Before the fire

Protecting your home from forest fires

In most cases, a house does not catch fire as the fire front passes by: it burns because of the sparks carried by the wind, slipping under the roof tiles, into the gutters full of pine needles or against the pile of wood. Making your home secure means tracking down these points of entry — room by room.

18-question self-assessment Clearing undergrowth: the OLD

4-minute read Content verified — July 2026

Key points

Danger No. 1: sparks carried by the wind up to several hundred metres — not the fire front.
Clean gutters and roof (zero pine needles), tiles propped up, mesh vents (mesh size ≤ 3 mm).
No combustible materials within 10 metres of the building facades: neither wood, nor a dry hedge, nor a plastic trellis, nor gas cylinder.
Solid shutters made from hard materials = effective protection for glazing against solar radiation.
Clearing the undergrowth within a 50-metre radius remains the most effective measure: check whether you are required to do so.

How a house catches fire

Feedback from fire services is consistent: during a forest fire, homes are destroyed by three mechanisms, in order of importance:

Embers (brandons)

Burning pine needles, bark and twigs, carried by the wind sometimes more than 500 metres ahead of the fire front. They accumulate in guttering, beneath displaced roof tiles, in the corners of terraces — and smoulder before setting the structure alight, sometimes hours after the fire has passed.

The influence

The heat radiated by nearby burning vegetation causes unprotected windows to shatter and sets plastic components alight (PVC guttering, roller shutters, trellises). Hence the importance of a 50-metre clearance zone and solid shutters.

Direct contact

A continuous hedge, a pergola covered in plants or a pile of wood against the façade act as a wick and carry the flame right up to the building.

Roofing, guttering, ventilation: the winning trio

Cover : roof tiles or slates in good condition, securely fixed, with no gaps. The junctions between the roof and the walls and the valleys are the usual places where embers can get trapped — these should be checked every spring.
Gutters : Leaves and pine needles accumulate constantly during the high-risk season. A metal leaf guard (grate or mesh) reduces the amount of maintenance required. PVC gutters melt and cause damage : opt for zinc or aluminium when replacing them.
Air intake and ventilation (attics, crawl spaces, roof hatches): fit them with fine-mesh metal wire mesh (≤ 3 mm). This is THE point where sparks enter the roof structure — and one of the cheapest fixes.
Fireplace : spark arrestor at the top of the flue.

Glazing, shutters, joinery

Shutters : Solid shutters made of thick solid wood or aluminium provide effective protection for the glazing against sunlight. PVC roller shutters warp quickly ; if you have these fitted, vegetation further away has twice the impact.
Glazing : Double-glazed windows are significantly more resistant to thermal shock than single-glazed ones.
Doors and thresholds : seals in good condition — smoke seeps through the same gaps as the sparks. Also useful for the lockdown.

The first 10 metres: the critical zone

This is the area where everything hinges; it’s the one the fire brigade looks at to decide whether a house is justifiable :

Checklist for the immediate surroundings

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No fuel storage against building facades: firewood must be kept at least 10 metres away or in a solid, enclosed shelter.
Gas cylinders: store in a closed, well-ventilated room or, failing that, away from building facades and clearly marked (the fire brigade must be able to spot them).
Gas or fuel oil tank: the area around the tank must be cleared of undergrowth for 5 metres, and the valve must be accessible.
Hedges: broken up, set back from walls, with no highly flammable species (cypress, thuja, mimosa) on the exposed side — see defensive garden.
Patio: do not leave cushions, reed screens or dry-fibre doormats piled up at the height of the season.
Plastic furniture and toys should be kept away from the bay windows.
Roof and gutters cleaned, mesh-covered vents checked, roof tiles inspected.
Gate and access route must be clear: a vehicle 3.5 metres wide must be able to pass through (CCFs are approximately 2.5 metres wide but require manoeuvring).
House number visible from the road; please indicate any water supply (swimming pool, water tank) if you have one.

Useful equipment (without breaking the bank)

Equipment	Price list	Interest
Fine mesh for ventilation	~€20	Blocks sparks — the best value for money in terms of protection.
A garden hose that reaches all the way round the house	€30–80	Moisten the surrounding area, put out a fire that is just starting, and wet the shutters.
Water spray fire extinguisher with additive (6 L or 9 L)	€40–80	A fire starting in the garden or a smouldering ember on the terrace.
Metal gutter leaf guards	€5–10/m	Remove the most exposed fuel from the house.
Motorised pump + storage tank (swimming pool, tank)	€300 and over	For isolated houses in areas at high risk ; please inform the emergency services.

Beware of the ‘equipment illusion’: no piece of kit can replace the brush cutting nor evacuation when it is ordered. A well-prepared home protects its occupants and It often has to fend for itself ; a house that is not prepared puts those who cling to it at risk.

It is the responsibility of the occupier of the property to clear the undergrowth within a 50-metre radius of THEIR buildings, even if this radius extends onto neighbouring plots (provided the neighbour has been informed in advance; the neighbour may not object without assuming this obligation themselves). Further details at Understanding the OLD.

If an evacuation has not been ordered and you have time, wetting the surrounding area, closed shutters and guttering can help. However, never stay on a roof if the fire is approaching, and do not use mains water when the fire service needs it: use water from a swimming pool or a water tank instead. Always follow the instructions given by the emergency services.

Yes — an accessible swimming pool is a valuable resource (helicopters don’t refuel there, but the fire brigade’s motorised pumps do). Please report it: a ‘swimming pool’ sign visible from the road helps the emergency services. Some local authorities maintain a voluntary register.

The risk changes every day. So do your reflexes.

Check the fire alert status for your department, keep track of current fires and report a fire via the Feux de Forêt mobile app.

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