Fire Resistant Home Construction
Central Sierra homes are at risk for wildfire. The majority of homes that burn during wildfires are actually ignited by burning embers carried by wind and dropped on or near the house. (For more information on how this works, please see the following video produced by the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Be Ember Aware)
However, there are ways to reduce that risk through use of appropriate home construction and materials. The University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources' Fire in California website offers building material information to help homeowners to better understand how to take appropriate action to retrofit their own homes. Specific technical information for builders on fire resistant construction materials can also be found on the Preparing Your Home webpage.
Publications & Resources
Building Materials Listing (BML) - CalFire's BML website provides information, resources and documents for laws and regulations about fire resistant building materials.
Building to Coexist with Fire: Community Risk Reduction Measures for New Development in California - UC ANR Publication 8680 - Abstract to better understand how to build communities to be more fire resistant.
Hardening Your Home - CalFire's resources and information to help you make your home more resistant to wildfire.
Home Survival in Wildfire-Prone Areas: Building Materials and Design Considerations, UC ANR Publication 8393 - This publication helps you make your home ember-resistant so that it may withstand the exposure to embers that blow a mile or more from a wildfire.
Homeowner's Wildfire Mitigation Guide - This website contains fire resistant construction material and design information for homes under new construction and maintenance.
Preparing Your Home - UC Fire in California resources for building Wildfire-Resilient Homes.
Selecting Lumber and Lumber Substitutes for Outdoor Exposures, UC ANR Publication 8144 - In depth information about alternative lumber products for many different outside exposed structures.
UC Homeowner Wildfire Assessment - This webpage provides a simple way to find out what you can do to reduce the possibility of damage to your home in the event of a wildfire, and read up-to-date wildfire news. California residents can also find out if their home is located in an area that may be at risk from wildfires and see the locations of current fires in California.