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ARTICLE · 06 AUGUST 2026

Building For The New Wildfire Era

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Wildfire is no longer a remote, seasonal risk. The State of Wildfires 2024–2025 report discusses how changes in climate are increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme wildfires globally, while the 2024–2025 season brought severe events from South America and Canada to Southern California.

GlobalReal Estate and Construction
Bruce D. Partington
Bruce D. Partington

Wildfire is no longer a remote, seasonal risk. The State of Wildfires 2024–2025 report discusses how changes in climate are increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme wildfires globally, while the 2024–2025 season brought severe events from South America and Canada to Southern California.

In July 2026, France and Spain evacuated more than 300,000 people (and counting); Canada’s 2023 fires burned more than 15 million hectares; Southern California’s January 2025 Eaton and Palisades fires caused 150,000 evacuations and an estimated $140 billion in damage; and Hawaii’s Lahaina Fire destroyed more than 2,000 structures.

Evolving Standards to Manage the Risks of Wildfires

For property owners, contractors, and risk managers, the practical lesson is that resilience starts before the first spark. Many homes are destroyed by wind-borne embers rather than direct flame contact, so the building envelope matters: Class A or noncombustible roofs, debris-resistant noncombustible gutters,

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