Excellent podcast on defensible space and how very few actually have it

https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/built-to-burn/

Depending on the severity of the fire (and wind conditions), defensible space will increase the chance your house survives but won’t save it. In Sonoma county, fires hopped over vineyards due to the high winds carrying embers and stuff actively burning hundreds of feet

Wind can spread fire in surprising ways. Here in Norway a town experienced a fire getting out of control[1]. It was in the middle of winter and had been freezing outside for a long time, and was around -10C (13F) when the fire started[2].

Thanks to the wind, the fire managed to jump a distance of 130 meters (426 feet) across an ice rink and set fire to the watering truck.

[1]: https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brannen_i_L%C3%A6rdal_2014

[2]: https://www.yr.no/nb/historikk/graf/1-139310/Norge/Vestland/...

> [1] https://www.fire.ca.gov/dspace

See also:

* https://wildfirerisk.org/reduce-risk/ignition-resistant-home...

* https://www.nfpa.org/en/education-and-research/wildfire/prep...

You'd think that insurance companies would make this a condition of coverage: you have to send in photos and be open to random inspections for verification.