Attics catch fire during wildfires because embers sneak through vents—small, wind-blown sparks that turn a safe space into a tinderbox. In Oregon, where 2024 saw 1.2 million acres burn (ODF), embers can travel miles, slipping through attic vents meant to circulate air. Once inside, they land on dry wood, insulation, or stored boxes, smoldering until flames erupt—often unnoticed until the house is engulfed. The 2020 Almeda Fire in Ashland showed this brutal truth: homes burned from the inside out because standard vents, even with 1/8-inch mesh, couldn’t stop embers small enough to pass through (IBHS research). For wildfire attic protection, the vent you choose is everything—openings are a weak spot unless they’re fire-smart.

That’s where intumescent vents shine over 1/8-inch mesh for Oregon fireproofing. Mesh screens—common in Ashland homes—cut ember size but don’t stop them; embers passing through can still ignite fine fuels, especially in a hot, dry attic. Intumescent vents, like Vulcan or Brandguard models, use a heat-activated coating that expands at high temperatures (around 400°F) to seal the vent shut, blocking embers and flames entirely. Studies (CAL FIRE, ASTM E2886) show these fire-resistant vents Ashland homeowners can install outperform mesh alone, resisting both ember storms and direct heat—crucial when wildfires rage nearby. While 1/8-inch mesh is cheap and helps, it’s a half-measure; intumescent vents offer a firewall, giving your attic a fighting chance against Southern Oregon’s fire seasons.