Wildfire Preparedness & Roof Ignition Safety: Protecting Your Spokane Home

Our hearts are with our friends, neighbors, and community members across Spokane County as emergency crews battle active wildfires—including the Old Trails, Fairview, and Autumn Lane fires. In times like these, the safety of your family and following local evacuation orders always comes first.

As local roofing contractors in Spokane, we get asked often during red flag warnings and wildfire events: What actually causes homes to catch fire during a wildfire, and how can homeowners protect their property?

Research from fire safety experts shows that up to 90% of homes lost in wildfires are ignited by wind-borne embers, not direct contact with a wall of flames. These burning embers can travel miles ahead of the main fire line, landing directly on roof surfaces, in pine-needle-filled gutters, or slipping through attic vents.

Here is what every Spokane homeowner needs to know about roof ignition risks, home hardening, and steps you can take today to protect your roof.

Class A rated materials provide maximum fire resistance.

The 3 Biggest Roof Ignition Vulnerabilities

During dry, windy conditions in the Inland Northwest, embers seek out vulnerable spots on your roof. The three most common entry points include:

1. Debris Accumulation in Gutters & Roof Valleys: Ponderosa pine needles and dry leaves are perfect tinder. When blown embers land in a gutter packed with dry debris, the gutter ignites directly against the roof edge, melting soffits and setting roof decking ablaze.

2. Unscreened Attic & Soffit Vents: Standard attic vents often feature 1/4-inch mesh openings. Swirling ember clouds easily get sucked through these vents into attic insulation, igniting the home from the inside out.

3. Gaps Under Tiles or Missing Flashing: Embers can drift into gaps under roof edges, unsealed chimney flashing, or warped shingles, reaching the exposed wood sheath underneath.

Wildfire Defense: Immediate Actions vs. Long-Term Hardening

Whether you are preparing for future fire seasons or assessing your home's current wildfire defensibility, these steps significantly reduce structural ignition risk:

Timeline	Action Item	Why It Protects Your Home
Immediate	Clean gutters & roof valleys	Removes the primary fuel source where wind-blown embers land.
Immediate	Clear Zone 0 (0–5 ft from house)	Move firewood, dry bark mulch, and dry pine needles away from your home’s perimeter.
Short-Term	Upgrade vent mesh to 1/8-inch	Installing 1/8-inch metal wire mesh over attic and soffit vents blocks burning embers while preserving ventilation.
Long-Term	Install Class A Fire-Rated Roofing	Upgrade to Class A asphalt shingles or standing-seam metal roofing, designed to withstand severe ember bombardment.

Emergency Notice: If your area is under a Level 2 (Be Ready) or Level 3 (Go Now) evacuation order, do NOT stay behind to clean gutters or attempt roof repairs. Heed all official orders from Spokane County emergency management immediately. Property can be replaced; lives cannot.

Standing Strong with Spokane

To everyone affected by the recent fires across Spokane and eastern Washington, Arrow Point Roofing stands ready to support our community. Once evacuation orders are lifted and areas are declared safe by local authorities, our team will be offering emergency roof inspections and tarping services for homes impacted by falling debris, heat exposure, or ember strikes.

Stay safe, Spokane. We are in this together.

Explore how Arrow Point Roofing can help secure your home:

Learn about Class A fire-rated roofing materials

Request a post-storm or fire-safety roof inspection or call (509)504-6972 to schedule today!