🏠 Home & Property

About 30 minutes.

The checklist

• Clear roof, gutters, and valleys of dry leaves, needles, and debris.

  Dry organic matter on the roof is the single most common ember catcher. Repeat through the season as needles fall.

• Keep the first 1.5 m around your house non-combustible (gravel, pavers, mineral soil).

  This 'immediate zone' is where embers are most likely to start a fire that touches the building.

• Thin and prune vegetation within 10 m of the home.

  Remove dead branches, space shrubs apart, and keep grass cut short. Spaced plants don't carry fire well.

• Move firewood, lumber, and propane tanks at least 10 m from the home.

  Stacked wood and fuel near a wall turn a small ember into a major heat source against the structure.

• Prune lower tree branches up to 2 m from the ground.

  Removes the 'ladder' that lets a ground fire climb into the canopy.

• Inspect roof for missing shingles or gaps; favour Class A non-combustible roofing.

  Asphalt, metal, tile, and clay roofs resist ignition. Wood shake is the highest-risk material.

• Cover vents and soffits with 3 mm or finer non-combustible mesh.

  Embers routinely enter attics through standard vents. Fine metal mesh stops them.

• Check siding for cracks; seal gaps where embers could lodge.

  Pay particular attention to corners, joints, and where decks meet the house.

• Clear under decks, porches, and stairs of stored items and dry debris.

  Concealed spaces collect needles and provide hidden fuel against the house.

• Use rock, gravel, or wet mulch instead of bark mulch within 5 m of the building.

  Bark mulch ignites readily from a single ember and burns slowly toward the wall.

• Plan to remove doormats, cushions, and patio furniture before evacuating.

  These items ignite quickly under ember showers. Stow them inside or away from the house when an alert is issued.

• Know where your outdoor taps, hoses, and sprinklers are; keep at least one long hose connected.

  Wet exterior surfaces are far less likely to ignite from embers. A long hose lets you reach any side of the home.

• Make sure your civic address is visible from the road, day and night.

  Reflective numbers help responders find you quickly in smoke.

Sources

This checklist mirrors public guidance from the agencies below. Always confirm current conditions with the agency that issued them before you act.

• FireSmart Canada
• Canadian Red Cross
• PreparedBC
• Firewise USA / NFPA
• Ready.gov — Wildfires

Last reviewed April 17, 2026.