How to fireproof a city

This article explores strategies for making homes and communities more resilient to wildfires, particularly in fire-prone regions like Southern California. It highlights the importance of a neighborhood-scale approach, featuring examples of home hardening techniques (e.g., gravel moats, metal vents, double-pane windows, steel fencing) implemented by builders like KB Home in communities such as Dixon Trail. The piece also details community-level mitigation efforts, including replacing flammable vegetation with native, less combustible species and creating natural firebreaks, as demonstrated by the Rancho Santa Fe Association. It addresses the rising wildfire risk due to climate change and urban expansion into wildland-urban interfaces, emphasizing that collective action is crucial for protection and can even lead to benefits like reduced insurance premiums.