'Herd immunity': A coastal community wants to become fireproof after the Palisades fire

"The January fire torched about 80% of the community's 500 homes - almost all of them wood-framed. Now, as residents begin the long process of rebuilding, Martinez is pushing her neighbors to chuck the lumber and build with noncombustible materials instead. The goal? The housing equivalent of herd immunity, where enough homes are fireproof that the entire community can be protected against future fires. Your home is far safer if your next-door neighbors' houses aren't burning down and sending fiery debris and showers of embers into the air."

"For the last year, Martinez, 62, has become an evangelist for insulated composite concrete forms (ICCF), a building material made from concrete and expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam). She's been holding Zoom meetings for neighbors, proselytizing just this month when she hosted a community potluck where 70 people watched her lay the first few Perfect Blocks of her fireproof home. "I want people to know they have options," Martinez said. "We don't have to rebuild with something that's going to burn again.""

Sunset Mesa, a bluff neighborhood between Malibu and Pacific Palisades, lost about 80% of its roughly 500 homes to the Palisades fire, almost all wood-framed. Resident Karen Martinez is urging neighbors to rebuild with noncombustible materials such as insulated composite concrete forms (ICCF) to create a communitywide fireproofing effect akin to herd immunity. Fireproof homes reduce ember showers and burning debris from neighboring structures and can make insurance more available and affordable. Martinez has hosted Zoom meetings, a potluck demonstration and begun laying ICCF blocks on her lot. Local fireproofing trends include ICCF and high-tech sprinkler and retardant measures.

Read at Los Angeles Times