THE IMWFD FIELD LIBRARY
Knowledge That Leads to Action.
Clear, practical guidance grounded in wildfire science, building performance, and real-world mitigation practices.
ALL GUIDES
The Complete Field Library
Research-informed guides on home ignition, hardening, defensible space, active protection, insurance considerations, and seasonal readiness for Intermountain West properties.
Property Planning & Readiness
Preparing Your Property Before Fire Season
A seasonal readiness checklist covering vegetation, gutters, exterior openings, access, records, and an emergency plan.
Wildfire Insurance
Understanding the IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home Program
What the voluntary IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home program involves, how it differs from completing mitigation work, and what it does not guarantee.
Wildfire Insurance
What to Do After an Insurance Nonrenewal Notice
A step-by-step checklist for reviewing a nonrenewal notice, contacting your insurer, comparing options, and organizing property records.
Wildfire Insurance
How Wildfire Exposure Can Affect Homeowners Insurance in Idaho
An overview of how insurers may consider wildfire exposure, and how Idaho Department of Insurance resources can help homeowners navigate changes.
Active Protection Systems
Planning Water Supply for Active Wildfire Protection
Flow, pressure, storage, and backup considerations that determine whether an active protection system can perform as designed.
Active Protection Systems
Exterior Wildfire Sprinkler Systems: What Homeowners Should Know
How exterior sprinkler systems are designed to wet structure surfaces, what they require, and why they complement rather than replace defensible space.
Defensible Space & Landscaping
Defensible Space for Idaho Mountain Homes
Practical considerations for vegetation spacing, fuel continuity, and landscape design on properties among ponderosa pine and mixed conifer.
Home Hardening
Ember-Resistant Vents and Exterior Openings
Vents, eaves, gable openings, and gaps are common ember entry points. Here is how to recognize them and what to evaluate.
Home Hardening
Class A Roofing and Wildfire Resistance
What fire-resistance classification means for roof coverings, why roof condition matters as much as material, and how to verify product documentation.
Understanding Wildfire Risk
How Wind-Driven Embers Ignite Homes
Embers can travel ahead of a fire front and enter homes through openings, gaps, and accumulated debris without direct flame contact.
Home Hardening
The First Five Feet: Why the Immediate Zone Matters
The area closest to the structure is where ember accumulation and small fuels most often create ignition pathways.
Understanding Wildfire Risk
Understanding the Three Home Ignition Zones
How the immediate, intermediate, and extended zones around a home shape its exposure to wildfire, and why each one deserves attention.