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Wildland fires spread by a combination of a moving flame front and the wind distribution of burning embers. Embers are small pieces of plants, trees, or buildings that are light enough to be blown through the air and can result in the rapid spread of wildfire by where embers are blown ahead of the main fire, starting new fires. (From UCCE)

Home and building loss during wildfires occur as a result of some part of the building igniting from one or more of the three basic wildfire exposures: 1) embers, 2) radiant heat, and 3) direct flame contact.

Embers cause the majority of wildfire home ignition by directly igniting your home or igniting vegetation or materials on or near your home that results in flames touching your house or a high heat (radiant heat) exposure that may break glass in a window. Should embers land on or near your house, they accumulate (like hail) and can easily ignite the plants and mulch near your home, dry leaves, or lawn furniture. They also land on the roof, deck, or porch and depending on the condition of each may find a gap to enter the house or can catch accumulated dry leaves on fire. Very commonly embers enter the home or attic through a vent or open window. When embers enter the home or attic, they can easily ignite the contents of the house and the home will burn seeming from the inside out. When embers enter the house directly there is often little damage to the surrounding vegetation and many are left puzzled as to what caused the home to burn.

Homes survive wildfire through a combination of:
1) careful landscape selection, placement, and maintenance
2) awareness and management of combustible materials on the property (e.g. leaf litter or lawn furniture) during your fire season
3) incorporation of fire and ember resistant construction materials, installation details and maintenance.