Reporter seeks UC expertise on wildfire protection laws

The (Redding) Record-Searchlight ran a piece over the weekend with information about laws going into effect aimed at protecting new homes in California from the ember storm that precedes a fire and lingers after flames pass, as well as the radiated heat and flames of a wildfire.

Reporter Laura Christman wrote that Steve Quarles, UCCE wood durability advisor, said the question whether the new laws increase costs will depend on a home’s size and design. Roofing and siding shouldn’t make much of a difference because most materials already in use comply with the new standards.

“The costs will come from the decking and the windows,” Quarles is quoted.

Christman also spoke to UC Berkeley's Max Moritz, who told her the new regulations will make a difference.

“There is evidence that, out there in the real world, homes do burn for certain reasons and some homes seem to escape burning for certain reasons,” Moritz is quoted.

For more from Quarles, view the new three-minute video about wildfire protection on the UC ANR wildfire online media kit. The video was created by UCOP's Larissa Brannin for Science Today.

A frame from the fire video.

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