I was pleased to get several responses to last week’s column on protecting homes from wildfires.
One reader suggested that building a house out of concrete might help. While this is a good idea, remember that such a house would still have a roof and openings for windows and doors that would need to be made as fire-resistant as possible.
Another reader suggested installing outdoor smoke detectors, something that hit close to home with a friend of mine. She said that a firefighter once rang her doorbell to warn her of an approaching wildfire. The moment she opened the door she smelled the smoke, but she hadn’t smelled it when she was indoors. For that matter, why not cell-connect detectors in the forests?
That prompted me to wonder why building codes don’t require smoke detectors in attached garages, but only require that the walls, door and ceiling be fire-rated to extend the time it takes for a garage fire to penetrate the living quarters.
Lastly, one reader pointed out that in a firestorm no measures are likely to prevent a home from being consumed. So true.
Keep the suggestions coming. You can comment on this post or comment on the original post from last week.
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