Fire damage in Southern California doesn't always come from inside the home, while most house fires are the result of some accident or error on the part of the homeowners, the raging wildfires that sweep across the plains can light the homes of perfectly innocent families on fire.

Fortunately, there are things we can all do to prepare our homes. Things that reduce (or at least reduce the chance of) fire damage to our Southern California homes.

Creating a Fire Defense Zone around your Home

Step One: Out to a distance of 30 feet away from your home, remove all dry, dead, or otherwise easily-flammable vegetation. Remove branches that hang over your roof and in particular any branches that come within 10 feet of your chimney, even if they're not overhanging your roof. Move all firewood at least 30 feet away from your home.

Step Two: Out to a distance of 100 ft. away from your home (or to the edge of your property, whichever you reach first); make sure that no trees have branches within 6 ft. of the ground. This keeps fire on the grass from 'jumping' into the trees. If you have shrubs, the branches should be 6 ft. above the tops of the shrubs. Make sure there are at least 10 ft. between trees and that each shrub is at least twice its height away from the nearest shrub.

Readying Your Home Itself

• If your home is roofed with wooden shingles or thatch, reroof with tiles, metal, or composition shingles.
• Cover all vents and your chimney with 1/8 in. mesh to prevent embers from falling in and igniting something inside your home.
• Install double-paned windows and ensure that the outside pane is heat-resistant. Glass can shatter from a fire's heat before the fire actually reaches your home, letting the embers in -- this process dramatically reduces that risk.
• If your home has wood siding, consider switching to fiber cement, stucco, plastic, or metal, and be sure the ignition-resistant materials stretch from below the ground to the roofline.
• Ensure that your driveway is wide enough and smooth enough for emergency vehicles like fire trucks and ambulances to reach your home.