Mercury Insurance and Wildfire Expert Douglas Kent Advise Californians on Fireproofing Their Homes

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (June 8, 2021) – A severe wildfire season is predicted for 2021 – and fires have already burned 18 square miles more in California than they had burned this time last year – so preparing homes and properties to help protect against their damage is imperative. However, this can be an overwhelming undertaking if you don’t know where to start.

Wildfire land management expert Douglas Kent, author of “Firescaping: Protecting Your Home with a Fire-Resistant Landscape,” helps ease the anxiety by providing Californians with an organized set of tasks for how to fireproof their homes from wildfires. Additionally, Mercury Insurance offers homeowners a downloadable “Be Wildfire Ready” guide, which contains detailed mitigation steps with projects to tackle around the home and property.

Tips to Fireproof Your Home

Kent recommends prioritizing these tasks to fireproof your home from wildfires:

1. Maintain a fire-shielded home

This means, the roof, siding and windows should be built and maintained to endure the onslaught of firebrands – the embers carried well-ahead of a fire.

2. Remove anything flammable from the first five feet closes to your home

This task is not time-consuming but does require regular maintenance throughout the year.

3. Landscape the 30 feet surrounding your home

Proper landscaping can help protect your home from fires by enduring firebrands and intense heat, as well as continue to provide the recreation, storage and privacy you already expect from your yard.

Get more details about how to fireproof your home and other valuable wildfire safety tips from Douglas Kent by visiting Mercury’s Catastrophe Center.

About Mercury Insurance

Mercury Insurance (MCY) is a multiple-line insurance organization predominantly offering personal automobile, homeowners and commercial insurance through a network of independent agents in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia. Since 1962, Mercury has specialized in offering quality insurance at affordable prices. For more information visit or and follow the company on .

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Last updated: April 17, 2023