With climate change fueling the risk of wildfires and longer fire seasons, more homes are becoming at risk each year. Review our FAQs to learn how many homes are destroyed by wildfires each year, what’s considered a high-risk fire zone, and how to protect your home from wildfires.
Redfin has partnered with two leading climate data organizations, First Street Foundation and ClimateCheck, to provide our users with comprehensive climate risk information for every zip code, neighborhood, city, and county in the contiguous U.S.
Fire Risk Frequently Asked Questions
What is a wildfire?
People and lightning are the two leading causes of wildfires in the U.S.; human activity caused about 85% of wildfires in the U.S. between 2000 and 2017. Let's look at how you can keep your home and property safe from wildfires and get proper insurance coverage.
Does my homeowner's insurance cover damage caused by wildfires?
Check your policy to understand your deductible and the specific coverage details for wildfire damage to your dwelling, personal property, other structures. Know that some insurance companies will increase deductibles or decline to issue policies for homes in high-risk areas. In this case, you'll need to get additional wildfire insurance coverage for your home. If you can't find homeowners or wildfire insurance in your area, you might need to turn to your state's Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) Plan to purchase an insurance policy.
Does my renter's insurance cover damage from wildfires?
As you look at neighborhoods and homes, here are a few characteristics to look out for when buying a home in a fire zone to help you reduce the risk of wildfire damage to your home.
1) The density of the area and zoning: A real estate agent should tell you if the home is located in a flood, fire, or earthquake zone.
2) Existing wildfire mitigation and fire safety features: Look for homes where steps have been taken to reduce wildfire risk, including fire-resistant roofs and siding, proper landscaping a correct distance away from home. Ideally, homes should have two exits on each level.
How to fireproof your home from wildfires
From there, you can make more extensive fireproofing improvements such as covering your home with non-combustible Class A roofing, composite shingles, metal, concrete, or clay tiles and replacing windows with multi-pane or tempered glass. You'll also want to choose nonflammable gates and fencing and replace your deck with non-combustible deck boards designed for wildfire-prone areas.
How many homes are destroyed by wildfires each year?
Is my home at risk of damage or destruction from a wildfire?
In the U.S., most wildfires occur in states in the East and central region. Still, wildfires in the Western states – Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming – tend to make the news because they burn more acreage. To see if your home is at risk of wildfire, you can check out your location at wildfire risk.org.
Do I live in a high-risk fire zone?
Wildfires can occur any time of year but are most common during the hotter months. As a homeowner, it's essential to take action each year to mitigate wildfire risk around your property and prepare your home to withstand wind-borne embers.
The Top 10 U.S. Cities Most at Risk of Fire Damage
Rank | City | Buildings with significant fire risk | Increase in burn risk | Average percent burned (historical) | Average percent burned (max, 2020-2060) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | San Jose, CA | 32% | 2X | 0.01 | 0.03 |
2 | Colorado Springs, CO | 65% | 2.5x | 0.01 | 0.02 |
3 | Portland, OR | 24% | 50x | 0.00 | 0.02 |
4 | Wichita, KS | 36% | 1.2x | 0.05 | 0.05 |
5 | Los Angeles, CA | 27% | 2.7x | 0.01 | 0.03 |
6 | New Orleans, LA | 8% | 1.1x | 0.03 | 0.03 |
7 | St. Paul, MN | 38% | 1.4x | 0.03 | 0.04 |
8 | Oklahoma City, OK | 61% | 1.1x | 0.03 | 0.04 |
9 | Aurora, CO | 57% | 16x | 0.00 | 0.02 |
10 | Sacramento, CA | 30% | 1.5x | 0.02 | 0.03 |
*Fire risk is measured by the potential severity of a fire and its likelihood of happening in an area (percent burned). For each city, column values correspond to averages for buildings that have fire risk. The approximate percentage of buildings with significant fire risk are noted.
Additional Fire Risk Resources
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