Calif fires - some thoughts

[Donald]

Some thoughts, non political and not pointing the finger

Obviously we all pray for the people in Calif who lost their home are able to put their life back together.

Most or many of houses that burned are in areas where the current building codes would not allow the same home density for a new development due to fire risk. So do you only allow every other home to be rebuilt?

LA has millions of residents. Thousands live in the areas that burned. Does everyone who lives in LA want to pay for new water pipes in the water system that can handle 2x or 10x the water volume to fight fires in the canyons?

The FAIR insurance fund in Calif is the insurer of last resort if you cannot obtain insurance from a normal carrier. If it runs out of money it can tell the insurance companies to tack on a surcharge onto every policy in the state and give it to FAIR to replenish their insurance fund. Does not see fair if your home is in a low fire risk area and you can easily obtain homeowners insurance.

 

[GON]

The FAIR insurance fund in Calif is the insurer of last resort if you cannot obtain insurance from a normal carrier. If it runs out of money it can tell the insurance companies to tack on a surcharge onto every policy in the state and give it to FAIR to replenish their insurance fund. Does not see fair if your home is in a low fire risk area and you can easily obtain homeowners insurance.

The people of Nebraska, Iowa, Ohio, etc. will be paying for the single-family home fire losses and related losses in Southern California. Legislation will be passed to do this, along with other non-legislative actions. Having the largest congressional delegation, and the vast majority from one party, gives huge power.

 

[benjamming]

Will building codes be updated to recommend/require more fire-resistant designs? I'm not saying one way or the other as I don't know enough, not an architect, not aware enough of their fire frequency, don't know how much this really adds to construction cost, etc.

Pacific Palisades couple's home with fire resilient features survives wildfire

 

[OneLonelyBurrito]

Fighting wild fires with public water systems is not sustainable and ultimately a losing battle. I don't know what the building code is in regards to passive fire mitigation. But that is the first place I would start to mitigate future risks.

 

[Passport1]

The people of Nebraska, Iowa, Ohio, etc. will

indemnify Ca.

Says so on the money.

 

[Donald]

Fighting wild fires with public water systems is not sustainable and ultimately a losing battle. I don't know what the building code is in regards to passive fire mitigation. But that is the first place I would start to mitigate future risks.

There are laws or similar codes that require 5' wide barrier around the house. Many people ignore it because they like their fences and gardens

 

[edyvw]

The people of Nebraska, Iowa, Ohio, etc. will be paying for the single-family home fire losses and related losses in Southern California. Legislation will be passed to do this, along with other non-legislative actions. Having the largest congressional delegation, and the vast majority from one party, gives huge power.

What is the problem with that?

 

[edyvw]

Will building codes be updated to recommend/require more fire-resistant designs? I'm not saying one way or the other as I don't know enough, not an architect, not aware enough of their fire frequency, don't know how much this really adds to construction cost, etc.

Pacific Palisades couple's home with fire resilient features survives wildfire

SoCal is a HUGE economy. It is not only what codes they implement but also lobbying by the housing industry.
Lumber is the historic choice for the housing industry. Things need to change, but the impact is far beyond CA if it happens. And, many people will NOT be happy about that.

 

[Donald]

Will building codes be updated to recommend/require more fire-resistant designs? I'm not saying one way or the other as I don't know enough, not an architect, not aware enough of their fire frequency, don't know how much this really adds to construction cost, etc.

Pacific Palisades couple's home with fire resilient features survives wildfire

There was a lady maybe a forest ranger who lived near or in a forest. She had a metal roof and sided the house with metal roofing.

The insurance companies will continue to evaluate the risk and either raise the rates or not renew or leave the state. No insurance company will write policies where the underwriters feel the insurance company is likely to loose money.

 

[skyactiv]

It was said most of the homes were built before a code requiring ember resistant vents and fans. The issue is that lots of homes in a wildfire get an ember which enters the home through a vent or fan and starts the fire.

 

[dishdude]

The people of Nebraska, Iowa, Ohio, etc. will be paying for the single-family home fire losses and related losses in Southern California. Legislation will be passed to do this, along with other non-legislative actions. Having the largest congressional delegation, and the vast majority from one party, gives huge power.

