In wildfire zones, the most destructive force isn’t always the towering flames — it’s the embers. These glowing particles can travel up to 5 miles on high winds, landing on rooftops, decks, or vents and sparking new fires long after the main blaze has passed.
According to fire protection experts, 90% of home ignitions during wildfires begin from embers finding a vulnerable entry point. Identifying and protecting those points is one of the most important steps in home hardening — and it starts with understanding where embers tend to go.
Ember entry points are small openings where wind-blown embers can infiltrate your home’s structure or collect in combustible materials. During wildfire events, these gaps become ignition targets.
Common ember entry points include:
Even a 1/8-inch gap is enough for an ember to lodge, smolder, and ignite nearby materials - making the WDM 98 the ideal mesh for blocking embers.
Inspect under-deck spaces, crawl space vents, and foundation openings. These are among the most common entry points. Look for warped boards, gaps, or unsealed joints.
Walk the perimeter of your home and look closely at roof-to-wall intersections, open eaves, and vented areas. Embers often accumulate in corners or ledges.
Embers tend to settle on roofs, especially in valleys, ridges, and gutters filled with leaves or pine needles.
Within five feet of your home — called the “immediate zone” — any combustible material can ignite your structure.
Wildfire Defense Mesh offers effective protection for many of these vulnerable areas, helping to block ember intrusion and strengthen your home’s wildfire resilience.
Wildfire Defense Mesh (WDM) is engineered to stop embers before they can enter. WDM 98 Mesh is specially-engineered to block up to 98% of wind-blown embers and reduce radiant heat exposure by nearly 38%.
Installed around decks, vents, and under eaves, Wildfire Defense Mesh acts as both a physical and thermal barrier, turning high-risk ember entry points into fire-resistant zones.
Protecting your home from wildfire isn’t about luck — it’s about preparation. Identifying ember entry points and reinforcing them with Wildfire Defense Mesh can dramatically reduce your risk of ignition.
Every ember you block is a disaster prevented. Wildfire Defense Mesh helps homeowners safeguard what matters most — with tested, field-proven protection.
Explore our full range of Wildfire Defense Mesh products, installation guides, and community resources to start your wildfire defense plan today.
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