Thousands of residents have been evacuated due to a rare confluence of fast-moving wildfires scorching Southern California. California Fire Division Chief Dave Allen said nine fires have burned 9,095 acres and San Diego County district supervisor Bill Horn said Wednesday evening that eight fires were burning in the region, seven of which popped up that day.

Investigators haven’t yet determined the cause of these fires but what is unique is that there are so many fires, so quick and so early in the season.

No matter the cause, did you know embers can travel more than a mile from a wildfire? The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) give the following tips and information regarding wildfire embers.

• A Class A fire rated roof covering can dramatically reduce ember risks for a home – installing this kind of roof can be done when building a new home or re-roofing an existing home.
• In addition to a more resilient roof, The IBHS urges homeowners to remove vegetation and other flammable debris from their roof and gutters to prevent ignition from windborne embers – this is something that can be done anytime to existing homes.
• Other key areas of a home that are vulnerable to wildfire embers include vents. Proper screening over vents is important because embers can enter a home through these openings and ignite combustible materials inside the building, and it can burn from the inside out.
• The IBHS explains that vents in the blocking of open-eave construction are more vulnerable to ember entry than those located in soffited eaves and gable end and similar vents also are vulnerable to the entry of embers.