Live Burn Demonstration Illustrates Ways to Better Shield Homes and Neighborhoods

According to Berlant, postfire forensic work across California has revealed consistent patterns in how buildings ignite and how those dangers can be reduced. Even so, he said, reducing risk cannot stop at the edge of a single property.

“It is not an individual assignment,” Berlant said, noting that in tightly packed neighborhoods, even a well-prepared homeowner can still be endangered if a nearby lot is left vulnerable. Once one home catches fire, connected fuel sources between properties can spread flames along an entire block.

Because of that, Berlant said wildfire prevention has to be addressed on a neighborhoodwide basis. He also said that despite major state spending on firefighting equipment and staffing, California cannot put out every fire or depend solely on emergency response.

The event also drew attention to the difference between California’s proposed Zone 0 requirement and IBHS’s voluntary Wildfire Prepared Home standard. Under the state proposal, some well-maintained plants may be allowed in parts of Zone 0, while the IBHS standard calls for the full 5-foot buffer around a home to be kept free of vegetation, bark mulch and other combustible materials.

IBHS officials said they support the state proposal as a meaningful step, but still recommend a completely noncombustible perimeter. As Pacific Palisades property owners finish plans, choose materials and design landscaping, advocates say those choices provide a chance to treat the home, yard and surrounding block as one safety strategy.

Fire Safe Palisades member Mark Gordon watched the live burn and called for broad adoption of stricter construction practices.

“Rebuilding with noncombustible materials throughout the Palisades will go a long way to protecting the community as a whole,” Gordon said. “The need to have all homes rebuilt to the higher standard is critical.”

Gordon added that no single simulation can capture every local condition, but the science behind the approach is still clear.

“No controlled demonstration reproduces every combination of wind, terrain, building separation and fire behavior,” Gordon said. “No standard guarantees survival. Still, identifying ignition pathways and interrupting them gives residents practical steps to take before another emergency.”

He stressed that preparation has to happen well before an alarm sounds.

“Combining stronger homes with safer surroundings and extending that work across neighborhoods,” Gordon said, “can help protect the community residents are working to restore.”