Can fire-gutted suburbs rebuild safer? Here's what the experts say
Briefly

Experts suggest that redesigning communities in Southern California post-wildfires could significantly improve fire safety. Rather than simply using fire-resistant materials in reconstruction, strategies like increasing urban density, creating protective buffer zones with parkland, and establishing permanent escape routes can play crucial roles. Community layouts could incorporate urban firebreaks alongside reimagined public spaces. These changes, including zoning adjustments and potential relocation of homes, are deemed essential to prevent future catastrophic fire damage.
"If we don't do something different, we're going to re-create what just happened," says one expert.
A true paradigm shift could include strategic buffer zones, permanent escape routes and urban firebreaks.
Instead of rebuilding neighborhoods that border the wilderness, communities could establish a protective shield of parkland, agricultural fields or even a golf course.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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