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If anything has been learned from the LA wildfires, the answer posed in the title is, yes, it is possible to protect your property against wildfires. However, the best protection probably needs to be done during construction rather than after.
Why David Steiner’s Home Was the Last One Standing
Retired Waste Management CEO David Steiner, 64, saw his neighbors’ multimillion-dollar Malibu homes burn around him while his appeared unblemished. The Houston exec’s home was built out of stone and stucco to withstand earthquakes. It also has 50-foot pilings built into the bedrock to keep it sturdy.
“To be totally honest with you, I never in a million years thought a wildfire would jump to the Pacific Coast Highway and start a fire,” Steiner told the New York Post.
“I honestly didn’t think that if we had a fire, this would be the last thing to go,” he said of the 4,200-square-foot, four-bedroom home he bought from a film producer. “The architecture is pretty nice. But the stucco and fireproof roof are real nice.”
Greg Chasen’s Common-Sense Design
Another notable home that escaped the wildfire was a brand-new house in Pacific Palisades, designed and built by architect Greg Chasen in the summer of 2024. His house, like Steiner’s, was a lone survivor amid a sea of destruction.
A photo of the house posted by the Malibu architect went viral on X, as did a thread on Reddit, as reported by Bloomberg.
Along with luck, the home employed several fire-resistant design strategies, including a front yard free of vegetation and debris, protective concrete garden walls, no eaves or overhangs, and no vents to allow sparks to get inside the roof. Additionally, the roof was made of metal with a fire-resistant underlayment. Clean lines, without multiple dormers and pop-outs, also helped.
Crucially, the walls of the house also have a one-hour fire rating. Chasen said the deck is Class A wood, as resistant to ignition as concrete or steel. Tempered glass protects the interiors. The front of the house was built with heat-treated wood, shielded from flying sparks and embers by the extruding walls and roofline.
“All of that is best practice for cutting a fire,” Chasen said.
Measures to Make Your Property More Wildfire-Resistant
For those of us who can’t afford multimillion-dollar stone and stucco residences, you can make some practical moves to make your home more fire-resistant. Most involve spending a decent amount of money, but are far cheaper than building a new home.
Install fire-resistant siding: According to the Building America Solution Center, the following materials are rated high for fire resistance: fiber cement siding, metal siding, brick or stucco siding, and stucco. Of these options, fiber cement siding is generally the most affordable. Another option is magnesium siding.
Install a fire-resistant roof: Clay/terra-cotta, slate, metal, or composite materials are best as fire-resistant roof materials.
Look into fire-resistant glass for windows: This is a burgeoning business expected to reach $16.26 billion by 2033, according to market research firm Fact.MR. Although this material is largely used in commercial construction, it will undoubtedly become more widely available for residential use. This is a worthwhile investment for landlords of larger buildings in both fire-prone and colder climates.
Remove wooden window frames and replace them with fire-resistant ones: Wood frames are elegant and stylish but not practical if you live in an area prone to wildfires.
Get fire-resistant doors.
NBC News covered this story about a sprinkler system hooked up to a swimming pool via a generator-powered pump, which saved the owner’s Palisades home. Take note.
Keep dry vegetation away from the house: Ensure your defensible space, the first 100 feet around your property, is kept clear of anything flammable.
Consider fire-resistant artificial turf, stone, or concrete instead of natural grass.
Clear all gutters of dried leaves and debris.
Don’t keep flammable liquids and substances around the home.
Practical Wildfire Protection Strategies for Landlords
While a landlord might have the best fire protection protocols in mind, that doesn’t mean their tenants will. If you live in a wildfire-prone area, hiring a maintenance company is worth it to ensure a property is as fireproof as possible. This includes meticulously clearing the property from debris, litter, pool furniture, and garbage bins to enforce a defensible zone.
Hire a contractor to enforce a hardscape and water features to prevent fire fuel breaks. Concrete interrupts a fuel source from encroaching on a fire.
Keep the exterior of the home irrigated during wildfire season.
Communities must work together and hold each other accountable to prevent the spread of wildfires from one property to the next.
Final Thoughts
It’s hard to say” coulda, woulda, shoulda” when people’s homes and livelihoods have been lost. Even with preventative measures against fire, there’s still no guarantee that one spark igniting a few blown leaves won’t penetrate the best defensive strategies. Luck plays a huge part.
However, property owners need to be aggressive in protecting their assets from wildfires, and incorporating these suggestions will help them accomplish that.
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Note By BiggerPockets: These are opinions written by the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of BiggerPockets.
Jeff Vasishta
Journalist
BiggerPockets
Jeff is a career journalist who has written for many publications over two decades, including Rolling Stone, Billboard…Read More
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