How to prepare your space and guests for wildfires

We take the safety of Hosts and guests seriously. Our Trust & Safety Advisory Coalition partnered with the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) to share these resources from its Ready, Set, Go! programme.

Though the programme is US-based, its tips are relevant in many places affected by wildfires worldwide. Here are a few of the IAFC’s suggestions for reducing risks and educating guests about wildfire safety.

Planning ahead can help protect you, your guests and your property. The IAFC suggests taking these steps:

• Remove overgrown vegetation within 30 feet (9 metres) of your house, garage and other buildings on your property to help create defensible space.
• Use hard surfaces – like concrete, rock or paving stone – 5 feet (1.5 metres) around the base of your home.
• Use fire-resistant, low-growing, herbaceous vegetation when planting in areas close to your home.
• Remove low-hanging branches to create at least 6 feet (2 metres) of distance between grasses, shrubs and taller trees.

Sign up for emergency alerts in your property’s location to stay informed. Many local, regional and national government agencies offer this service. Check their websites for details.

Guests travelling from places that aren’t typically affected by wildfires may not understand the risks. You can help them be prepared with these tips from the IAFC:

• Add basic information about the area’s wildfire season and burn restrictions to your House Rules.
• Display a list of local emergency contacts somewhere prominent in your space, like on the fridge or coffee table.
• Give guests a map of the area that clearly shows your property’s address, nearby road names, multiple evacuation routes and potential safe locations. Include the name of your neighbourhood.
• Encourage guests to sign up for local emergency alerts and stay updated on fire activity, even if a wildfire isn’t near your property.
• Let guests know they don’t need to wait for an evacuation order to leave. They may need extra time to navigate the area if it’s unfamiliar to them.

For more resources about preparing for wildfires, you can reach out to your local fire department. If you’re in the US, you can also check out Ready, Set, Go! to understand more about wildfires and create an action plan.

The cancellation policy you select for your listing generally determines guest refunds for cancelled reservations, unless you and the guest agree otherwise. If a large-scale event at the reservation location prevents or legally prohibits a reservation from being completed, Airbnb’s Major Disruptive Events Policy may apply. 

When the Major Disruptive Events Policy applies, you can cancel a reservation without fees or adverse consequences, and the listing’s calendar will be blocked for those dates. Guests with impacted reservations can also cancel and receive a full refund. If you or your guests cancel a reservation that’s covered by the policy, you will not receive a payout.