# Should anyone build a home in a fire-prone area? If so, with what safeguards? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 21, 2022, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-anyone-build-a-home-in-a-fire-prone-area-if-so-with-what-safeguards/970020 "2022-08-21T01:17:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2022, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-anyone-build-a-home-in-a-fire-prone-area-if-so-with-what-safeguards/970020/61 "2022-08-23T18:28:41Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > Since they own the land, you can’t stop them from building their house there. I see you haven’t heard of the TRPA. [They Are A Bunch Of Assholes](https://www.trpa.gov/) ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2022, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-anyone-build-a-home-in-a-fire-prone-area-if-so-with-what-safeguards/970020/62 "2022-08-23T20:15:49Z")
> [@bump](#): > > I meant that your house is screwed if it’s hit by a reasonably sized tornado, regardless of whatever building codes are in place. It _is_ possible to build structures much more tornado resistant than we currently do. It’s just that, as a general rule, it would cost more and people don’t want to live in a concrete bunker (unless they’re doomsday preppers, who might prefer that). ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2022, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-anyone-build-a-home-in-a-fire-prone-area-if-so-with-what-safeguards/970020/63 "2022-08-23T21:23:35Z")
I should have added “…in Montana” to my statement. What happens in Tahoe, a place I know pretty well, is another story. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2022, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-anyone-build-a-home-in-a-fire-prone-area-if-so-with-what-safeguards/970020/64 "2022-08-23T21:29:34Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > It _is_ possible to build structures much more tornado resistant than we currently do. It’s just that, as a general rule, it would cost more and people don’t want to live in a concrete bunker (unless they’re doomsday preppers, who might prefer that). My daughter and grandson live in Tulsa, OK, in a normal-looking suburban house, but they know they live in Tornado Alley, and their house has some features that increase the chances of surviving a direct hit should that ever happen, such as an interior bathroom with no windows and a bathtub they can hide in. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend people live there, but 400,000 people are willing to take that chance. People build houses next to raging rivers, on cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and even at the base of volcanos because they can. If they are willing to take the risk, I don’t know why we should try and stop them. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2022, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-anyone-build-a-home-in-a-fire-prone-area-if-so-with-what-safeguards/970020/65 "2022-08-23T21:44:39Z")
I do think there is a happy medium between “ban building” and “anything goes”. That’s why building codes exist, after all, or at least one reason for them - to encourage (or mandate) standards and features that reduce likely hazards. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2022, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-anyone-build-a-home-in-a-fire-prone-area-if-so-with-what-safeguards/970020/66 "2022-08-23T21:53:48Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > If they are willing to take the risk, I don’t know why we should try and stop them. Mainly because the idiots cause my insurance rates (and taxes) to go up every time they get burned out/flooded out/blown out. If they build in stupid locations, deny them insurance and let them get zero government money as disaster relief. ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2022, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-anyone-build-a-home-in-a-fire-prone-area-if-so-with-what-safeguards/970020/67 "2022-08-23T22:33:55Z")
So you live in an area with zero risk? Our area, although in a fire-prone region, hadn’t burned since habitation. I’m trying to think of an area with almost no risk–western PA? Here (Bozeman, MT) we have fire, flood, volcano (no insurance claims will be filed), blizzard, and maybe tornado… ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2022, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-anyone-build-a-home-in-a-fire-prone-area-if-so-with-what-safeguards/970020/68 "2022-08-23T22:40:14Z")
> [@Tride](#): > > So you live in an area with zero risk? Hell no. I mentioned above the fact that I live exactly on top of the San Andres fault. Live anywhere in California and you are in an earthquake zone. I didn’t go out of my way to move to this exact spot like the “forest w/lake view” that started this discussion. Building a house out of wood in a fire zone far away from emergency services isn’t mitigating a bit of the risk. So why is my money going to this fool? Major disasters that affect large numbers of people are exempt from this general condemnation. In those cases society _needs_ to come together. Just not here, for these idiots. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2022, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-anyone-build-a-home-in-a-fire-prone-area-if-so-with-what-safeguards/970020/69 "2022-08-23T23:22:30Z")
> [@Tride](#): > > We built with a fire-proof roof, no soffit vents, How is your attic ventilated? ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2022, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-anyone-build-a-home-in-a-fire-prone-area-if-so-with-what-safeguards/970020/70 "2022-08-23T23:23:52Z")
1 story house, vaulted, foam insulation. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2022, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-anyone-build-a-home-in-a-fire-prone-area-if-so-with-what-safeguards/970020/71 "2022-08-23T23:51:15Z")
