Harden your home against wildfires

Catch up quick: Boulder County implemented several building requirement updates in Wildfire Zone 2, which includes the eastern half of unincorporated Boulder County.

• These updates focus on improving the ignition resistance of new construction and materials, and include requirements for fire sprinklers and structural details like stair, wall and deck safety features.
• Yes, but: The new building codes don't apply to existing structures.

There are some basic steps you can take to reduce the risk that a fire could destroy your home, according to Headwaters Economics, a nonprofit that has studies "home hardening," per Colorado Public Radio.

• Patches of fine metal mesh on vents and under patios and decks can limit the danger of flying embers.
• Clearing the area within 5 feet of your home of anything flammable, including wood mulch, deck furniture and wooden fencing is particularly important.

Bottom line: While fully retrofitting a home can cost up to $100,000, Headwaters Economics reports that some simple changes can reduce fire risk for a home for just $2,000 to $15,000.

• "We do know that many of the most effective home-hardening risk-reduction strategies are also the most affordable," said Kimiko Barrett, a wildfire policy expert with the nonprofit.