Why Defensible Space and Home Hardening Matter More Than Ever in Southern California

After spending more than three decades in the fire service—most of it in Oceanside and throughout North County—I’ve learned that wildfire preparedness isn’t optional in Southern California. It’s a necessity. Our homes sit in some of the most fire-prone terrain in the country, and as a retired Fire Captain and now a home inspector, I’ve seen exactly what puts homes at risk and what gives them a fighting chance. Your home is likely your biggest asset. Protecting it isn’t just smart—it’s essential.

Mark Finstuen — Retired Oceanside Fire Captain & Certified Home Inspector

12/8/20252 min read

What I Saw on the Front Lines

When I rolled up to a fire, I could immediately tell which homes were likely to survive. Defensible space—cleared vegetation, trimmed trees, reduced fuel around the structure—was often the deciding factor. I’ve watched flames stall out because they simply had nothing left to burn near the home. I’ve seen embers fall harmlessly onto gravel instead of onto dry shrubs.

Those homeowners did more than follow guidelines—they gave firefighters the room we needed to work safely and effectively.

But I’ve also seen the opposite. Homes choked with brush, dead trees leaning toward rooftops, yards filled with fuel just waiting for a spark. On those calls, especially during Santa Ana conditions, I felt a knot in my stomach. We knew those homes were at significantly higher risk—and many times, the outcome was exactly what we feared.

Now I See It Through Another Lens: The Home Inspector's View

As a certified home inspector, I now approach homes differently—but with the same mission: keep families safe.

I’ve learned that home hardening is intuitive once you know what to look for. Vulnerable attic vents, old roofing materials, gaps under eaves, wooden fencing attached directly to the house—all of these are common and preventable ignition points.

From both my careers, one thing is crystal clear:
A hardened home combined with defensible space is the best protection you can invest in.

Southern California's Fire Severity Zones: A Bigger Risk Than Most People Realize

Many of our communities fall into what the state classifies as “Fire Hazard Severity Zones.” These areas face:

Stronger winds (especially Santa Anas)
Dense, dried vegetation
Steep terrain that accelerates fire spread
Limited evacuation routes

The risk is real—and rising.

And insurance companies know it.

We All Need to Help Firefighters Do Their Job

Fire departments and CAL FIRE do incredible work, but they cannot control the wind, terrain, or how close a fire starts to your neighborhood.

What homeowners can control is:

the fuel around their home,
the vulnerabilities built into the structure,
and the steps they take before a fire ever starts.

When a neighborhood maintains defensible space and hardened homes, it gives firefighters a safe buffer, reduces the overall intensity of a fire, and increases the survival rate of the entire community.

We’re all part of the same team out here. Preparation is partnership.

After 30 Years of Service, Here's What I Know for Certain

Defensible space saves homes.
Home hardening stops ignition before flames even arrive.
Santa Ana winds turn embers into mile-long threats.
Homes in severity zones must take these steps seriously.
Insurance companies reward properties that mitigate risk.
Prepared communities give firefighters a fighting chance.

And after responding to fires for most of my career, I genuinely worry when I see a home without these protections—because I know how preventable so much of that risk is.

I’ve dedicated my life to learning this, and now in retirement, I want to share that knowledge with as many people as possible. Protecting your home is easier, more affordable, and more effective than most people realize—and it starts with simple steps that make a massive difference.