Getting Defensive about wildfire

June 16th, 2025

As the weather warms around the lake, wildfire ready residents continue to “get defensive,” by creating defensible space, doing home hardening, and connecting with their fire districts through the Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities. In coordination with the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT) and the Tahoe Resource Conservation District (TahoeRCD), Lake Tahoe’s fire districts have been completing defensible space inspections, providing curbside chipping services, and talking to the public about preparing for wildfire.

In addition, fire crews continue to implement fuels reduction projects such as prescribed burning and mastication, helping to improve forest health by removing ladder fuels.

“Forest restoration and fuels reduction projects are a vital forest management tool used by land managers to help protect communities by removing excess vegetation on public lands that can feed unwanted wildfires. These projects complement defensible space and home hardening efforts on private property in neighborhoods and communities.” - Cara Moore, TahoeRCD

As these projects continue, Lake Tahoe residents can do their part by maintaining fire-safe practices and acting as stewards on their own properties. Through the Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities, residents around the Basin have been coming together to make neighborhoods more wildfire resilient.

The Lake Tahoe Basin is currently home to 93 Fire Adapted Communities. These areas have residents who are preparing for wildfire by fostering relationships with their local fire districts, hardening their homes against embers, and maintaining their defensible space. 61 of these are going the extra mile by maintaining Firewise recognition status and working towards common goals to reduce wildfire risk as a neighborhood. The TahoeRCD continues working with new Fire Adapted and Firewise communities, engaging as many neighborhoods as possible.

Defensible Space Zones

Zone 0, or the “noncombustible zone” is the 0-5 feet surrounding a structure and is the most crucial part of maintaining defensible space. As its nickname suggests, there should be no combustible materials within the zone next to the house. Zone 1 is 5-30 feet, where plants need to be spaced out and dry fuel limited. Zone 2 is 30-100 feet, where it is best practice to limit understory growth due to the risk of ladder fuels.

Coupling Defensible Space with Home Hardening

Defensible space is only half of the equation when it comes to preparing your property for wildfire. Due to the danger of ember storms, we also need to “harden” or fire-proof all structures. Combining these two practices greatly increases the survivability of homes where wildfire is prevalent. While types of homes vary, there are standard wildfire-resilient practices that keep homes safer from wildfire.

When approaching home hardening updates, a holistic approach is best. In addition to the highlighted features below, limiting the combustibility of siding, eaves, windows, chimneys, and garages will help harden the home. Detailed recommendations for all things home hardening can be found in Living With Fire’s “Wildfire Home Retrofit Guide” (2020).

Roofs

Roof materials can determine a lot about a home’s ability to survive an ember storm. In Nevada and California, homes are required to have Class A roof materials: asphalt fiberglass composition shingles, clay and cementitious tiles, or metal such as steel or copper. If a roof consists of Class B or C materials, it can often meet Class A standards with additional underlayment. Any material without a rating is not fire proof, and therefore at risk of ignition by embers.

Fencing

Combustible fencing can act like a candle wick during ember storms: if one slab of wooden fence ignites, it can lead the flames directly to the home. Ideally, fences in the WUI would be made of noncombustible materials like metal or stone. If a fence is made of a combustible material such as wood, upgrading to fire safe material in the 0-5 feet zone of the house is best.

Decks

While many decks are made of flammable materials, clearing out dry fuel from underneath the deck and the surrounding five feet can make it hardened against embers. Vegetation near the 0-5 feet zone should be removed and/or trimmed away from the house and deck. Inserting metal flashing into support joints can also keep the home from igniting via embers landing on the deck.

Vents

Air vents can pose a significant risk to a home’s survival rate in an ember storm. Screens sized at ⅛ of an inch will prevent large embers from getting in a home without restricting air flow. Mesh screening of the proper size can be purchased from hardware stores or online and stapled over pre-existing vents. Or, purchase specialized options, like Vulcan Vents whose openings shrink and close when exposed to heat.

Home Hardening & Insurance

Home insurance can be difficult to keep and pay for due to the risk of wildfire and an over-burdened insurance market. Some insurers in the Tahoe Basin are requiring stricter defensible space and home hardening expectations while others are cancelling policies altogether. Maintaining defensible space and a hardened home not only keeps a home safer from wildfire, but can also help with maintaining home insurance.

Firewise USA

Firewise recognition, on top of home hardening and defensible space, can mean discounts on home insurance. Residents within a Firewise neighborhood can send the certificate along with proof of defensible space to their insurer. Those who are experiencing policy cancellations and/or rate increases can contact the CA Department of Insurance for assistance.

Connecting with your Fire District

Defensible Space Inspectors provide an on-site, person-to-person evaluation that gives home owners the information they need to make their homes safer from wildfire. These inspections come at no cost to residents and can serve as proof of defensible space for insurers once you’ve completed the work suggested by your inspector. Scheduling an inspection is as easy as contacting your local fire district. Folks can find their fire district, wildfire education events, the TFFT fuels reduction map, and more FAC resources at tahoelivingwithfire.com.

This project was funded due to the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act, which authorized the sale of BLM administered federal lands within a designated boundary in the Las Vegas Valley and required proceeds to be used on projects to fund federal, state and local projects that benefit communities and public lands.