How to Protect Your Home From California Wildfires

While wildfires might feel like a distant threat to those living in cities or suburbs, the reality is that these fast-moving, unpredictable disasters are becoming more common—and more destructive—across California and the rest of Canada. In fact, 2023 marked the worst wildfire season in Canadian history, and 2025 is shaping up to be another year of heightened risk due to hotter, drier weather patterns.

At Progressive Insurance Brokers, we want to help you stay prepared and protected. Whether you’re living near a forested area or simply enjoying a backyard lined with shrubs and trees, here’s what you need to know.

Wildfires in California: A Growing Concern

In recent years, wildfires have had a devastating impact in areas like:

  • Northwestern California – including Red Lake and Kenora
  • Northeastern California – particularly around Sudbury, Timmins, and Cochrane
  • Cottage Country – Muskoka, Haliburton, and Parry Sound regions are increasingly affected during dry summers

According to Natural Resources Canada, Canada’s wildfire season has become longer—expanding by about two weeks—and the size and severity of fires is increasing. Since 1959, the number of large wildfires (over 200 hectares) has grown significantly.

In 2023 alone, more than 6,600 wildfires burned across the country, scorching over 17 million hectares—setting a new national record. California contributed significantly to that number, with over 400,000 hectares burned.

You can explore fire trends, maps, and current risk zones via NRCan’s Wildland Fire overview page or dive deeper into long-term patterns in Canada’s Fire Regime resource.

How Wildfires Spread

Understanding how wildfires behave can help you take meaningful action to reduce your risk:

  • Embers & Sparks can travel up to 2 kilometres and ignite rooftops, decks, or dry leaves in a garden.
  • Extreme Heat from a nearby blaze can melt siding and crack windows from as far as 30 metres away.
  • Flammable Objects like fences, woodpiles, outdoor furniture, and even certain types of plants can act as fuel.

CAA Insurance, one of our trusted insurance markets, provides a helpful overview of how wildfires spread and what fuels them.

5 Ways to Protect Your Home

Here are some practical steps you can take today:

1. Create a Defensible Zone

  • Clear dry leaves, pine needles, and debris from gutters and under decks.
  • Keep woodpiles, propane tanks, and other flammables at least 10 metres from your home.
  • Remove flammable items from patios and balconies.

2. Fireproof Your Exterior

  • Use non-combustible materials for roofing and siding where possible.
  • Surround your home with a 1.5-metre gravel or stone barrier to prevent surface fires from reaching your structure.

3. Choose FireSmart Landscaping

  • Plant fire-resistant species and space them out.
  • Trim lower branches of trees (at least 2 metres from the ground).
  • Avoid dense, resinous evergreens near your home—deciduous trees are a safer bet.

Find more tips at FireSmart Canada, a national resource dedicated to helping communities reduce wildfire risk.

4. Build Smart

  • If you’re planning a new build or renovation, consider setting the structure at least 10 metres back from the top of a hill—fires move faster uphill.

5. Get Your Neighbourhood Involved

  • Wildfires don’t stop at property lines. Encourage neighbours to join you in clearing brush, maintaining shared green spaces, and staying wildfire aware.

Stay Protected with the Right Insurance Coverage

Even with all the right precautions in place, accidents can still happen. That’s why it’s important to have a comprehensive home insurance policy that protects against wildfire damage.

Not sure if you’re covered? We’re here to help.

📞 Call us at +13102909154

📧 Email us at [email protected]

🔗 Request a quote online: petleyhare.com

Bonus Resource

Want a detailed checklist and guide? Download this excellent wildfire safety PDF from CAA Insurance:

👉 Understanding Wildfires – CAA PDF Guide

Progressive Insurance Brokers is proud to partner with industry-leading providers like CAA Insurance to help you protect what matters most. Even as summer winds down, wildfire risk doesn’t disappear—especially during dry fall months. A little preparation today can go a long way in helping safeguard your home year-round.

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