Changes to vents, windows, roofs, and eaves can reduce chances that a wildfire could enter your home. Some property owners can receive rebates. Berkeley homeowners can upgrade their windows, roofs, eaves, and vents to prevent a wildfire’s sparks, embers or heat from setting your home ablaze.Changing building features or materials to be more fire resistant is particularly important the closer a home is to undeveloped areas like forests and regional parks. A wildfire’s heat and embers often surge ahead of a blaze and expose vulnerabilities built into a home.

In the wake of the Los Angeles fires, Berkeley has moved quickly to require ember-resistant zones for high-risk homes after years of delay by the state.