How to fireproof a city

"Down the street from the Los Angeles Angels' stadium in Anaheim, a crowd gathers to watch two homes burn. In less than 30 minutes, one structure is reduced to its smoldering, blackened wood frame, while the other, thanks to simple changes to its design, is remarkably unscathed. Of course, this was the point of the demonstration, which was held last June by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) at a firefighting training center."

"The heat from the burning demo home is fierce as we stand outside under a bright, cloudless sky. The plume of thick, black smoke is what eventually pushes me back from the front of the audience. But it's still nothing like the worst blazes I remember growing up with in Southern California, when the sky glows a hazy orange and ash falls like snow."

A controlled demonstration in Anaheim showed two houses exposed to the same wildfire conditions: one burned to a charred frame in under 30 minutes, while a house with modest design changes remained largely intact. The demonstration was organized by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) at a firefighting training center. Observers included firefighters, builders, and insurance professionals. One builder, KB Home, altered plans for a new Escondido community after witnessing the demo. Growing wildfire risk driven by climate change makes neighborhood-scale, collective mitigation increasingly necessary because single homeowners or firefighting teams cannot shoulder the threat alone.

Read at The Verge