DIYbanter - View Single Post - CA. Fires

Kurt Ullman

In article ,
wrote:

With that said, it seems that the biggest reasons for these major
fires in CA are not faulty wiring or causes INSIDE the home, but these
firestorms. Therefore, would it not make sense to require a certain
amount of open (mowed) space around buildings in areas prone to these
firestorms, or at least prevent them from burning the buildings.

It seems to me that the inspectors overdo it as far as small details
within homes but ignore the external causes. Not everyone is the
country is in a firestorm area, but those that are should be reqired
to maintain some space. This only makes sense.

Inspectors normally don't have any control over these kinds of things.
That is up to zoning and other people. Cutting back is also outside
their jurisdiction. One of the annual rites of fire season is the
inevitable newspaper article about some hooha because a homeowner or
association wants to make an open space and environmental or other rules
don't allow them to do so.
The quickest way to stop most of these concerns is to not insure
people who set-up in these kinds of areas, but the political fallout
would be too great for the insurance companies to endure if they tried.
The flood insurance people are finally coming to grips with maybe they
shouldn't automatically insure people after the 2-3 time they are
flooded out.