Just like how we're all paying for the destructive storms that regularly occur in Florida and along the Gulf.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Just like how we're all paying for the destructive storms that regularly occur in Florida and along the Gulf.

I am not sure how your paying for them actually?

Higher insurance premiums to offset? Go with a company that doesn't insure on the coasts. I would think there premiums might be lower anyway?

FEMA flood is capped at $250K, and the premiums are fairly high. They were not always that way - I think they finally learned.

 

[GON]

Just like how we're all paying for the destructive storms that regularly occur in Florida and along the Gulf.

I think this quote from a later disgraced Speaker of the House explains the situation well of how this should and shouldn't work:

Hastert: New Orleans “could be bulldozed”​

It makes no sense to spend billions of dollars to rebuild a city that's 7 feet under sea level, House Speaker Dennis Hastert said of federal...

Hastert, in a transcript supplied by the suburban Chicago newspaper, said there was no question that New Orleans residents would rebuild their city, but noted that federal insurance and other federal aid were involved. “We ought to take a second look at it. But you know we build Los Angeles and San Francisco on top of earthquake fissures and they rebuild, too. Stubbornness.”

Asked whether it made sense to spend billions rebuilding a city that lies below sea level, he replied, “I don’t know. That doesn’t make sense to me.”

https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/hastert-new-orleans-could-be-bulldozed/

 

[spackard]

This video of what a Yorba Linda Water expert Brett Barbre discusses the costs and permitting challenges they’ve faced.

 

[Nessism1]

The California fires we hear about in the news are largely a product of high winds. And there is no amount of water that's going to put out a fire when fanned by high winds.

The areas that got hit this round have a relatively low housing density, at least compared to newer areas.

I'm frankly not sure how to prevent events like what occurred recently.

 

[edyvw]

I think this quote from a later disgraced Speaker of the House explains the situation well of how this should and shouldn't work:

Hastert: New Orleans “could be bulldozed”​

It makes no sense to spend billions of dollars to rebuild a city that's 7 feet under sea level, House Speaker Dennis Hastert said of federal...

Hastert, in a transcript supplied by the suburban Chicago newspaper, said there was no question that New Orleans residents would rebuild their city, but noted that federal insurance and other federal aid were involved. “We ought to take a second look at it. But you know we build Los Angeles and San Francisco on top of earthquake fissures and they rebuild, too. Stubbornness.”

Asked whether it made sense to spend billions rebuilding a city that lies below sea level, he replied, “I don’t know. That doesn’t make sense to me.”

https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/hastert-new-orleans-could-be-bulldozed/

prime candidate:

 

[GON]

And for a historic perspective of what the terrain of the Greater Los Angelos area may have looked like 125 years ago, here are bicyclists on Western Ave north from Pico. (1900). Sure looks like a terrain the reflects a desert environment.

 

[edyvw]

And for a historic perspective of what the terrain of the Greater Los Angelos area may have looked like 125 years ago, here are bicyclists on Western Ave north from Pico. (1900). Sure looks like a terrain the reflects a desert environment.

View attachment 259479

Of course it is desert. Same like Florida is a swamp. There are a lot of places whose location doesn’t make sense. Modern technology made it possible to live there.
Neither LA is going to be moved, or NOLA, or Florida.
It is pointless conversation.

 

[Snagglefoot]

We have an active fire smart program. I’m sure a lot of people have already made this comment. There is very little evidence that any of the homes were designed to be in a fire risk area. That will have to change.

 

[maineiac]

indemnify Ca.

Says so on the money.

View attachment 259445

As has been the case for many years, we all pay for many disasters in the southeastern and midwestern states (principally, though not exclusively) through the Federal Flood Insurance program and FEMA assistance after hurricane, tornado, rainstorm, etc events. Oh, and don't forget that California sends a roughly net $150 BN in taxes to Washington (highest of any state) each year and is typically one of the few states (the others which are almost exclusively located in the northeast) which pay more to the Federal Government each year than they receive. Statewise, it's the biggest economic engine we've got.... by far.

When it comes to CA, the typically myopic rush to judgement we see on display is disappointing. Last I knew, we are all in this together.