[ 01 ]Background
Founder, Chief Technical Designer.
Craig Weeks spent 21 years with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, rising to Division Chief of Fire Fleet Services. In that role he oversaw the design and maintenance of more than 1,800 fire engines, emergency vehicles and support equipment.
He went on to found Specialty Fleet Consulting, advising fire departments across the country on apparatus design. He founded Wetline Wildfire Defense to bring the same engineering discipline to homes, and remains Wetline's chief technical designer, responsible for how every Wetline system is specified and built.
Craig writes Wetline's fire science guides, including the Burning Index and flashy fuels, and our guides to sprinklers, coatings and window protection.
Areas of expertise
- Fire apparatus and suppression system design
- Exterior wildfire sprinkler systems
- Fire danger rating and the Burning Index
- Fuels and ember ignition
- Fire-resistant coatings and glazing
[ 02 ]Articles
Written by Craig.
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 read
What 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 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 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
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 read