Blog / Preparing Your Southern California Home for Wildfire Season - 7 Smart Tasks to Do Now
Preparing Your Southern California Home for Wildfire Season - 7 Smart Tasks to Do Now
Wildfires in Southern California Are Getting More Dangerous. Here’s How to Prepare.
If you live in Ventura or Los Angeles County, you already know that wildfire season isn’t a question of if, but when. Between dry brush, triple-digit temperatures, and the Santa Ana winds, fire conditions escalate fast, often with little to no warning.
At State Restoration, we’ve helped countless families recover from fire damage. The best way to protect your home is to prepare it before wildfire season hits its peak to mitigate risk as much as possible.
When Is Wildfire Season in Southern California?
Southern California’s wildfire risk is highest from late summer through fall, typically July through November. Here’s why:
- Hot, dry weather peaks in August and September
- Fuel moisture (plants, grass, brush) is at its lowest
- Santa Ana winds return in October and November
- Lightning strikes from summer storms and powerline arcing are common ignition sources
Always pay attention to Red Flag Warnings, issued when low humidity and high winds create extreme fire conditions.
7 Tasks to Prepare Your Southern California Home for Wildfire Season
1. Create Defensible Space Around Your Home
California law requires at least 100 feet of defensible space around homes in high fire-risk zones. That means:
- Trimming tree branches at least 10 feet from roofs and other trees
- Removing dry brush, dead vegetation, and flammable plants
- Cutting grass to under 4 inches
- Clearing leaves and debris from roofs, gutters, and decks
2. Ember-Proof Your Home’s Vulnerable Points
Windblown embers are the #1 way fires ignite homes. Protect your home by:
- Covering vents with 1/8″ non-combustible mesh
- Sealing open eaves and gaps
- Replacing missing shingles or tiles
- Installing fire-rated weather stripping on doors and garage openings
3. Upgrade to Fire-Resistant Materials
Even small material upgrades can make a big difference:
- Install Class A roofing (metal, asphalt composition, or tile)
- Use non-combustible siding (fiber cement, stucco)
- Choose dual-pane tempered glass windows to resist heat and impact
4. Build a Digital Home Inventory
Walk through your home and video-record your belongings, room by room.
Save the footage to cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox) so it’s accessible even if your home isn’t. This makes post-fire insurance claims faster and easier.
5. Review Your Home Insurance Coverage
Ideally, coverage includes:
- Full replacement cost (not market value)
- Code upgrades (required by CA building laws)
- Temporary housing costs
- Replacement of personal property and valuables
6. Prepare for Smoke Intrusion
- MERV 13 or higher HVAC filters Filtrete makes good options in many sizes: See here
- Portable HEPA air purifiers Here are reviews for various options, which help keep the air quality in your home high when smoke is present: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-air-purifier/
- Weatherstripping around doors and windows
7. Know Who to Call After a Fire
When disaster strikes, fast action matters. State Restoration offers:
- Insurance coordination and estimating
- Full rebuilds, custom design, permitting, and construction
- Licensed general contracting (CA License #760517)
Advanced Wildfire Preparation Steps Most People Miss
Backup Power for Critical Systems
Install a battery backup or generator to keep your home powered during fire-related outages or public safety power shutoffs.
- Pack a “Go Bag” in Advance
Include:
IDs, insurance documents, medical info - N95 masks, first aid kit, water, food
- Phone chargers, cash, and copies of your home inventory
Maintain a Full Gas Tank & Know Your Evacuation Routes
Don’t wait for evacuation orders. Keep at least half a tank of gas and know multiple routes out of your neighborhood.
Install Fire Suppression Tools
- Garden hoses with nozzles
- Fire extinguishers in key areas
- Optional: rooftop sprinkler system or water barrels
Sign Up for Local Emergency Alerts
- VC Alert, Alert LA County, and Ready Ventura County app
- Follow CAL FIRE, NOAA, and your local fire department on social media
Harden Structures Beyond the Basics
- Use metal flashing around the foundation
- Replace wood fences that connect directly to the home
- Box in soffits and rafter tails
Coordinate with Neighbors
Especially if you live near elderly or disabled residents, create a shared evacuation plan and assign communication responsibilities.
Schedule a Home Walkthrough with a Pro
Local fire departments and wildfire specialists can evaluate your home and suggest custom mitigation steps.
Protect Your Home. Restore with Confidence.
Whether you’re proactively upgrading your home or recovering from fire damage, State Restoration is here to help with full-service design, permitting, construction, and hands-on project management from start to finish.