(NC) It seems that each fire season in Canada brings with it headlines about damaged and destroyed homes. When it comes to keeping people and property safe from wildfire, prevention is key, and there are organizations helping Canadians get ready.

“With the increase in extreme weather events, wildfires are becoming bigger and more frequent,” said Mel Wright, vice president and head of Intact Insurance’s prevention program, which educates homeowners on making their properties climate-ready. “More Canadian households are at risk, but there are simple steps people can take to protect their homes.”

Here are some tips for preparing your home to better withstand fires:

Maintain your roof. Your roof is the part of your house that’s the most vulnerable to wildfire. Embers and sparks can easily land on it and ignite, starting a fire that’s hard to detect or reach quickly.

• Consider replacing flammable roofing with “Class A” materials, which include asphalt, metal and cement fibre. These are much less flammable.
• Monitor and replace old shingles, especially when they’re curling up. This exposes more openings for embers to accumulate.
• Regularly clean your roof, gutters and any decks or balconies. Even small amounts of flammable material, such as needles, leaves or twigs, pose a fire risk.

Clear around your home. It’s important to deny fire easy fuel sources that can let the flames get right up to your home.

• Create a fire break of at least 1.5 metres around your home by removing combustible materials such as mulch, plants and stored firewood.
• Trim low-hanging branches up to two metres from the ground.
• Remove evergreen trees, such as pines, for at least 10 metres around your home.
• Trim your grass regularly, keeping it under 10 centimetres.
• Consider landscaping with low-growing shrubs that are spaced apart.

By limiting what a fire can use for fuel around your home’s exterior and choosing flame-resistant materials, you can keep your home safer. Learn more about preparing your home for extreme weather and natural disasters at keepitintact.ca.