Living in the foothills of the mountains, fire is is an ever-present threat. Wildfires in the mountains can be started by human carelessness or by lightning, and our homes are vulnerable. In conditions of drought, the danger of fire becomes more extreme. Sandia Heights is rated by insurance companies as having very high fire risk. The following resources discuss practical steps towards wildfire-proofing one's home.

Ember-Resistant Vents and Vent Screening - Windborne embers can travel as far as a mile and are responsible for about 90% of home ignitions. This powerpoint presentation gives a step-by-step DIY process for covering roof vents with steel mesh, thereby preventing embers from gaining easy entry into one's home.

Creating defensible space - This brochure, with its cartoon illustrations of a typical home in a wildfire-prone neighborhood, points out all the features of streets, nearby vegetation, home exterior, and home interior that can be redesigned to minimize wildfire's potential damage.

Creating defensible space for certification - not required yet by home insurance companies - Planting, exterior structure, and property maintenance guidelines developed by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). These recommendations are intended to form the basis of future certification requirements by insurance companies. It is an eye-opening read, as few existing houses would qualify.  For example, for a distance of five feet around the entire perimeter of the house, there should be either hardscape or bare soil, with zero vegetation of any kind.

Fire Wise Plant Materials - Catalog of plants that are more fire resistant than others, along with tips (e.g., remove dead trees!) for creating a fire safety zone around one's house.

Ready, Set, Go Education - Advice from a coalition of New Mexico Firefighters on steps homeowners can take in advance of a wildfire, to minimize damage to their family and property. 

Bernalillo County Open burning rules and burn bans - County policy on fires and burning outdoors.  (note: Sandia Heights covenants also prohibit trash burning.  They further state barbeques cannot be closer than 10 feet to a lot boundary, unless part of the home's structure).

2025 Wildfire Seminar - Many fire prevention resources from local first responders and county officials; this seminar was developed specifically for Sandia Heights residents.