“Because there are, say, 50 ways a fire can burn your house," said Greg Faulkner of Faulkner Architects in California, who has focused on less combustible home exteriors for more than a decade.
It's not entirely luck Emails and videos of burned buildings in Los Angeles next to those left standing have been flying back and forth among architects, builders and fire safety specialists around the world.
People in fire country generally know that trees, landscaping and wood fences near homes can be a fire risk.
Balcazar, a real estate agent, posted video that showed little more than chimneys remaining of most homes on his block after fire leapt through his Altadena neighborhood.
But they also say there are many ways that homes can be made less vulnerable to fire.
