8 Questions You Should Ask When Buying a Home With Wildfire Risks

With climate change increasing the risk of wildfires, more homes are at risk than before—which means that there’s a higher likelihood that the home you have your eye on is in a wildfire zone. Before you make an offer, be sure to ask these questions to ensure your (and your home’s) safety:

• What is the city doing to prevent and mitigate wildfires?
• Does the city have an evacuation plan?
• What’s the air quality? How many days a year does the city have poor air quality?
• Are there regulations about defensible space around the home or the types of roofs you can have?
• Is it built with fire resistant materials?
• How are the neighboring houses built?
• What’s the surrounding landscape like? Is there a lot of brush in the yard? Old growth?
• Will your homeowner’s insurance cover damage from a wildfire? What about smoke or ash damage?

Want to ensure sure your home is well-protected against other future threats? Check out How to Buy a Home—When All You Can Think About Is Climate Change.