BEING READY TAKES GOOD DEAL OF WORK

Protecting your home from wildfire involves a lot more than just pouring water on the flames when they attack. It’s about preparing well in advance — and chances are you have some work to do on that front.

More than 2 million homes throughout California — about 15 percent of the state’s housing — are at high risk for wildfire, according to the Center for Insurance Policy and Research. That’s more than any other state. Whether or not your house falls into that category, you need to make sure your property’s risk is as low as possible.

There are two main goals when getting your home ready to withstand a wildfire: Keep the flames as far away as possible, and fortify the house against embers and whatever fire reaches its walls.

Here are the steps you can take:

 Create a defensible zone: You don’t have to strip everything down to dirt, but minimizing fuel danger is the goal. (See graphic for details)

 Avoid flammable plants: Bamboo or the oily eucalyptus can light like a match head. Opt instead for high-moisture succulents such as aloe or fireresistant hardwood trees such as maple.  Consider the weather: Don’t operate any power tools to trim vegetation when the weather is hot and windy because sparks can light the yard in a twinkling.

 Inspect power lines: Notify Pacific Gas & Electric Co. whenever you notice power lines brushing up against tree limbs, or close enough for a strong wind to slap them together. Its crews can come trim the trees. Several big fires, including the devastating 2015 Butte Fire, were sparked by power lines hitting trees, and hitting against other power lines.

 Roofing materials: Roofs should be made of flame-retardant materials, such as metal, asphalt composition shingles or clay tiles. Make the overhangs as wide as possible — in the Wine Country fires, some homes fared better with flying embers when they had fire-resistant overhangs of 4 feet or more to keep them from hitting the walls.

 Gas valve: Know where your gas shutoff valve is, and keep a wrench next to it. If you see a wildfire getting dangerously close, shut off the gas — and any propane tanks you might have around.

 Have a wildfire plan: In just two minutes, a house fire can become deadly, according to the Department of Homeland Security. In five minutes, a house can become fully engulfed in flames. Plan for the worst.

 Understand your risk: Cal Fire maintains maps of areas prone to wildfire, and cities and counties are required to keep safety plans that contain procedures for evacuations and communications.

— Kevin Fagan and Kurtis Alexander