Simple ways to defend your home from wildfires

In recent years, Canadians have seen an increase in extreme weather events, including wildfires. Densely forested areas across the country have been negatively impacted and continue to face a heightened risk.

And while you can’t stop a wildfire, there are precautions you can take to help keep you, your loved ones and your home safe. Read on for tips on specific DIY and professional measures to make your home more resilient.

At Desjardins Insurance, we aim to provide helpful tips to improve your home’s resilience to wildfires, but we are not wildfire prevention experts. Always follow official guidance from local authorities and fire safety professionals.

Although it’s normal to feel powerless in the face of wildfires, there are simple steps you can take, either on your own or with the help of professionals, to make your home more fire-resistant External link..

• Remove any ignitable debris, such as dry leaves, pine needles and branches, from your gutters.
• Clear all combustible materials within 1.5 m of your home and outbuildings.
• Store combustible materials, such as firewood, at least 10 m from any building.
• Keep your property clear of debris, branches and dry leaves, and mow your grass regularly, keeping it shorter than 10 cm.
• Prune the base of coniferous (spruce, fir, pine, cedar) trees to a height of 2 m.

• Close up any spaces under decks, balconies or your house with fire-resistant material to prevent sparks and embers from entering your home.
• Install soffits to close off eaves External link. (roof overhangs) to prevent sparks and embers from entering your home.
• Except for dryer vents, install screening vents with a 3 mm non-combustible wire mesh to prevent embers from entering your home. Make sure your dryer vents are clean and functioning properly.
• Install a spark arrestor on your chimney with openings no larger than 1 cm¹.
• Cut down any coniferous trees within 10 m of your home. Plant hardwoods in their place.

Refer to FireSmart Canada’s guidelines External link. for more tips on how to make your home more resilient.

Wildfires can grow and change direction quickly as weather conditions change. Having a plan and staying informed can help you be prepared.

• Be prepared. Planning ahead can make all the difference. Have your grab-and-go bags packed at the door and have a wildfire evacuation plan, so you know in advance where you and your loved ones would meet and which evacuation route you would take in case you need to leave your home.
• Stay informed. Sign up for local alerts and orders, tune into local news stations and download weather notification apps like Radar^TM, available via the Desjardins Insurance Home-Auto app.

If you receive an evacuation order, do a quick, final check on your home (time permitting), then leave immediately. Remain calm and follow all official instructions.

• Close all doors and windows (to keep wind from fuelling the fire).
• Turn on all lights in the house, porch, garage and yard for increased visibility.
• Move propane BBQs and other combustibles, including firewood and lawn furniture, away from structures.
• Turn off propane or natural gas before leaving.

Has fire damaged your home? Reach out to your insurer. If you’re covered by Desjardins Insurance, you can file your claim online by logging in to Online Services or the Desjardins Insurance Home-Auto app and filling out the form. Be sure to set up your account or download the app in advance so you’re ready in case a fire affects you.

If you’re renovating, remember to contact your insurance provider beforehand to ensure you’re covered. They can also provide information on measures and materials to help make your home more resilient to fire.

Renovating? Take the opportunity to make your home more fire-ready by opting for fire-resistant building materials like the ones listed below.

• Install Class A fire-rated roofing External link. that’s designed to withstand both embers and flames. Although asphalt shingles can be a safe option, other materials are even more resistant, such as slate and metal, clay or concrete tiles are better choices. Avoid wood shingles as they are combustible and create gaps that allow embers to enter your home.
• Mount fire-resistant siding External link., such as stucco, metal, brick/concrete and fibre cement. Untreated wood and vinyl siding are not effective and should be avoided.
• Put in tempered, thermal (double-paned) windows and fire-resistant doors.

Although forest fires can have natural causes, such as lightning, more than half are caused by humans External link.. Together, we can all help reduce the risk External link. of starting or spreading wildfires.

• Put out campfires completely and extinguish all embers before leaving.
• Never discard cigarettes.
• Follow local burning restrictions and bans.
• Don’t park your vehicle on dry grass.
• Report wildfires or unusual smoke to your provincial or territorial wildfire reporting line and your local fire department or call 911.

Home insurance typically covers loss or damages caused by fire, smoke or soot. Some policies may also cover living expenses if you’re evacuated, as well as loss of food due to a power outage. If you live in a high-risk area, contact your insurer to find out what your policy covers and get peace of mind.

Radar (available via the Desjardins Insurance Home-Auto app) is Desjardins’ weather alert service that sends localized alerts to your smartphone when severe weather is forecast for your area. It’s a great way to stay one step ahead of the next storm.

There’s no need to pave your yard! You can still have a lush outdoor space that’s fire-safe External link.. A few smart choices go a long way:

• Replace bark mulch or other combustible landscaping materials with non-combustible options, such as decorative stones or gravel.
• When choosing which trees to plant, find out the safe distance for them to be from your house and power lines. As a rule of thumb, trees should be planted at least 10 m from a building, depending on their size and type.
• When it comes to planting, deciduous (leafy) trees are preferred as they contain more moisture and burn less quickly, whereas conifers, which are rich in resin, ignite faster and spread fire more intensely. However, if you do opt for coniferous trees, be sure to plant them at least 3 m apart and prune branches within 2 m from the ground External link..

Yes. In fact, it’s a good idea to run an AC unit or heat pump External link. to filter out any airborne wildfire pollutants and maintain a comfortable temperature, especially during severe heat events.

With wildfires becoming increasingly common, it’s important to take concrete steps to protect your home. There are many simple, preventive actions – from fire-resistant landscaping and using fire-resistant building materials to downloading prevention tools like Radar – that you can take to help keep your house and your community safe.

Check out our comprehensive guide on how to make your home more resilient to flooding, windstorms and hailstorms.

Was this article helpful? Be sure to take a look at our other articles on what to do after an extreme weather event. 

Desjardins Insurance refers to Desjardins General Insurance Inc. in Quebec and Certas Direct Insurance Company, underwriter of automobile and property insurance in Alberta and Ontario. Certain conditions, exclusions and limitations may apply. The terms and conditions of the coverages described are set out in the insurance policy, which always prevails. These tips are provided for information and prevention purposes only. They are general in nature, and [Desjardins Insurance/The Personal] cannot be held liable for them. We recommend using caution and consulting an expert for comprehensive, tailored advice. Radar^TM is a trademark of Desjardins General Insurance Group Inc., used under licence. Desjardins®, Desjardins Insurance®, all trademarks containing the word Desjardins, as well as related logos are trademarks of the Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec, used under licence.  

¹ Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction External link., SOPFEU External link.