Retrofitting your home for wildfire defense is one of the most important actions you can take to protect your property from the growing threat of wildfires. In regions like Oakland, Berkeley, and Alameda County, where homes are often situated in high-risk fire zones, retrofitting can mean the difference between a home that withstands the flames and one that succumbs to ember storms and radiant heat. By upgrading various parts of your home, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of ignition during wildfire events.

Major insurers have already stopped writing or renewing policies in states like Colorado, Texas, and Florida. And the American Property Casualty Insurance Association now reports that more than a dozen states are experiencing wildfire-related coverage losses, with over 212,000 homeowner policies dropped in California alone.

What started as a regional issue is now exposing a deeper vulnerability in how we manage — and misunderstand — risk.

When we talk about defending our homes from wildfire, we often focus on the main house—but detached structures like sheds, garages, and ADUs can be just as critical. These secondary buildings can become ignition sources during a wildfire and may even spread fire to your primary home if they’re not protected.

For California homeowners—especially in high-risk fire zones like Orinda, Lafayette, Moraga, and the Oakland Hills—fireproofing these outbuildings should be part of your wildfire defense strategy.