Fires can be controlled, however those looking at ashes year after year question that. Brick homes can be made earthquake proof, up to a point. Lots of concrete and rebar (it can rust) http://www.understandconstruction.com/concrete-frame-structu...

Obviously it's a science and you can't be cheap with cement or rebar. A lot of them went kaput in Iran and Turkey...did not follow code.

A major drawback is that utilities (water, heating, electricity etc ) must be build in. There's no just replacing some sheetrock. But encased pvc probably lasts 100+ years.