Article Why Los Angeles was unprepared for this fire
I’m sharing this article from the Washington Post (gift article, so no firewall) since I think it is relevant to current events, and current building practices.
Some excerpts:
Molly Mowery, an author of a 2020 report for Los Angeles County on how to reduce wildfire risk, said that the county now takes wildfire into account when reviewing new housing development plans. The problem, she said, is that nearly 90 percent of the county’s housing stock was built before 1990, before many subdivision or building code requirements for wildfire hazards took effect. Once fire enters these communities, the homes are the fuel.
Regarding the 5-foot offset, “a five-foot perimeter free of vegetation known as “defensible space.””:
Many homeowners are reluctant to remove wooden fences, replant their gardens and trim the lower limbs on pine trees … Ken Pimlott, a former Cal Fire chief and firefighter for 30 years. “People are very upset about ‘What do I do about my fence, my plants I like,’” he said. William Ramseyer, one of the leaders of the Meadows Fire Safe Council, said the group’s offers to help residents create fire buffers around their homes were often ignored. Last spring, the group’s mowing and weeding led to contentious exchanges with neighbors upset over the weed whackers’ noise, he said.
And this is heartbreaking:
Haldis Toppel, who moved to her hillside home in the Pacific Palisades in 1973, said she and her immediate neighbors tried to protect themselves from wildfire, to varying degrees.“I cleared my space,” she said. “My home still burned.”“The vegetation is the issue. It’s always the issue,” said Toppel, who serves on the community council. “We live in the area because we so enjoy the greenery.” Local officials had largely left it up to residents to comply with wildfire regulations, she said. Although Toppel’s property had been cleared, the canyon next to her had accumulated a layer of brush, she said. When it caught fire, so did a nearby palm tree and then her house, a 1958 five-bedroom ranch with cedar shingles, eaves and deck that fed the fire.“I had everything that you shouldn’t have,” she said, noting that her house was built long before codes took effect requiring fire-resistant building materials. “I did abide by the fire clearance, and it didn’t help.”
There is more at the link. Hopefully this will inspire a positive discussion.
https://wapo.st/406g5Io
Replies
I live in Socal (Claremont) the mere fact that the lady mentioned in the article over the last 60+ years never changed her roof to concrete tile or metal shows the mentality of the area to deny that something like this could happen to her and her neighbors. The Altadena area, that I had worked in on several occasions was also significantly older homes; in some cases Craftsman and Victorian. I personally would never expected this to happen in Altadena. It's a suburban housing tract that is bordering on National Forest. Homes have minimal setbacks from property lines (5-6'). The key factor in these fires was the wind speed. I don't think you could have stopped the fire even if there was a firefighting team at every house (4-5 personnel) and unlimited water pressure. Again, the roofs in the area were for the most part Comp or wood shingle with ventilated attics.
Just my two cents
Seems like it is beyond time to require updates to fire-resistant details. This is not new science.
If the government cannot require this, the insurance companies have the leverage by setting premiums.
I have a friend who lost coverage on a house in Florida. the new company required her to install a new, upgraded roof. She saved as much on insurance as the new roof cost in less than a year.
I think we have to start building/rebuilding to much higher standards. In California that means building for earthquakes and fire. It's the only way homeowners will be able to get insurance. I live in Central Texas and hail is a real issue with damaging storms coming several times a year now. After an ice storm took out my roof in 2023 (or should I say the several tons of branches that came tumbling down some that fully pierced the roofing and decking) I built back with class 4 shingles. Added about $2300 to the roofing cost but gave me an almost $800 per year discount on my insurance. So a three year payback. If you live in areas being impacted by climate change, adapting your home may soon be the only way to continue to get insurance.