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The Field Journal.
Guides on wildfire insurance, home hardening and fire behavior for homeowners in Los Angeles, Lake Tahoe and Nevada.
Reno Defensible Space Requirements: Washoe County Rules
How far you must clear around a Reno or Washoe County home depends on your hazard rating and fire district. Here is how the 30, 50 and 100 foot distances work, and how they connect to insurance.
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How Much Does a Wildfire Sprinkler System Cost?
Exterior wildfire sprinkler systems typically run from about $20,000 for a modest home into the tens of thousands for larger properties. Here's what drives the price and what you pay after install.
By Craig WeeksNov 06, 2026 · 4 min readWhat Is the Burning Index? A Firefighter's Guide for Homeowners
Fire agencies rate wildfire danger every day with a number called the Burning Index. Here's how to read it, what it can't tell you, and what to do when it climbs.
By Craig WeeksNov 05, 2026 · 5 min read
Flashy Fuels: The Fire Starters Around Your Home
Firefighters call them flashy fuels, the dry grass, leaves and pine needles that catch an ember in seconds. Here's where they hide around a home and how to clear them.
By Craig WeeksNov 05, 2026 · 4 min read
Wildfire Terms, Explained by Firefighters
Burning Index, flashy fuels, red flag warning, ember, containment. The fire service's language, explained in plain English for homeowners.
By Craig WeeksNov 05, 2026 · 4 min readAB 38 Defensible Space Inspection: Selling in a Fire Zone
Selling in a High or Very High fire zone means documenting defensible space. Here is how AB 38 inspections work in LA County, Malibu and Truckee, and how to prepare.
By Patrick ReitzNov 02, 2026 · 9 min read
Defensible Space Inspection in Incline Village and Tahoe NV
On the Nevada side of Tahoe, two fire districts run defensible space inspections. Here is what the inspector checks, how to book, and how to use the report with your insurance carrier.
By Will SpyrisonOct 31, 2026 · 9 min readWildfire Prepared Home Designation: A Guide for CA and Tahoe
The IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home designation gives you third-party proof of your hardening work. Here is what it requires, what it costs, and what to ask your insurer.
By Patrick ReitzOct 28, 2026 · 9 min readNevada Homeowners Insurance Wildfire Exclusion: What to Check
Since January 1, Nevada insurers have been allowed to exclude wildfire from homeowners policies. Here is what AB 376 does, what has actually happened so far, and what to check on your own policy.
By Patrick ReitzOct 26, 2026 · 9 min readLos Angeles Brush Clearance Requirements: City vs. County Rules
Brush clearance in Los Angeles depends on who inspects your parcel: LAFD or LA County Fire. Here is what each requires, what the 2026 fees were, and how to keep proof of compliance.
By Will SpyrisonOct 25, 2026 · 9 min readLake Tahoe Tree Removal Permit Rules for Defensible Space
Most defensible space work at Lake Tahoe needs no permit, but larger trees do. Here is how the 14-inch rule works, when it is stricter, and who issues permits.
By Will SpyrisonOct 23, 2026 · 10 min read
What Is Home Hardening? The Complete Wildfire Guide for Homeowners
Home hardening means upgrading a house so it resists ignition from embers, flames and radiant heat. Here is what it includes, what it costs to ignore, and where to start.
By Patrick ReitzOct 21, 2026 · 5 min readHow to Lower Your Home Insurance in a California Fire Zone
Premiums in fire country keep climbing. These are the steps that actually change how insurers see your home, in the order we recommend doing them.
By Mike YakovichOct 20, 2026 · 5 min readDefensible Space Zones Explained: Zone 0, Zone 1 and Zone 2
Defensible space is organized into zones radiating out from your home. Here is what belongs in each zone and how they work with home hardening.
By Will SpyrisonOct 16, 2026 · 3 min read
Embers, Not Flames: How Most Homes Actually Burn in a Wildfire
Homes often survive the fire front and ignite hours later. Understanding ember attack is the key to protecting a house in fire country.
By Craig WeeksOct 14, 2026 · 3 min readFire-Resistant Landscaping for Hillside Homes in California
You don't have to choose between a beautiful garden and a safer home. Here's how to design landscaping that resists fire on hillside lots.
By Will SpyrisonOct 09, 2026 · 3 min read
Exterior Wildfire Sprinklers: What to Know Before You Install
Rooftop wildfire sprinklers can protect a home through an ember storm, but only if they're designed right. Water supply, power and hardware are what separate real systems from garden hoses.
By Craig WeeksOct 07, 2026 · 3 min read
How Intumescent Fire-Retardant Paint Works
It looks like ordinary paint until it meets heat. Here's the science behind intumescent coatings and where they make the biggest difference on a home.
By Craig WeeksSep 30, 2026 · 3 min read
Lake Tahoe Wildfire Preparedness: Lessons from Angora and Caldor
Two fires reshaped how Tahoe thinks about wildfire. Here's what they teach homeowners in Incline Village, South Lake Tahoe and around the basin.
By Will SpyrisonSep 22, 2026 · 3 min read
Zone 0: A Practical Guide to the Five-Foot Ember-Resistant Zone
The five feet closest to your house matter more than anything else in your yard. Here's what belongs there, what doesn't, and why California is focusing on it.
By Patrick ReitzSep 15, 2026 · 3 min read
Wildfire Window Protection: Laminates vs. Tempered Glass
Big windows are why people buy hillside homes, and why those homes are vulnerable. Here's how to compare window film, tempered glass and shutters.
By Craig WeeksSep 08, 2026 · 3 min readRebuilding After the Palisades and Eaton Fires: Harden from Day One
Rebuilding is the one moment when hardening costs the least. Here's what Palisades and Altadena homeowners should build in, and what to add to homes that survived.
By Mike YakovichAug 26, 2026 · 3 min read
FAIR Plan vs. a Standard Homeowners Policy: What's the Difference?
Many fire-zone homeowners are on the FAIR Plan without knowing what it does and doesn't cover. Here's a plain-language comparison.
By Mike YakovichAug 12, 2026 · 3 min read
Protecting a Second Home from Wildfire When You're Not There
Vacation homes in Tahoe, Malibu and the mountains often sit empty during fire season. Here's how to protect a home no one is watching.
By Mike YakovichJul 29, 2026 · 3 min read