Wildfire Ready: How to protect your outdoor living space from fires in Northern California
When we think about defensible space around our home, we can forget that patios and what we put around them can be *** serious fire hazard. Meteorologist Kelly Curran visited Paradise, *** city devastated by the campfire back in 2018, to check out what makes *** patio fire safe. The wind started picking up terribly and um there it was, it was completely black and um. Uh, we decided we needed to leave. Melissa Schuster lost her home to the campfire in 2018, but Paradise is still her home. We just were determined to build back here and be *** part of what we could see was going to be *** better future for Paradise, and that meant rebuilding with non-combustible materials, even the deck. These are metal. Everything is metal or concrete, including the furniture. This piece right here, this survived the. All of this, all of this metal furniture survived the campfire, yes. But that doesn’t mean it has to lack comfort. The cushions are OK, but I don’t tie them down because if we have ***, ***, *** red flag day with high winds or something like that, it will take me less than 5 minutes to pull all these inside the house. And don’t forget to preserve that defensible space. That 1st 5 ft is so critical in defending homes and decks from. embers landing in that area or an encroaching wildfire reaching close to the house. The surface of the patio is what gets the most use, but Steve Hawks with the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety says the underside of the deck is just as important. If you have *** deck that is *** low elevation, about 4 ft or less above the ground, is enclosed the outer edge of the deck with *** metal mesh that. Is 1/8 inch or less gap so that debris can’t blow underneath the deck. This is *** metal pan that the concrete is actually poured into, so these, these posts are all metal. It’s kind of like *** like *** *** parking deck that you know you would, you would we could probably park up there if we could get there but so it’s sturdy. It’s completely fire safe, and when it comes to plants, choose non-combustible material for the pots, keep them watered, and don’t use mulch. Succulents are also *** great option, and they grow really well in this climate too. In these high intensity wildfires like the campfire and eat palisades, it’s all about the systems-based approach. Even one vulnerability in the house can lead to its ignition and loss, Kelly Curran, KCRA 3 News.
Wildfire Ready: How to protect your outdoor living space from fires in Northern California
Updated: 7:28 PM PDT Jun 26, 2025
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Spending time outdoors is something so many Californians love. Whether that be skiing, hiking, surfing, or simply hanging out with friends and family on the patio. But when not designed or maintained properly, outdoor living spaces can be a serious fire hazard. Melissa Schuster lost her home to the Camp Fire in 2018, but Paradise is still her home.”We just were determined to build back here and be a part of what we could see was going to be a better future for Paradise,” Schuster said.Schuster followed recommendations from the Insurance Institute for Business and Safety when rebuilding her home and her deck. Those include:Use noncombustible materials like metal and concrete.Keep furniture and decor five feet away from the home.Patio furniture made of noncombustible material.Cushions are OK, but be sure to bring them indoors during high fire threat days.Choose noncombustible materials for planters.Keep plants watered and healthy, trim out dead vegetation, and don’t use mulch.Do not store combustible items under the deck.Use metal mesh to enclose the space under the deck to keep debris out.Keep grills and outdoor kitchens 5 feet from the walls of your home.Monitor grills and outdoor kitchens when using them.| MORE LIKE THIS | 2025 Northern California wildfire resources by county: Find evacuation info, sign up for alertsThis reporting was part of a larger “Wildfire Ready” special that aired on KCRA 3. Find all coverage here, along with a 2025 wildfire readiness guide. | RELATED READ | A 2025 guide for how to prepare for wildfires in California |See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
Spending time outdoors is something so many Californians love.
Whether that be skiing, hiking, surfing, or simply hanging out with friends and family on the patio. But when not designed or maintained properly, outdoor living spaces can be a serious fire hazard.
Melissa Schuster lost her home to the Camp Fire in 2018, but Paradise is still her home.
“We just were determined to build back here and be a part of what we could see was going to be a better future for Paradise,” Schuster said.
Schuster followed recommendations from the Insurance Institute for Business and Safety when rebuilding her home and her deck. Those include:
- Use noncombustible materials like metal and concrete.
- Keep furniture and decor five feet away from the home.
- Patio furniture made of noncombustible material.
- Cushions are OK, but be sure to bring them indoors during high fire threat days.
- Choose noncombustible materials for planters.
- Keep plants watered and healthy, trim out dead vegetation, and don’t use mulch.
- Do not store combustible items under the deck.
- Use metal mesh to enclose the space under the deck to keep debris out.
- Keep grills and outdoor kitchens 5 feet from the walls of your home.
- Monitor grills and outdoor kitchens when using them.
| MORE LIKE THIS | 2025 Northern California wildfire resources by county: Find evacuation info, sign up for alerts
This reporting was part of a larger “Wildfire Ready” special that aired on KCRA 3. Find all coverage here, along with a 2025 wildfire readiness guide.
| RELATED READ | A 2025 guide for how to prepare for wildfires in California |
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
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