Ember intrusion prevention seals and screens the openings where wind-driven embers enter a home — vents, soffits, gutters, eaves, and gaps under decks. It is widely cited as the most cost-effective wildfire hardening step because most homes are lost to embers, not the flame front.
Embers can travel a mile or more ahead of a fire and pour into attic and crawlspace vents. Blaze Blocker installs ember- and fire-resistant vents, non-combustible soffits, gutter guards, and gap sealing throughout.
Why embers, not flames, destroy most homes
During a wildfire, a storm of embers arrives ahead of and around the fire front. Homes ignite when those embers find a way in — through an unscreened attic vent, a debris-filled gutter, or a gap under a deck — and start a fire from the inside or the edges.
Closing these openings is inexpensive relative to its impact, which is why ember-resistant vents and clean, guarded gutters top most hardening checklists.
Research from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) shows just how decisive embers are: during wildfires, as many as 90% of homes destroyed are first ignited by embers rather than the advancing flame front, and wind-blown embers can travel more than a mile ahead of the fire. IBHS and CAL FIRE describe these ember storms as the single greatest threat to homes in the wildland-urban interface.
Entry points we harden
- Ember- & fire-resistant vents — Replace standard vents with screened, ember-rated assemblies at attic and crawlspace openings.
- Non-combustible soffits — Close eave undersides so embers can't enter the roof assembly.
- Gutter guards — Keep gutters free of the dry debris that embers ignite.
- Deck skirting & gap sealing — Screen under-deck zones and seal gaps where embers collect.
All materials and installation methods meet the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code (CWRC). We document completed work so your insurer can use it for premium review, and align every project with the IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home™ standard.
The highest-value hardening you can do
If budget is limited, ember intrusion prevention is usually where to start: it addresses the failure mode responsible for the majority of home losses, at a fraction of the cost of roofing or siding.
We harden every documented entry point with CWRC-compliant materials and provide records for your insurer and IBHS certification.
Common Questions
How do most homes catch fire in a wildfire?
What is an ember-resistant vent?
Is ember intrusion prevention worth it on a budget?
Serving Colorado's Wildfire-Prone Communities
From the Front Range foothills to mountain communities, we serve homeowners across Colorado's highest wildfire risk areas.
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