KQED's The California Report Sierra Foothills Community Could Provide Blueprint For Building Homes In Era Of Megafires
Jan 28, 2026
Danielle Venton, KQED science reporter who covered the opening of a wildfire-prepared neighborhood in El Dorado County. She walks through fire-hardened home standards like Class A roofs and tempered windows. She highlights how building whole developments to higher standards can lower community risk and influence insurance and construction practices statewide.
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Ribbon-Cutting Marks New Fire-Ready Community
- The Stone Canyon ribbon-cutting featured local ambassadors and model homes to mark a new wildfire-prepared neighborhood.
- Danielle Venton describes 24 single-story homes built to high fire-safety standards in El Dorado County.
Collective Design Lowers Neighborhood Risk
- Building an entire development to the same fire standards changes the neighborhood's overall risk profile.
- Roy Wright says collective action makes the place survivable and insurable.
Concrete Elements Of Fire-Hardened Homes
- Fire-hardening features include Class A roofs, enclosed eaves, non-combustible facades, tempered glass, and a five-foot safety zone.
- These specifications form a blueprint for building and insuring homes in the era of megafires.