> [@Tride](#): > > I’m trying to think of an area with almost no risk–western PA? Nope. See [Centralia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centralia%2C_Pennsylvania) Well, OK, it’s not _Western_ Pennsylvania but all of Pennsylvania is coal country so yeah, the ground underneath you could be accidentally set on fire. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2022, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-anyone-build-a-home-in-a-fire-prone-area-if-so-with-what-safeguards/970020/72 "2022-08-24T00:09:39Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Good heavens, the Native Americans knew not to live in certain now-populated areas of California that experience recurrent wildfires. Just above Santa Barbara are lots of lots with signs like “Priced for a quick sell. Water, sewer, electricity, cable and internet already installed.” … Because there was a house there until the last fire. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2022, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-anyone-build-a-home-in-a-fire-prone-area-if-so-with-what-safeguards/970020/73 "2022-08-24T00:13:04Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I mentioned above the fact that I live exactly on top of the San Andres fault. Live anywhere in California and you are in an earthquake zone. I didn’t go out of my way to move to this exact spot like the “forest w/lake view” that started this discussion. Forest w/ lake view & potentially oceanfront. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2022, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-anyone-build-a-home-in-a-fire-prone-area-if-so-with-what-safeguards/970020/74 "2022-08-24T04:32:09Z")
Yep! They would hunt there, camp there, that sort of thing, but not LIVE there. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2022, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-anyone-build-a-home-in-a-fire-prone-area-if-so-with-what-safeguards/970020/75 "2022-08-24T05:52:50Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Mainly because the idiots cause my insurance rates (and taxes) to go up every time they get burned out/flooded out/blown out. If they build in stupid locations, deny them insurance and let them get zero government money as disaster relief. Also, because many of them have children living with them, who have no choice in the matter. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2022, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-anyone-build-a-home-in-a-fire-prone-area-if-so-with-what-safeguards/970020/76 "2022-08-24T07:08:57Z")
I wonder if a homeowner could hook up a pump and increase water pressure? You need to wet down the house and yard quickly when a fire is approaching. This gives 13 Gal a minute water. That’s still very little compared to a pumper fire truck. > **[Star HSPJ100 1 HP Portable Lawn Sprinkler Irrigation Pump, Easy On / Off Switch,...](https://www.amazon.com/Star-HSPJ100-Portable-Sprinkler-Irrigation/dp/B001CLBJHY)** > > Star HSPJ100 1 HP Portable Lawn Sprinkler Irrigation Pump, Easy On / Off Switch, Stainless Steel Garden Sprinkling Water Transfer Pump, 13 GPM - Power Water Pumps - Amazon.com ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2022, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-anyone-build-a-home-in-a-fire-prone-area-if-so-with-what-safeguards/970020/77 "2022-08-24T09:26:31Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > In my town we built a massive dam system to mitigate 500 year floods but that’s pretty rare. (flood size that only happens every 500 years). > [@silenus](#): > > There is also a massive USA CoE dam in the nearby mountains to prevent another 500 year flood > [@bump](#): > > For flood-prone areas, there are specific, standard FEMA maps that outline the flood risk of any given place Y’all do realize that the old flood risk maps and “1-in-500” assessments are [often](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/06/29/climate/hidden-flood-risk-maps.html) [quite](https://www.nrdc.org/experts/joel-scata/femas-outdated-and-backward-looking-flood-maps) [obsolete](https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/4066233/OIG-17-110-Sep17.pdf), right? And that FEMA assessments almost completely ignored climate change (the most recent NYC map being a sole exception), and only considered historic data, when assessing flood risk. [This will be changing](https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/17/fema-overhauls-national-flood-insurance-program-for-climate-change.html), it looks like, but that is only starting to happen now. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2022, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-anyone-build-a-home-in-a-fire-prone-area-if-so-with-what-safeguards/970020/78 "2022-08-24T12:28:27Z")
The county government that I work for has regulations regarding how steep you driveway can be. That’s for emergency services. We are also really big on having defensible space around your house. A ‘setback’ from the forest if you will. Should be clear of underbrush, fallen branches and the like. I’m in the Colorado mountains, it’s sort of an ongoing process that never ends. We also have what’s called a chipping program. Gather the wood, branches, twigs whatever, put them accessible piles and we will come chip it and cart it away for no charge. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2022, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-anyone-build-a-home-in-a-fire-prone-area-if-so-with-what-safeguards/970020/79 "2022-08-24T20:35:42Z")
Obsolete or not, it’s what is out there. You _can_ get flood insurance if you live outside those areas- it’s typically quite cheap because you’re not considered to have much risk at all. The takeaway is that if you _think_ you might live somewhere that would flood, you probably ought to carry flood insurance, regardless of whether FEMA has caught up to the present day. And sometimes, you can get screwed by fate. Lots of people were on Monday around here- they live in areas that don’t generally flood but when you get 12" of rain in a six hour period, just about anywhere will flood. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2022, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-anyone-build-a-home-in-a-fire-prone-area-if-so-with-what-safeguards/970020/80 "2022-08-24T20:49:49Z")
> [@Bonum\_Legatum](#): > > Then have a large source of water, not necessarily potable, with an automatic sprinkler system. **I’d still expect to have to evacuate** in the event of a fire I have a friend who owned a home in a relatively safe area (near Oakland), until one big fire came along. He was up on his roof with a sprinkler and a hose, but even so, there were windblown leaves, branches and pinecones… all in flames. He was trying to kick them off his roof, but it was a losing proposition. He ran back inside and had a matter of minutes to grab anything he wanted to keep before his dream house was a conflagration. . > [@Chronos](#): > > And what about flood-prone areas, and hurricane-prone areas, and tsunami-prone areas, and earthquake-prone areas, and tornado-prone areas? And the most feared of all: mosquito-prone. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-anyone-build-a-home-in-a-fire-prone-area-if-so-with-what-safeguards/970020.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-anyone-build-a-home-in-a-fire-prone-area-if-so-with-what-safeguards/970020.md?page=5)