Wildfire Mitigation Guide
Wildfire Home Hardening & Insurance
How home hardening improvements affect your wildfire insurance in Oregon
Wildfire Mitigation Guide
Wildfire Home Hardening & Insurance
How home hardening improvements affect your wildfire insurance in Oregon
Home Hardening & Wildfire Insurance
Home hardening — the process of making your home more resistant to wildfire ignition — is the single most effective way to protect your home and improve your insurance options in high-risk areas. Most homes ignite from embers, not direct flame contact, making ember resistance the top priority.
Ember Resistance
90% of homes that burn in wildfires ignite from embers, not direct flame
Defensible Space
Three zones of vegetation management around your home
Certification
Wildfire Prepared Home certification recognized by select carriers
Home Hardening Zones
Zone 0 — Immediate Zone (0–5 ft)
Non-combustible mulch (gravel, rock)
No wood mulch or bark within 5 feet
Remove dead plants and debris
Non-combustible patio furniture
No wood piles against structure
Zone 1 — Intermediate Zone (5–30 ft)
Ember-resistant vents (IBHS-rated)
Boxed eaves or enclosed soffits
Class A fire-rated roof covering
Non-combustible gutter guards
Metal or composite deck boards
Zone 2 — Extended Zone (30–100 ft)
Defensible space — cleared vegetation
Horizontal spacing between shrubs
Vertical spacing (ladder fuels removed)
Mowed grass below 4 inches
Pruned trees 6–10 ft from ground
