As deadly wildfires continue to burn in Southern California, over 1,000 structures have been destroyed. Although a number of factors have contributed to the conflagration, including the dry, powerful Santa Ana winds, urban design has played a role in its impact.
“When we get into these urban areas, it’s structure to structure to structure,” said Roy Wright, CEO of the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety. “And the fire is just going to move through the entire block.”
The IBHS has researched home wildfire resilience and even modeled what happens when a home catches fire. “Marketplace” host Amy Scott spoke with Wright about what the institute has learned about wildfire risk in urban areas and what neighborhoods can do to improve their resilience. The following is an edited transcript of their conversation…