California wildfires

[masraum]

this really sucks for everyone that loses their homes and property or even for the folks that have to evacuate and have to wonder about their homes.

In Florida, they have created lots of regs around making homes more hurricane/windstorm proof. I think Cali and the west coast has some regs for earthquake resistance. I've never heard of anything for the folks that live in the areas that are prone to wildfires having anything. I think if I lived in an area like that, I might try to take steps. I understand that it's difficult because a wild fire is not the same as a firepit in your back yard. We aren't talking about a spark or two. Still, maybe a metal roof, less flammable stuff on the outside, area cleared around the house, etc.... Is there stuff that folks do that we just don't hear about because we aren't local?

Good luck to anyone that is impacted or potentially impacted.

[fingpilot]

It's called the 'California Fair Plan"

Insurance of sorts for people that cannot get 'normal' insurance.

[Scott Douglas]

Lots of reg's were put in place after the 1961 Bel Air fire because of the huge loss that happened that year. No more shake roofs, clearing of brush etc. required now.
This just happens to be the 'perfect storm' of weather conditions at this time of year.

Now if it does rain, all those people will have to worry about are mudslides.

[Craig T]

I live in a high fire area just a couple miles from where the big Thomas Fire (Ventura) is burning. Many of my neighbors are on CFP Insurance ($$$ ). I have cheap AAA fire insurance because of some very simple construction items that can prevent a house from catching embers.

You know how you see a news clip and a few houses in the middle of several burned ones are standing untouched. In addition to a little luck...there are reasons for that. Most wood framed houses that catch fire are due to blowing embers getting caught up under the eaves or blowing into the attic vents. Under the eaves and the attics have exposed wood. Most of these houses are stucco with tile roofs (By CA law, wood shingle roofs can not be replaced or repaired more than 10%) and stucco and tile are fire resistant. The things that keep those houses standing are:

1. Fine screens on attic vents to block sparks and embers.
2. Boxed Eaves (stucco covering underside and all exposed wood)
3. Succulent ground cover and low-flame shrubs close to the house (no pines, cypresses, etc)

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

Lots of reg's were put in place after the 1961 Bel Air fire because of the huge loss that happened that year. No more shake roofs, clearing of brush etc. required now.
This just happens to be the 'perfect storm' of weather conditions at this time of year.

Now if it does rain, all those people will have to worry about are mudslides.

The 1961 Bel Air fire was "one for the books". The crazy thing is that it's burning in almost the same place right now.

[sammyg2]

I know folks who live up in the high rent district hills who have full-house deluge systems piped with water from the pool and a generator to run it.
The sprinklers shoot water all over the outside of the house: on the roof, sides, under the eaves, to keep it cool in case of fire.

But even that probably wouldn't help if the whole neighborhood is going up.
Case in point:
I've seen houses where the drapes, furniture, carpet etc on the inside of the house ignite from radiant heat long before the outside ever catches.

If your neighbor's house is burning like a bonfire a go-zillion degrees, it wouldn't matter if your house were made of concrete.

In those extreme cases the only real prevention would be isolation. Building a house hundreds of feet away from anything else that could be flammable.
But unfortunately that is cost prohibitive when you start talking about multi-million dollar plots that are nearly on top of one another.

[Jims5543]

Interesting article I read after the Napa fires.


https://www.marketplace.org/2015/11/25/sustainability/insurance-companies-getting-firefighting-game

I had toyed with starting a fireproofing retrofitting company out in Cali and wildfire prone areas where we make a house more fireproof by adding things like metal roofs, blocking vents, installing an independent generator and well system that would fire up a sprinkler system to soak the property and home. I am sure there would be a million hurdles to jump and regulations up the arse to deal with.

Being in a hurricane prone area, I just spent 20K on a new metal roof, and another 20K on impact windows across the rear of my house so I do not have to shutter them anymore. That is in addition to the shutters and whole house standby generator I purchased 10 years ago.

Being prepared is not cheap.

[speeder]

Having a lot of vacant land around the house where my trailers are parked is what saved it from being a lot worse. The nearest neighbor, (about 100 yards away), lost everything. Structures, vehicles, everything. .

This is out in Lakeview Terrace, though, where a million bucks goes a little further than it does in town.

[wdfifteen]

Watching this on the news. What a horror! Prayers for everyone affected.

[kevin930t]

I have a feeling that tonight with the forcasted winds is going to suck.

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[pwd72s]

Hope they've called the 747 tanker in...

[Noah930]

Schools were closed yesterday, today, and for the rest of the week here in the San Fernando Valley.

[kevin930t]

Noah how are things in La?meaning the fires?

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[Heel n Toe]

No idea if this is up to date...



I got it by going here and zooming in:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1TOEFA857tOVxtewW1DH6neG1Sm0&hl=en&ll=37.28557739837558%2C-119.39475185546877&z=6

Found it here:

MAPS: A look at each fire burning in the Los Angeles area | abc7.com

[bmcuscgr94]

this might help, it's the Ventura County website

Home

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by Craig T

.............there are reasons for that. Most wood framed houses that catch fire are due to blowing embers getting caught up under the eaves or blowing into the attic vents. ..................................

1. Fine screens on attic vents to block sparks and embers.
2. Boxed Eaves (stucco covering underside and all exposed wood)
3. Succulent ground cover and low-flame shrubs close to the house (no pines, cypresses, etc)

Interesting, thank you for posting this.

Should note that concrete, masonry, brick etc can be destroyed/weakened when a fire sucks most of the moisture out of it.

Turns into this crumbly stuff, the mortar is the weakest link.

I've never heard of a house/building catching on fire the way sammyg2 describes, but have heard of glass/windows exploding from the heat and air pressure differentials sucking flame into and out of a building.

Also spray some cold water on hot glass and just imagine the result. No need to break out the windows in that situation.

[Tobra]

Supposed to be gusts to 80 mph today, yikes

[ted]

houses with no eves did best in the laguna beach fires years ago.

[enzo1]

There's a video circulating... I couldn't believe what it looks like. Terrible!

[Craig T]

Originally Posted by ted

houses with no eves did best in the laguna beach fires years ago.

Exactly!

Here are my "boxed eaves". The second picture is the culprit. The firestorm winds blow the embers up into the open eaves and the wood catches quickly. Still, you'd be amazed how many people around my house have open eaves and unscreened attic vents. "It's not going to happen here". Famous last words.