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About Wildfire Prepared Home

Turning Wildfire Science into Action

When most people imagine wildfire destroying homes, they picture a wall of flames moving through a neighborhood. In reality,  most structures ignite from wind-blown embers —small burning pieces of vegetation or building materials that can travel more than a mile ahead of the fire front.

These embers accumulate in vulnerable areas around homes—such as vents, gutters, mulch beds, against fences, against the structure at the foundation, and above decks—where they can start small spot fires that can spread to the building. During large wildfire events, homes and structures may need to withstand these ember storms without immediate firefighting intervention. Preparing the home and surrounding property ahead of time can significantly reduce the chance of ignition.

The Wildfire Prepared Home program  translates wildfire science into practical actions homeowners can take to strengthen their property and reduce wildfire risk. Homeowners who complete the required mitigation actions and pass a third-party verification can earn a  Wildfire Prepared Home designation certificate, demonstrating that their home has taken proven steps to reduce wildfire risk.

Review Eligibility

Who Is IBHS? 

The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) is an independent nonprofit research organization funded by the insurance industry. Its mission is to reduce losses from natural disasters by turning scientific research into stronger homes and communities. 

IBHS operates the IBHS Research Center in South Carolina—one of the world’s largest disaster research facilities—where scientists recreate full-scale conditions including high winds, wind-driven rain, hail, and wildfire exposure to study how buildings perform. 

This research informs programs like FORTIFIED™ for wind resilience and Wildfire Prepared Home™ for wildfire risk reduction, helping homeowners and builders understand which actions most effectively reduce damage. 

Learn more about IBHS research 

How Homes Ignite During Wildfires 

Homes ignite in three ways during wildfires: 

  1. Wind-Blown Embers:
    • Burning debris carried by wind can travel long distances ahead of the fire front and ignite vulnerable areas around homes.  
  2. Radiant Heat
    • Heat from nearby burning vegetation or structures can ignite materials without direct flame contact. 
  3. Direct Flame Contact
    • Flames from burning vegetation or structures reach the structure itself.  

 Because embers cause the majority of home ignitions, effective mitigation begins with protecting homes from ember exposure. 

A Systems-Based Approach to Wildfire Mitigation  

Wildfire Prepared Home focuses on the vulnerabilities that research shows most often lead to home ignition. 

Because wildfire will exploit the weakest link, mitigation works best when multiple vulnerabilities are addressed together, including defensible space, building features, and ember intrusion pathways. 

Homes that address these vulnerabilities are more likely to withstand ember exposure and survive until firefighting resources can respond. 

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Wildfire Prepared Home Program Levels 

Wildfire Prepared Home offers two designation levels that reflect different levels of protection. 

  • Base Level 
    Focuses on protection from wind-blown embers, the leading cause of home ignitions. Most existing homes can be retrofitted to achieve the Base level. 
  • Plus Level 
    Builds on the Base level by adding protections against flames and radiant heat. This level is often achieved during new construction or major exterior renovations. 

Compare Levels- Base vs. Plus 

Eligibility 

Before applying for a Wildfire Prepared Home designation, confirm that your property meets the following requirements.  

  • Program Availability by State
    • The program is currently available in: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. 
  • Applicant
    • The applicant must be the property/homeowner.  
  • Property Status
    • Properties under active construction are not eligible for designation.  
  • Photo Documentation
    • Applicants must submit clear photos of all four sides of the home, including the 0–5 Foot Noncombustible Zone and key property features, such as pergolas, hot tubs, and propane tanks. 

Photos of eligible homes with the 0–5 Foot Noncombustible Zone