A new residential development in Escondido, California has been constructed to meet wildfire resilience standards, according to CalMatters.
KB Home has launched Dixon Trail as what it describes as the first neighborhood in the United States specifically designed for wildfire resilience.
The community features homes with enclosed vents, gravel buffers, steel fences, and tempered glass windows.
According to CalMatters, this project is the first time the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety will issue its “wildfire prepared” designation at a neighborhood-wide level.
The development follows heightened concerns after the Los Angeles fires earlier this year.
Steve Ruffner, regional general manager at KB Home, said: “Buyers want to feel safe in their homes and this is a really big plus for them.”
The cost of retrofitting older homes for wildfire resilience varies widely, according to CalMatters.
Research from Headwaters Economics found that upgrades could cost between $2,000 and over $100,000, depending on the condition and type of construction.
Karen Collins, vice president of the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, called these changes “pre-disaster mitigation” and explained: “To retrofit and put on new roofs and new siding, that gets into the multiple tens of thousands of dollars, so there’s a public policy trade off.”
State lawmakers are considering measures to assist with costs, but no statewide retrofit program currently exists.
The California Wildfire Mitigation Program is retrofitting homes in fire-prone regions through a $117 million pilot project.
According to CalMatters, the initiative is led by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the Office of Emergency Services.
So far, 21 homes have been upgraded, with costs ranging from $36,000 to $110,000 per property.
J. Lopez, executive director of the program, said the aim is to understand the challenges involved in large-scale fire-hardening efforts.
He stated: “I leave it to American ingenuity to come up with solutions – and we are part of that, helping move that along.”
Some California cities and counties have introduced their own measures to support home hardening.
CalMatters reported that Marin County generates $20 million annually through a local tax to fund wildfire prevention programs, including grants for vegetation clearing and home improvements.
Lynne Osgood, fire marshal for Novato, said: “They are highly motivated.”
Berkeley has adopted “zone zero” regulations to mandate vegetation-free areas around homes beginning next year.
Cal Fire has been instructed to implement similar rules statewide by the end of 2025 following an executive order from Governor Gavin Newsom.
CalMatters reported that insurance companies are playing a central role in encouraging or requiring home hardening.
Jeff Fierstein, general manager of Byers Enterprises, said many homeowners act under pressure: “The insurance companies are saying ‘Do this or you’re done.’”
A 2023 regulation requires California insurers to provide discounts for certain fire-resistant upgrades, but implementation has been slow and inconsistent.
Janet Ruiz from the Insurance Information Institute said regulatory changes could soon improve insurer participation in the market.
Dave Jones, former California Insurance Commissioner, said a new policy for a homeowners association in Truckee shows that discounts can be offered based on wildfire risk reduction.
Jones explained: “The big success here is that the insurance policy was written at all because this is an area where insurers are pulling out.”
KB Home has launched Dixon Trail, a development in Escondido designed to meet wildfire resilience standards.
The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety will issue a “wildfire prepared” designation to the entire neighborhood.
Features include fire-resistant materials, tempered glass, and design elements that limit flame spread.
The Headwaters Economics report estimated retrofit costs from $2,000 to over $100,000.
Karen Collins of the American Property Casualty Insurance Association described these upgrades as “pre-disaster mitigation.”
California has no statewide retrofit program, but a $117 million pilot is underway.
The pilot is led by Cal Fire and the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.
So far, 21 homes have been retrofitted through this initiative.
J. Lopez, who leads the pilot, said the project is identifying barriers to scaling.
Local governments, including Marin County and Berkeley, have introduced their own fire resilience rules.
A 2023 regulation mandates insurance discounts for certain wildfire safety upgrades.
Janet Ruiz from the Insurance Information Institute said upcoming policy changes may attract more insurers.
Dave Jones cited one example of a large discount for a firewise community in Truckee.
Jones said public support depends on whether these programs can lower insurance premiums.
