Adapting to California Wildfires: Keys to Rebuilding in High Fire Risk Locations

A rise in California wildfires has led to a significant increase in the number of acres and structures destroyed annually. The Tubbs Fire, known as one of California’s most destructive fires, affected parts of Northern California in October 2017. In an effort to reduce the damage caused by wildfires, it is vital that houses are constructed so that they are more fire resistant, specifically in areas that are at high risk of wildfires. This paper will look at the reconstruction of Santa Rosa after the Tubbs Fire to see what building methods are being used by contractors. This was investigated by surveying residential contractors who participated in reconstruction after the fire. This paper will also discuss the need for stricter fire building code, such as Building Code Chapter 7A, and why it needs to be implemented to reduce future devastation. The purpose of this project is to provide homeowners information on fire-resistant building methods when constructing or retrofitting a house, by specifically looking at the roof, siding, and landscape. Building to stricter building code can be effective for an individual house, but is far more effective when applied to an entire community or city