A pioneering housing development featuring wildfire-resistant homes has broken ground in Escondido, San Diego County, as KB Home unveils its first community specifically designed to withstand California's increasingly destructive wildfires.
The 64-home development incorporates comprehensive fire safety features developed by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). These features protect against major wildfire ignition sources including flying embers, direct flames, and radiant heat.
The homes, priced from $1 million, showcase multiple protective elements including covered gutters, enclosed eaves, non-combustible siding, tempered-glass windows, and fire-resistant doors and roofing. The development maintains strict spacing requirements with homes positioned 10 feet apart to impede fire progression.
"We're demonstrating that fire-resilient homes can be built at scale," said Steve Ruffner, KB Home's coastal division regional general manager. The company rapidly adapted their original plans after seeing an IBHS demonstration, working closely with city officials to implement the enhanced safety features.
The development also emphasizes defensive landscaping, requiring low-combustible vegetation to be kept at least 5 feet from structures. Metal fencing throughout the neighborhood provides additional protection.
Three homeowners have already moved in, with approximately 20 homes sold. While the homes carry premium pricing reflecting their enhanced safety features, KB Home aims to make such protection more accessible to first-time buyers and move-up purchasers.
The project arrives as California grapples with mounting wildfire risks and a challenging insurance market, with many carriers withdrawing coverage from fire-prone areas. While IBHS CEO Roy Wright notes these homes aren't completely fireproof, they represent a major step forward in residential fire protection.
The Escondido development serves as a test case for large-scale fire-resilient housing, with KB Home already planning similar projects nearby. Industry experts anticipate other builders will follow suit as demand grows for homes better equipped to face California's evolving climate challenges.