Wildfire Defense 101

Before a wildfire is near, the property owner can and should take these proactive measures:

1. Create proper defensible space around the structure

Two of the best resources for creating defensible space are Cal Fire’s Ready for Wildfire site, which offers California-specific guidance, and the NFPA’s Firewise USA® program, a national standard for wildfire preparedness and home hardening.

2. Implement structure hardening measures

For trusted structure hardening advice, visit Wildfire Prepared Home by IBHS for science-based guidance, and Cal Fire’s Hardening Your Home for California-specific recommendations and retrofitting tips.

Although we are biased, we believe that FireFoil is the ultimate structure hardening solution but it has to be deployed as part of your wildfire action plan whereas the above recommendations are what to do before a wildfire arrives.

3. Review and update insurance coverage to ensure adequate protection

If a wildfire strikes, having the right coverage and policy limits is critical. If you're unsure whether you're adequately protected, email us at insurance@firefoil.com—we offer complimentary insurance reviews and personalized recommendations.

4. Develop a detailed wildfire action plan with clear action steps

Make sure you have an organized plan for where you’ll go, what you’ll bring, and how you’ll protect your structure—even at the last minute—before you evacuate. Cal Fire provides templates and recommendations here.

When a wildfire is near, the property owner should execute the last-minute structure protection portion of their wildfire action plan, which typically includes a limited set of critical options:

Private Firefighting Services

Extremely expensive and difficult to access. Availability is limited during high-demand events. Offers little to no protection against smoke.

Public Firefighter Response

Not guaranteed during major wildfire events when resources are stretched thin. Provides minimal to no protection against smoke.

Sprinklers

Automated systems are costly, while manual options can be unreliable. All depend on a continuous water supply and are vulnerable to failure during power outages or shutoffs. Risk of water damage to the structure is high. Provides minimal protection against smoke.

Foams or Gels

Temporary solution that evaporates within hours, especially in the low humidity typical of wildfire conditions. Requires hazardous, last-minute application. Provides little to no protection against smoke.

FireFoil

Delivers long-lasting protection from both fire and smoke without requiring risky last-minute action. Perimeter deployment takes minutes. Roof deployment takes hours.

While we’re admittedly biased, we believe FireFoil is an excellent solution for many property owners—after all, the U.S. Forest Service has relied on this technology for decades to protect national landmarks.