Still Standing After a Wildfire? What to Check on Your Roof

First: Make Sure It Is Safe to Inspect the Property

• Do not go back until local authorities say it is safe, and do not cross colored tape or enter a building with an inspector’s color-coded sign.
• Watch for hot ash, charred trees, smoldering debris and live embers. The ground can hold pockets of heat.
• Check outside for loose power lines and damaged gas lines. If you smell gas, leave and call the fire department.
• Stay off the roof. Look from the ground, with binoculars if you have them, and have a building inspector or contractor check the structure before going inside.

Can Smoke, Heat or Embers Damage a Roof That Did Not Burn?

It can, but smoke, heat and embers are three different things.

Ash and debris. Ash, needles and burned debris collect in valleys and gutters. Residue alone does not show the roofing is damaged, though dry debris in these spots is what wind-blown embers can ignite.

Heat. Owens Corning, a shingle manufacturer, says asphalt shingles are not designed for temperatures above a normal hot roof, and that fire and excessive heat can compromise how they weather. Nobody knows what temperature your roof reached, so only an inspection can tell.

Embers. Wind-blown embers collect where the roof meets another material: valleys, edges, roof-to-wall intersections, vents and skylights. They can also get into the attic through vents.

Asphalt shingles are commonly Class A fire-rated, built to keep flames and embers from burning through to the attic. That rating is about stopping fire, not about how shingles hold up after high heat.

What a Roof Inspection After a Wildfire Should Cover

A professional roof inspection after fire exposure should cover:

• Shingles: distortion, singeing, melting, blistering, cracks, tears or gaps
• Flashing: around chimneys, walls, valleys and skylights
• Valleys and roof edges: where debris and embers collect
• Vents and vent screens: roof, gable-end and under-eave vents
• Gutters: debris, damage and drainage
• Skylights: the glazing and the metal flashing at the base
• Pipes and other penetrations: seals and exposed nails
• Decking: soft spots or sagging, where visible

You get photos of any problem areas and a plain-English explanation.

Signs of Heat or Ember Damage You May See From the Ground

From the yard or the street, look for:

• Shingles that look warped, curled, melted, blistered or singed
• Missing, torn or lifted shingles
• Burned debris, ash or needles in valleys, in gutters or against walls
• Vents, vent screens or skylights that look scorched, broken or damaged

Photograph anything you see from the ground and leave the close-up check to a professional.

Does Fire Exposure Mean Repair or Full Replacement?

Not automatically. After an inspection, the answer can be maintenance, a repair, a replacement, or no roofing work at all.

If the damage is limited to a few shingles, a vent or some flashing, a repair may be enough; see our roof repair options. Owens Corning says that if shingles were distorted, singed, melted or blistered, the roof should be replaced. In that case we will talk you through a roof replacement, with a written estimate before any work starts.

What to Document Before the Inspection

• Photograph the roof, gutters, vents and skylights from the ground, from every safe side.
• Write down when you returned and what you noticed, such as ash on the roof or debris in the gutters.
• Check for smoke or embers inside, including the attic, as the Red Cross advises. If you see smoke or glowing embers, leave the house and call 911.

Ready.gov advises photographing damage and contacting your insurance company. Our roof inspection and written estimate include roof photos you can give your insurer. Coverage is your insurer’s decision.

If water is coming in, see what to do if the roof is leaking.

Request a Roof Inspection in Spokane

Once local authorities say it is safe, call us on (509) 230-0632 or request a free estimate, and tell us what you saw from the ground. The inspection is free, with no obligation. We serve Spokane, Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Airway Heights, Cheney and Deer Park.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can smoke damage a roof even if the house did not burn?

Smoke and ash on their own do not show that the roof is damaged. Heat and embers are what can damage roofing materials. An inspection separates residue from heat, ember or component damage.

Can excessive heat damage asphalt shingles?

Yes. Manufacturers warn that fire or excessive heat can affect shingle performance. Signs include distortion, singeing, melting or blistering, and because the exposure temperature is usually unknown, the roof should be inspected.

What does ember damage on a roof look like?

Embers collect in valleys, gutters, roof-to-wall intersections and around vents and skylights, especially where leaves or needles have built up. An inspection checks those spots for burned debris, damaged materials and openings into the attic.

Should I have the roof inspected if flames never reached the house?

It is reasonable after real heat, ember or ash exposure. Manufacturer guidance says a nearby fire can expose roofing to excessive heat, and wildfire guidance names edges, vents, gutters and skylights as vulnerable.

What parts of the roof should be checked after a wildfire?

Shingles, flashing, valleys, roof edges, vents, gutters, skylights, penetrations and visible decking.

Does smoke or ember exposure mean I need a new roof?

Not automatically. The result may be maintenance, a repair, a replacement or no roofing work, decided after an inspection.

Avidus Roofing & Exteriors. Licensed and insured. WA Lic. AVIDURE761B3.