noncombustible

They studied noncombustible materials and plantings, complex site characteristics, green strategies, structural robustness, toxic debris removal and rebuilding logistics.

So houses are mostly Mediterranean, wrapped with stucco or fiber cement — noncombustible materials — with a few splashes of stone and brick thrown in.

He identified fire-resistant materials for his walls and windows and created a five-foot noncombustible buffer zone around his house.

“A ‘noncombustible zone’ near the home and under the deck is an excellent strategy to reduce the vulnerability of the home to a wind-blown ember exposure,” Quarles wrote in an email.

“I recommend using noncombustible mulch options, such as rock or gravel, within 5 feet of your home,” Clayton says.