A Class A rated roof is the single biggest home upgrade
Your roof is the largest, most exposed surface on your home and the most likely to catch a wind-driven ember. FireSmart and Firewise USA / NFPA...
Your roof is the largest, most exposed surface on your home and the most likely to catch a wind-driven ember. FireSmart and Firewise USA / NFPA recommend replacing wood shake or wood shingle roofs — they remain one of the highest-risk building materials in a wildfire. Class A rated metal, asphalt, clay tile, concrete tile and fibre-cement are all considered fire-resistant roofing and are widely available across western North America. If full replacement is not in this year’s budget, at minimum keep the existing roof in good repair: replace cracked or missing shingles, seal gaps where pipes and vents penetrate, and keep the surface free of moss, leaves and needle litter. Pay particular attention to skylights and roof-deck transitions, where embers like to lodge. When you do replace the roof, ask the contractor about ember-resistant ridge caps and underlayment too — a Class A rated material installed over flammable underlayment is less effective than a complete fire-resistant assembly. A good roof buys you time, and in a fast-moving wildfire that is exactly what you need.
Wood shake roofs remain one of the highest-risk building materials in a wildfire — the roof is the largest exposed surface on a home, and a single ember in a cracked shingle can take it down.
Source: FireSmart BC — Home Ignition Zone
Last reviewed 2026-05-02.
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