As wildfires get worse, some states are struggling to pass fire protection rules
As wildfires become more frequent and severe, some U.S. states are struggling to implement mandatory fire-protection building codes. While experts advocate for stricter regulations to protect homes, political pushback from residents has led to the repeal of several safety requirements.
Why it matters
The lack of standardized wildfire building codes leaves many homes vulnerable to destruction, highlighting a growing tension between public safety and property rights in climate-affected regions.
When two different wildfires threatened Dave Kokot's house in Spokane, Wash., earlier this month, he and his family packed up keepsakes as they prepared to leave. Kokot was less worried about the house itself. He knew he'd given it the best possible chance of surviving the flames.
"You don't know how the house would go through a fire, but I think ours would have done fine," Kokot says.
The siding on Kokot's house is made of fire-resistant materials, instead of wood. He'd cleared the flammable vegetation around the perimeter and made sure tree limbs weren't touching his home. Research shows those precautions help houses resist the onslaught of tiny, burning embers carried by the wind, the main reason wildfires spread so rapidly in extreme conditions.
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