In lieu of recent events, California has been hit with a wave of wildfires. Affected in both the Southern and Northern areas of California, the recent months have left many Californians with nothing. Areas have been reduced to ash, leaving homeowners to evacuate the area. The blame can be pointed to several contributing factors. However, what solutions can be made in order to prevent these destructive fires from engulfing these areas? 

Wildfires are nothing new to California, yet, with more and more Westerners wanting to live in or near nature, the number of homes located in the wildland-urban interface, or WUI, has increased from 3.3 million to 4.4 million. Homeowners wanting to live in nature is nothing uncommon. States like Colorado or North Carolina have homeowners that share this similar desire. However, the West is filled with wildlands, and wildlands do burn. Historically, wildfires in the West are tied with the mismanagement of forests and land. Along with strict WUI building codes, many believe understanding these two factors is enough. 

According to Jim Webster, who runs the mitigation program for vulnerable homes in Boulder County, Colorado he expresses the main focus of fire safety should be in the way that we build. “If you want to talk policy, our main response is suppression, our second is forest management, our third is hardening homes. We think that’s the most important, but it receives the least attention. We have the technology to build homes with very low ignition potential. They’re a little more expensive to build in the beginning, but they don’t ignite in the long term.”

Yet, with the intention to "build a fireproof home" how many people can actually afford this? Cost is the bigger question that looms over many Californians. The WUI is filled with Malibu mansions and beautiful ranch homes located in Sonoma county. Those who have the means to invest and retrofit their homes with fireproof measures do, but what about those who don't have the financial power to rebuild? 

Stricter building codes have been set since 1991, however, this has not solved the problem for keeping homes in the WUI safe. Why? For starters many structures located in these areas predate these building codes. The cost to retrofit is a common obstacle for many homeowners. Another issue is that many fail to keep their properties in shape. Brush overgrowth and stacked of firewood against the house are ways for fires to spread quickly once it starts. And lastly, once disasters happen relocating and housing survivors often takes precedence over reviewing building codes. Insurance companies and contractors try to find the cheapest and fastest ways to rebuild. 

When it comes to building materials many believe concrete is the solution. However, as Bay Area architect David Wilson states, "...the window gaskets will melt. The windows will melt. Your plumbing and electrical will melt.” Many architects believe a long-term solution lies in a more intelligent use of land. By building denser, protected housing settlements with public firebreaks surround the area, this would allow for firefighters to pursue fires in a more concentrated area when hit. Yet the requisites for creating the idea of colloquial firesafe architecture is challenging to implement at a large scale. Wildfires can not be prevented, but the strategies in tackling them can help save more homes and lives.