Homes designed to resist wildfires

In America nearly 50 million homes are in areas that are prone to wildfires. But residents of Paradise, Calif., who lost their homes to the devastating Camp Fire in 2018, are not giving up. Correspondent Ben Tracy looks at how the community is being reborn, using building materials that are designed not to burn.

"CBS Sunday Morning" features stories on the arts, music, nature, entertainment, sports, history, science and Americana, and highlights unique human accomplishments and achievements. Check local listings for CBS Sunday Morning broadcast times.

[valerieumphenour]

We rebuilt in Paradise. Moved in to our new home on Nov 11, 2020. 2 years and 3 days after the fire. Love Paradise.

[Glenn.Cooper]

Just want to say to the "CBS Sunday Morning" crew - thank you for all you do. I'm 61 and I've been watching this show since you first went on the air in the late 70's. I consider this - along with 60 minutes - to be one of the best and most important shows on television for all time. Keep up the amazing work.

[udochiincolor]

I think people let go of their need to control because we all learned there is no such thing - beautiful sentiment. These Non- combustible homes are gorgeous and make sense.

[dalecs]

I am retired, living in Manila Philippines. Many place in the city where fires take out 500 to several thousand homes at a time. New construction, such as our home, involves masonry and steel and almost no wood. So risk of catastrophic fire is greatly reduced. Also worth mentioning about the new construction there in Paradise, such reduces pest/termite damage also.

[Plumber]

When I built my cabin up in the mountains back in the 90s.

I built a small stone wall with crushed stone and other no flammable material around it. Not clearly to stop fires but to also look nice. I cleared 150ft around the whole cabin.

It has survived 12 small wild fires so far. Other folks cabins have burned down and been rebuilt many times.

You Don't need a metal or brick building, it does help. But you need to build the landscaping to prevent fires from. Getting near the building in the first place.

[stevec]

I have never understood why buildings in fire/flood zones are not ALL mandated to be resistant to their areas recurring natural threats. Build fire resistant or nothing...enjoy the woods with confidence. Build high on stilts in flood plains...enjoy the water without fear. Anything less is the height of hubris and foolishness...and a horrible burden on insurers and taxpayers, not to mention those negatively affected.

[mikeelek]

This is a testament to those who endure. Not everyone is like that, but for those who adopt that approach, good things can happen.

[BobDiaz]

I always wondered why homes in high risk fire areas aren't built to resist fires. Nothing is foolproof, but building a home that resists fire and making sure nothing near the home can burn are good steps in the right direction. When the next fire hits the area, and it will come someday, it will be interesting to see what survives and what doesn't.

[borderlandfilms]

I hope it works, but as with any structure, with enough heat you can get internal content fires - modern furniture and other contents burn very hot - TV's, computers,
couches, laminate coffee tables. All of the plastics and modern material burn very hot.

[MustangsTrainsMowers]

And for tornado prone areas I think a strong dome type structure would be a better idea than a typical 2x4 frame house.

[sierramurphy]

Why not just build from rammed earth or earth bags...earth structures resist wildfires as well. It's better for the environment too.

[frankwco]

Well, if the windows are open, then what's inside would burn. Very important, that there is no sure bet your home would not burn on an intense fire that can go up to 2000 F.

[realhawaiio]

This is what we need here in Portugal. We lose so much to wildfires every year.

[shawnh]

I think fire resistant structures ought to be required if you live in such a fire prone area.

[FeelinTangerine]

I saw a regular built house in Australia that survived a giant bush fire by using water sprinklers on the roof

[MischaFellner]

As a journey level roofer builder for many years, I’ve always thought that this shape and design is very very very universal and multifunctional, and extremely user-friendly to work with.

I always thought it would be perfect for exactly what is described in this video and now here it is

[JillWhitcomb]

Regarding the old Quonset huts, they were used on many university campuses throughout the USA in the 1940's and early 50's as married student housing. It was the perfect solution, as there was a glut of students after World War II and not enough housing.

[RoccosVideos]

They can use this in most of the western US. 👍

[AhJodie]

It is cool that building codes allow a different shaped house! The woman that lives there is

[SIMKINETICS]

I live in Magalia which also burned with Paradise, adjacent & practically the same town, so I watch the rebuilding process nearly every day. It's a slow process to rebuild a community of several thousand that was nearly unidentifiable as the same place from before the 'Camp Fire' made it a moonscape. Skyway (the main street of both towns) and other major streets are still torn-up from all the heavy logging, firefighting & reconstruction equipment used for clean-up of our previously heavily wooded terrain; additionally underground utility installations create many traffic detours & delays for the remaining residents who still have homes. This is 3 and a half years after the Camp Fire, and we still have several years to get back to normalcy.
Fortunately, I found my home spared after worrying that I lost everything during 3 weeks of of mandatory evacuation. Many of my neighbors are refugees who weren't so lucky.