How do we assess wildfire risk for a property while buying a house?

One way to assess it is with a fire hardening disclosure. The seller fills it out and delivers it to the buyer to review during their investigation period.

Fire hardening disclosure is a term used in real estate to describe a disclosure statement made by a seller or their agent to inform potential buyers about the fire-hardening features of a property. Fire hardening refers to the practice of making a property more resistant to damage from wildfires, which are a common natural disaster in many parts of the world.

The fire hardening disclosure typically includes information on the specific fire-resistant features of the property, such as fire-resistant roofing, siding, windows, and doors. It may also include information on fire-resistant landscaping and defensible space, which is the area around a property that has been cleared of flammable materials to reduce the risk of a wildfire spreading.

The disclosure is designed to inform buyers of the fire resistance features of the property so that they can make an informed decision about the level of risk associated with the property. In some areas, such as those with a high risk of wildfires, a fire hardening disclosure may be required by law.