Proudly Serving Belmont Heights & Belcrest Gardens since 1977
For Emergencies Know Your Zone: BEL-E002
Primer on Home Hardening Against Wildfire
Why Harden Your Home Against Wildfires?
As part of our 2025 neighborhood-wide efforts, BHCIA is proud to launch the Home Hardening Against Wildfire program—our third major initiative in the past 12 months, alongside our Sidewalk Repair Assistance and Street Number Curb Painting programs. BHCIA members who took advantage of these programs saved thousands of dollars.
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Flying embers are the number one reason homes burn during wildfires—not flames racing up a hillside. In Belmont Heights and Belcrest Gardens, we live in a Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI), where embers can travel miles on the wind and ignite homes with shocking speed. Our terrain is classic California chaparral—dense, dry, and highly flammable—especially dangerous during red flag conditions.
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BHCIA urges all homeowners to take wildfire hardening seriously: seal off ember entry points, clear nearby fuels, and swap out flammable materials.
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New! Watch Evan Sluder’s Home Hardening & Wildfire Mitigation Video Presentation
We’ve added the full 58-minute recording of our August 13, 2025 special meeting with IBHS research scientist Evan Sluder.
Scroll down to find the link to watch — and while you’re here, explore the resources and examples below to see how you can harden your home and create effective Defensible Space.
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Does this sound familiar?
“I know I should harden my home against wildfire—but what does that really mean?”
“What does it cost? I don’t have time to research all this.”
“Who do I even call for a quote? Who can I trust?”
“Eh, this feels overwhelming. I’ll deal with it next year…”
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If any of that rings true, you’re in the right place. This 2025 BHCIA Initiative is designed to make wildfire hardening doable. We've done the research, vetted the contractor, and negotiated pricing—so all you have to do is take the next step and call BHCIA’s recommended home hardening contractor.
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The benefits of taking action are clear and immediate:
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Protect your family and home when conditions turn dangerous
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Reduce the risk of losing your house during a wildfire
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Improve your odds of keeping insurance coverage
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Avoid premium hikes—or qualify for discounts
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Possibly prevent your policy from being dropped altogether
Preparation beats panic. And this is something you can control.
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Key Home Hardening Actions (Selected Examples Shown Below)
• Replace attic, eave, and foundation vents with ember-resistant alternatives—or cover them with 1/8- to 1/16-inch metal mesh
• Cover gutters to block debris that could ignite from flying embers
• Replace wooden fences or gates that touch the house with metal alternatives
• Swap out open or plastic dryer vent hoods for sealed, louvered metal ones
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These examples are just the beginning. Other critical steps—like hardening your roof, siding, or creating a 5-foot noncombustible “Zone 0” perimeter—are also vital but not shown here.
For deeper background, visit our Wildfire Preparedness hub http://www.bhcia.org/wildfire
Scroll down for side-by-side Risk | Before | After photo sets and practical fixes you can start today.
Vent Hardening – Ember-Resistant Vents
Flying embers are the chief cause of home ignition. Replacing eave, gable and foundation vents with ember-resistant models blocks those embers before they reach your attic or crawlspace.
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Typical list pricing (before BHCIA member discounts):
• Vulcan Eave Vents: $99.00 × 22 vents = $2,178.00
• Vulcan Foundation Vents: $95.00 × 16 vents = $1,520.00
• Vulcan Gable Vents: $195.00 × 2 vents = $390.00
Not a member yet? Join us today for only $25!
Risk: Ignition of Attic then House
Wind-driven embers blast through coarse screens, lodge in attic insulation, and start hidden fires that engulf the entire house.
Before: Original Vent
Original ½- or ¼-inch-mesh vent common in Belmont Heights—provides airflow but almost no ember defense.
After: Ember-Resistant Vent
Ember-resistant vent in Belmont Heights (Vulcan in this case): layered baffle halts hot debris while still meeting ventilation code.
