“The fires were spread by “ultra-strong winds — which was double the strength of a normal Santa Ana — they come off those mountains and become urban conflagrations, and they have a lot more burning characteristic similarity with the Dresden firebombing” www.latimes.com/california/s...

Recipe for L.A.'s fire disaster: Intense rains followed by unprecedented heat and dry conditions

One fire appears to have been caused by a spark from old power lines, the other allegedly started by an Uber driver with a fascination with flames. In the end, the Eaton and Palisades fires destroyed ...

latimes.com

After the fire a Palisades resident shared this terrifying photo showing how structure to structure ignition leveled their entire neighborhood. Each wood frame home blasting its downwind neighbor with a tanker truck worth of fuel.

“once one house starts burning, the radiant heat will ignite neighboring homes and trigger out-of-control structure-to-structure combustion” My Palisades friends planning to rebuild always appreciate this reminder, especially knowing that ignition rate remains high even after these measures.

Todd Woody@toddwoody.bsky.social · 8mo ago

New: My essay on living in the beautiful but sure-to-burn Berkeley Hills and how denial in the face of certain catastrophe remains deeply embedded in the California psyche. But the LA fires are forcing a reckoning over how we pursue the California Dream. Free link. www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

More great LA Times reporting by @nohaggerty.bsky.social. “Some ecologists question whether breaks even help in ember-driven fires” because firebreaks have been breached repeatedly in previous high wind fires. At 12:30pm firefighters just pissing in the wind as embers spotted 2-3 miles ahead.

@nohaggerty.bsky.social's LA Times article about wildfire evacuation challenges reminded me how indispensable my e-bike was in the Palisades fire.

a 1600 sf ranch is burned down and replaced with a 4-bedroom, 4.5 bathroom mcmansion replicating what was there - but larger and more expensive - and recreating conditions that led to the wildfire loss in the first place. we never learn. www.latimes.com/california/s...

The first home has been rebuilt in the wake of the Palisades Fire

The first home to be rebuilt in the wake of the Palisades fire — a two-story home on Kagawa Street — received a certificate of occupancy on Friday.

latimes.com

www.latimes.com/environment/... My periodic reminders: -Fire hoses not much help in 30mph+ winds. -Water systems rapidly depressurize as homes ignite. Remote water meter shutoff valves could improve water system resilience as some CO cities now require, but they come with many caveats.

Even a full reservoir wouldn't have ensured water in Palisades fire, California officials say

During the Palisades fire, a nearby reservoir was empty for repairs. State officials say even if it had been full, the water system would have been quickly overwhelmed.

latimes.com

Excellent reporting on the challenge of implementing the state's Zone Zero law by @nohaggerty.bsky.social. A exceptionally thorny political knot, complicated by well irrigated hedges appearing to help buffer homes from fire in some cases. www.latimes.com/environment/...

How Zone Zero, designed to protect California homes from wildfire, became plagued with controversy and delays

California needs new rules to help future wildfires from destroying homes and businesses. But Zone Zero regulations, a key tenet of the state's plans, have roiled homeowners.

latimes.com

Wood frame houses may require 30' spacing to have any chance of resisting fire spread in extreme conditions - a non starter on 50' wide lots. Attached homes separated by a firewall, however, have a proven record.

Stephen Jacob Smith@stephenjacobsmith.com · 10mo ago

“WUI conflagrations are wickedly complex, but scientists have been inching toward a sort of unified theory for prevention.” It’s not hard, it’s just that global best practice – houses of noncombustible materials, close enough together that lots of foliage can’t grow in between – is un-American!

Best piece yet on the challenge of protecting homes from wildfire. A house (and neighborhood) are only as safe as their weakest link. www.newyorker.com/news/the-led...

A New Paradigm for Protecting Homes from Disastrous Fires

Scientists have identified more than fifty ways that houses can ignite. It’s possible to defend against all of them—but it’s arduous, and homeowners can’t do it alone.

newyorker.com