What LA’s Volunteer Fire Brigade Taught Me About Wildfire Preparedness
Capello made his first home combustion test in 2023. “I learned a lot from that, and they brought up things like, ‘Well, that’s a big project,’” he shared. But his approach to prevention gave him time to plan and invest, and as we looked at his property, he noted the significant changes he has made since then. While some were small, like ripping up dead plants, he had also invested in a backup water system that he connected to the generator system and a sprinkler system that automatically added Barricade Fire Blocking Gel to the mix. The goal is to create a “moisture bubble” over his house that can work even if the power and water in his area go out.
It was a big job and a big investment, but Capello had budgeted for it as part of his long-term, ongoing austerity plan. Understanding your risks in advance can allow you to save, research, and prioritize the most important steps while dealing with the little things.
Bring in the experts. Although Community Brigade’s free home inspections are limited to Los Angeles County, similar volunteer contributions may be available in your area; Your local emergency management office is a good place to ask. You can also hire professionals to do these tests for a fee, as Wirecutter writer Gregory Han did from his home in Los Angeles. Expect inspectors to point out areas where embers can lodge and ignite or enter your home, as well as areas at risk of high heat, such as windows.
Look beyond the buildings. This is the time to check your landscaping, too. An expert can help you better understand plant health throughout your landscape and provide guidance on addressing areas of concern. For example, you should keep tree canopies intact, as these connections can act as a conduit for fires.
Buckwald’s advice echoes our approach to preparing for a wildfire emergency: It takes a commitment of time, an investment in tools, and discipline and the ability to regularly clear brush and declutter, but the good news is that once you know what to do, you can often save your place without paying a professional.
Cover vulnerable areas. When Buckwald inspects buildings, checking for openings is always at the top of his list, as large holes or broken doors easily allow the entry of smoky projectiles. Addressing this vulnerability was also part of Gregory Han’s exploration, and he chose to clad his Altadena home with Vulcan Vents, specially designed with multiple layers to protect against coal. If you don’t have the time or resources to clad your home in custom mesh, Buckwald says, you can still make your space safer by covering older, more porous covers with ember mesh.
Buckwald also pays attention to crevices where leaves and other debris tend to end up on windy days. Capello, in his house, pointed to one such place near his shed: the space between the wooden wall and the wooden stairs. To deal with it, Buckwald recommends using metallic sheen to cover open spaces and old, exposed wood. This item, available at most hardware stores, is a great option not only for storing coal but also for adding extra thermal insulation, which can reduce your home’s fire risk from radiant heat.
A trick Woodworth uses when doing inspections to find vulnerable areas is to close doors or garages and see if the light is still on. Your goal is to close those gaps. Adding weather stripping is one way. In our article on weatherizing your home, Wirecutter writer Tim Heffernan recommends Frost King Silicone Weatherseal, which he finds can stretch and compress to fit all kinds of gaps.
For extra wide spaces under doors, Tim recommends another Frost King product, the Extra Wide Heavy Duty Door Sweep. It can fit doors up to 36 inches wide, or you can cut it with a saw to get smaller doors. If you have an even larger space, such as the space under your garage door, look for a fiber-brush seal.
Pay attention to your materials. While metal lighting can help in small spaces, wooden fences, old roofs, stairs, and outdoor structures such as sheds and gazebos may need to be replaced or removed entirely. If that’s too expensive for your current budget, consider adding a coat of paint for now. “At least, you don’t want raw wood [exposed],” Woodworth said.” Buckwald suggested looking into an intumescent coating, which provides fire protection when exposed to heat or flames.
Assign pre-discharge roles to family members. Capello and his wife, Marissa, created a checklist for how to get out, which they divided so they all knew what they were responsible for. Takes responsibility to ensure that roofs and floors are free of debris; you remove the balcony. Correcting this in advance makes the process more efficient and safer as you can start it right away. Review the sections below to learn about last minute preparations and decide with your family who will be able to do each job.
Talk to your neighbors. Ultimately, wildfire preparedness is a team effort. Even if you take great care with your landscaping, you may share a wooden fence with your neighbors or have a bunch of their plants hanging over your property. Again, this is an area where Community Brigade members have found that experts, with their unbiased opinions, can help.
Consider showing neighbors your home inspection so they can better understand your concerns, or if you’re already friends with them, maybe ask if they’d be open to getting an inspection with you. Investing in relationships can prove vital when disaster strikes – our staff who have experienced wildfires say they rely on their neighbors for information, support, and advice.
