Wildfires are part of the natural life cycle of forests, but when it comes to SoCal, we know that other factors put more at risk for the increasingly frequent and voracious fires. Among these are climate change, negligence, and the widespread use of wood in construction, which leads to thousands of people losing their homes.
In the wake of the January fires, the conversation about building with fire-resistant materials has gained momentum. That’s why in this SoCal county, what’s believed to be the first fireproof neighborhood has been built. Dixon Trail is located in Escondido, San Diego County, less than two hours from Downtown LA. It was developed by the construction company KB Home, which promotes the site as the first “wildfire resilient neighborhood.” But what makes these homes able to withstand fire?
The gutters and vents are covered with a fine wire mesh, while each window features double-paned glass, specially tempered to endure the heat of a wildfire. The stucco surrounding the shutters is flame-resistant, the privacy fences appear to be wood but are actually made of brown-tinted steel and the foundations are surrounded by a gravel moat.
The design of each home and the subdivision layout, with ample space between buildings and minimal flammable vegetation, meet the standards set by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety. The neighborhood will eventually have about 64 homes, with half of them already built.