On 7 January 2025, a series of wildfires broke out in Los Angeles, California, in the United States, affecting urban areas as well. The Palisades and Eaton Fires rank as the second- and third-most-destructive wildfires in California's history. After nearly a month, the containment of these fires was finally announced.
The Palisades and Eaton fires killed at least 29 people, burnt approximately 37,000 hectares of land, displaced over 100,000 residents, and destroyed thousands of houses, turning them into piles of ash and rubble. Surprisingly, some houses miraculously survived the fires and some cars found near burned structures were in pristine condition, even books in several public libraries were spared. Such stories went viral on social media and they were hailed as miracles. The survival of some buildings and properties was most likely due to a change in wind direction, but the implementation of fire prevention measures is a more plausible explanation.
To establish fire prevention measures, a thorough study of damaged houses is needed, along with investigating the causes of their ignition. This includes understanding how flames spread from the roof to the rest of the house, or how embers might fall into the hallway. Additionally, the survival of some houses should also be examined. Fires ignite in houses in three ways: direct flames, falling embers, or radiant heat from nearby burning buildings. An ember can travel about 6.4 km; should it land on a flammable object, it will instantly ignite a fire.
In 2008, California enacted new building codes for wildfire-prone areas, based on extensive fire studies to implement preventive measures. They include using fire-resistant roofing materials, covering ventilation openings to prevent embers, and installing heat-resistant windows; all aimed at reducing the spread of fires.
Key preventive measures credited with the survival of some houses in LA:
- Maintain a 152 cm safe distance between the house and any green spaces, trim trees to prevent branches from touching the roof, and ensure shrubs are not touching each other, as this can create a rapid pathway for fires to spread.
- Separate buildings from each other by safe distances; intense radiant heat generated by fires can easily ignite nearby structures. Most damaged houses in the Palisades area were those separated by no more than 610 cm from adjacent ones.
- Choose metal roofs and fire-resistant materials, such as gypsum decorations, for house cladding. Additionally, use double-paned windows to resist heat-induced shattering, and small-mesh screens to cover ventilation openings, to prevent embers from igniting the house.
Houses built in California before 2008 do not follow these preventive measures, but they can be upgraded. The survival of a single house has a significant impact on its surrounding area, as it does not generate heat or emit embers that can spread to other places causing new fires.
Fire prevention relies on joint efforts of researchers, the public, and policymakers; they need to collaborate and work persistently to develop solutions to protect against the widespread devastation of massive fires.
References
msn.com
nationalgeographic.com
npr.org