Rebuilding for Resilience: Why Fireproof Construction and Retrofitting Must Be Required in Los Angeles
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By: Lisa M. Hayes
The recent wildfires in Los Angeles—now the most expensive in U.S. history—have underscored the devastating impact of climate change on urban areas. With damages estimated between $135 billion and $150 billion, the destruction of thousands of homes, and the loss of irreplaceable lives, it is clear that our cities are woefully unprepared for the era of megafires.
For a city like Los Angeles, known for its progressive stance on disaster preparedness, the time has come to go beyond current measures. Just as earthquake retrofitting has become a cornerstone of public safety and resilience, fireproof construction and retrofitting must now be required by law. Climate change has permanently altered the risks we face, and without swift, proactive changes to building codes and infrastructure, these disasters will only grow more frequent and more expensive.
If property owners expect insurance companies to cover wildfire-related damages, it’s only reasonable that they take responsibility for hardening their homes and buildings against this growing threat. Here’s why fireproof construction must become the norm—and how it could save lives, property, and economic stability in an increasingly flammable future.
A Climate Crisis in Flames: Why Fireproofing Can’t Wait
Los Angeles has always had a fraught relationship with fire, but climate change has turned seasonal risks into year-round emergencies. Rising temperatures, extended droughts, and increasingly fierce winds have created a “perfect storm” for wildfire devastation.
The Scale of the Threat
- Increased Frequency and Severity: California has experienced five of its largest recorded wildfires in just the past three years.
- Unprecedented Damage: The most recent wildfires in Los Angeles burned over 1.3 million acres, destroying homes, businesses, and infrastructure across multiple counties.
- Human and Economic Toll: With billions of dollars in damages, recovery is proving to be one of the most expensive rebuilding efforts ever undertaken in the U.S.
Without significant changes to how we build and protect our cities, the risk of catastrophic loss will continue to rise.
What Fireproof Construction Looks Like
Fireproof construction doesn’t mean creating buildings that are immune to fire, but rather structures that can resist and slow its spread long enough to save lives and reduce damage. Many fire-resistant techniques and materials are already available and affordable, making them feasible for widespread adoption.
Key Elements of Fireproof Construction
- Fire-Resistant Materials:
- Roofing made from metal, slate, or clay tiles instead of wood or asphalt.
- Siding materials such as stucco, fiber cement, or treated wood that resist ignition.
- Double-pane windows and fire-resistant glass to prevent heat transfer.
- Defensible Space Design:
- Creating buffer zones around homes by clearing flammable vegetation.
- Using hardscaping (e.g., gravel or stone) near structures to reduce fire spread.
- Venting and Sealing:
- Installing ember-resistant vents to prevent burning debris from entering homes.
- Sealing gaps in eaves, roofs, and walls to block fire access.
- Sprinkler Systems and Fire Shields:
- On-site water storage tanks and rooftop sprinkler systems that can be activated during a fire.
- Deployable fire shields for windows and doors.
Modern building codes in California already encourage some of these measures in new construction, but they stop short of requiring comprehensive fireproofing. Expanding these standards to all new builds—and retrofitting older structures—would make communities far more resilient to wildfire threats.
The Importance of Fireproof Retrofitting
While building codes can ensure that new homes are built to modern fire-resistant standards, retrofitting older buildings is equally critical. Many homes in Los Angeles were built decades ago, before fireproofing materials and techniques became standard practice. These structures are particularly vulnerable to wildfires.
What Retrofitting Looks Like
Retrofitting involves upgrading existing buildings to improve their resistance to fire. This might include:
- Replacing flammable roofing with fire-resistant materials.
- Adding ember-resistant vents and sealing gaps to prevent fire intrusion.
- Installing fireproof siding and upgrading windows.
- Removing flammable landscaping and replacing it with defensible space designs.
The Cost of Retrofitting
Retrofitting is surprisingly affordable compared to the cost of rebuilding after a fire. Studies show that simple upgrades, such as replacing vents and clearing vegetation, can cost as little as $2,000—an investment that can save homes worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. (Source)
A Lesson from Earthquake Retrofitting
Los Angeles is no stranger to preparing for natural disasters. After the devastating Northridge Earthquake in 1994, the city implemented stringent earthquake retrofitting laws that dramatically reduced damage in subsequent seismic events. Today, earthquake safety is embedded in California’s culture, with retrofitting requirements for both residential and commercial buildings.
This same approach must now be applied to wildfires. If earthquake retrofitting is a proven strategy to save lives and reduce economic losses, why shouldn’t we apply the same logic to fireproofing?
Insurance and the Future of Wildfire Recovery
The escalating cost of wildfires is creating an unsustainable burden for insurance companies. In recent years, some insurers have stopped covering homes in high-risk wildfire areas altogether, leaving property owners without options.
Why Fireproofing Matters for Insurance
Fireproofing doesn’t just protect property—it helps stabilize the insurance market. By reducing the likelihood and severity of fire-related losses, fire-resistant construction lowers the financial risk for insurers. In turn, this can lead to more affordable premiums and wider availability of coverage.
If property owners expect insurance companies to cover wildfire damages, it’s reasonable to require that they take proactive steps to mitigate those risks. Fireproofing isn’t just a personal investment—it’s a collective responsibility that benefits the entire community.
A Blueprint for the Future
Mandating fireproof construction and retrofitting isn’t just a theoretical idea—it’s a necessary step to adapt to the realities of climate change. Here’s what that could look like:
- Strengthened Building Codes:
- Require all new construction in wildfire-prone areas to meet comprehensive fireproofing standards.
- Expand existing regulations to include mandatory fire-resistant materials, designs, and landscaping.
- Statewide Retrofitting Programs:
- Launch publicly funded initiatives to retrofit older buildings, similar to earthquake retrofitting programs.
- Offer subsidies or low-interest loans to property owners to make retrofitting accessible.
- Education and Incentives:
- Educate homeowners about the importance of fireproofing and how to implement it.
- Provide tax incentives or insurance discounts for properties that meet fire-resistant standards.
- Community-Driven Defensible Space:
- Work with neighborhoods to create firebreaks and defensible spaces that protect entire communities.
- Develop fire-resistant infrastructure for critical facilities like hospitals and schools.
Conclusion: Building Resilience in an Era of Megafires
Los Angeles has seen the devastating effects of climate change firsthand. Wildfires are no longer isolated incidents—they are a recurring crisis, one that demands bold, forward-thinking solutions.
Requiring fireproof construction and retrofitting isn’t just a precaution—it’s an obligation. By taking reasonable and necessary measures to harden our buildings against wildfires, we can save lives, protect property, and ensure that communities remain insurable and economically viable in the face of mounting risks.
The choice is clear: adapt now, or face even greater losses in the future.
Lisa Hayes is a life coach, writer, and editor of Confluence Daily, specializing in social issues, political issues, and mental health. Her work has appeared in publications like Huffington Post and Real Simple. She is also the Communications Director for a local fire department in Mexico and runs a life coach training program called The Coaching Guild.
