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Decks can be ignited by wildfires via flame contact (usually from below) or ember attack (usually from above). Burning decks will expose the house to long-term flame impingement, which could ignite siding and eaves, and/or shatter windows.
There are two main concerns regarding the fire safety of exterior siding: penetration of flames through walls and stud cavities, and spreading of flames into the attic through the soffit/eave area.
Wildfires can spread from the outside to the inside of buildings when windows break. Glass, the most vulnerable part of the window, can break when exposed to extreme heat, either radiant or from flame contact, or when wind-blown debris impacts the window.
The accumulation of debris in gutters poses one of the greatest fire hazards for a building. In the event that embers ignite debris, such as leaves or pine needles, the resulting fire will directly expose the edge of the roof to flames.
Fencing can increase or decrease a building's vulnerability to wildfires depending on its material and location. Combustible fences may ignite from direct flame contact or from embers depending on their state and the nearby vegetation.
Smoke exposure from wildfires is an increasingly common public health hazard to communities throughout California. Knowing where to find accurate information and being prepared to act when smoke is in the air can help you protect yourself and your family.
The South Coast bioregion contains the eastwest-running Transverse Range and the northsouth-oriented Peninsular Range. Except for the alpine zone, both ranges have a full complement of montane zones. Elevations extend from sea level to over 3,500 m (11,400 ft).
The southeastern portion of the state is extremely arid. Except for isolated desert mountains, rainfall is 25 cm (10 in). Portions of the Mojave and Sonoran warm deserts, and the southwestern tongue of the Great Basin cold desert comprise the Southeastern Deserts bioregion.
The Sierra Nevada and Cascade Ranges form an axis of high mountains east of the Central Valley and Klamath Mountains. The Southern Cascade Range bioregion is the southern end of an extensive chain of volcanoes and volcanic flows extending northward from Oregon and Washington.
