

Wildfires are changing—and so should the way we protect our homes.

For years, homeowners have been told the same advice: clear brush, trim trees, clean gutters, and create defensible space. While these steps are important, recent fires across California, Oregon, Colorado, and other western states have proven that they aren't always enough.

The reality is simple: the weakest point of almost every home is its windows and doors.

When extreme heat or wind-driven embers breach these openings, a home can ignite from the inside—even if the surrounding landscaping survives.

That's why more homeowners are looking beyond traditional wildfire preparation.