I grew up in San Bernardino. Just found out from relatives (who are all safe for the time being) that the house my grandparents moved into in the 1950s when they moved from Brockport, NY, was destroyed by the fire. It was in Devore (which is north of San Bernardino on the way to the Cajon Pass).


As for woden houses - Joe's correct - it's the roofs that are the things that need to be protected. Flying embers ignight them and then the house goes. Non-flammible roofs almost totally elliminate the problem - the only ones that burn in forest fires are those that are in the direct path of a fire. And it doesn't matter what they're built of then - the fire will get inside and burn a concrete block house down from the inside out.

As for wooden houses in "hurricane alley" After 25 years of living in south and central Florida I can tell you that once again, it's the roofs that are the weak point. In a moderate hurricane, stick-built houses typically resist damage, especially if they're built with roofs that are strapped down to the concrete foundation. But if the roof rips off, the house is gone. Doesn't matter if the house is wood or CBS (concrete block structure). I can tell you from first hand experience in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew in 1992 that hundreds CBS houses were completely destroyed by the tornadoes that Andrew spawned.

stay safe all you Southern Californians . . .