Wildfire Home Hardening in Placer County, CA

Local wildfire exposure

Canyon systems along the American River and steep foothill drainages create alignment for upslope fire runs. Larger rural parcels often mean fuels continue right up to the home.

Typical construction in the area

Foothill homes commonly feature wood siding, wood decks, composition roofs and detached shops or barns. Newer Granite Bay and Loomis construction tends toward stucco and tile.

Vegetation and fuels

Blue oak and interior live oak woodland, ponderosa pine, manzanita, annual grasses and heavy leaf and needle litter that accumulates in gutters and roof valleys.

Common vulnerabilities we see

• Needle and leaf litter on roofs, in gutters and under decks
• Wood decks and stairs with combustible under-storage
• Unenclosed eaves and open soffits
• Firewood stacked against the structure
• Long driveways with heavy roadside fuels