Gutter Hardening – Fire-Rated Gutter Guards
Dry leaves and needles in open gutters act as tinder for flying embers; installing fire-rated metal guards keeps debris out and prevents those embers from igniting your roof edge.
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Typical list pricing (before BHCIA member discounts):
• Firestorm MAX Gutter Guard (Recommended): $16.00 × 160 ft = $2,560.00
• Micro Mesh Gutter Guard (alternative): $14.00 × 160 ft = $2,240.00
Not a member yet? Join us today for only $25!
Risk: Ignition of Gutter Debris
Wind-driven embers land in leaf-filled gutters, ignite the debris and send flames up the fascia into the attic.
Before: Original Gutter with Debris
Open gutter packed with dry leaves—common on older homes; excellent drainage but zero ember protection.
After: Ember-Resistant Gutter Guard
Fire-rated stainless-steel guard (Firestorm MAX) in Belmont Heights sheds water, blocks debris, and denies embers fuel.
Fence Hardening – Eliminating the Wick Effect with Steel Fencing
Wooden fencing that connects directly to the home behaves like a wick, creating a ready-made flame path. Replacing the last five feet with non-combustible steel fencing keeps Zone 0 clear and blocks fire spread.
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Typical list pricing (before BHCIA member discounts):
• Durabond Steel Gate (with 12' metal fencing): $2,800.00
• Additional 15' of Durabond Steel Fence: $95.00 × 15 ft = $1,425.00
Not a member yet? Join us today for only $25!
Risk: Wick Effect to House
Embers or surface flames ignite the wooden fence, carrying fire straight to the siding and eaves.
Before: Wooden Fence at House
Typical cedar fence attached to the house—attractive but combustible and inside the critical 5-ft zone.
After: Steel Fence at House
Powder-coated steel fence (e.g., DuraBond) replaces the wood section, creating a non-combustible break while matching the original look.
Dryer-Vent Hardening – Replace with Stainless Steel Ember-Resistant Louvered Vents
Lint-filled dryer ducts can ignite when embers enter through flimsy plastic hoods; swapping in a multi-louvered steel vent blocks embers and sheds heat.
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Typical list pricing (before BHCIA member discounts):
• Stainless Steel Multi-Louvered Vent: $58
Not a member yet? Join us today for only $25!
Risk: Lint Ignition via Vent
Wind-driven embers blast through coarse screens, lodge in attic insulation, and start hidden fires that engulf the entire house.
Before: Unsealed Dryer Vent
Typical brittle plastic vent—warps over time and offers little ember resistance.
After: Steel Multi-Louvered Vent
All-steel, multi-louvered vent: self-closing louvers stop embers while maintaining airflow.
Key First Steps Beyond Vents, Gutters & Fences
• Clear Zone 0 – the first 5 feet
Remove all plants, mulch/tan bark, firewood stacks, outdoor furniture, doormats and any other combustibles that touch the house.
• Seal eave gaps
Apply high-temperature exterior caulk where soffits meet siding so embers can’t lodge under the roof edge.
• Install wildfire-defense mesh
Bury fine stainless-steel mesh around the base of decks, porch stairs and crawl-space openings to block rolling embers and small animals.
• Upgrade deck interface to house
Replace wood planks, lattice or railings that attach directly to the house with non-combustible or ignition-resistant materials.
A qualified home-hardening contractor can handle these jobs—and more—for you.
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Watch the Evan Sluder (IBHS) Full Video Presentation
On August 13, 2025, BHCIA hosted a special Zoom meeting with Evan Sluder, research scientist at the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS).
In this 58-minute presentation, Evan shares IBHS research findings from full-scale lab testing and real-world wildfire investigations, plus practical, prioritized steps you can take to harden your home and improve Defensible Space — especially in Zone 0.
Click here to watch the video
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Ready to act? Unlock member-discounted services →
Have questions before getting started?
Contact BHCIA or email us at bhcia.email@gmail.com and we’ll point you in the right direction.
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