Gov. Gavin Newsom is misguided in issuing an executive order to expedite rebuilding houses in the Pacific Palisades without first examining what happened there and applying lessons that may be learned to reform building codes and significantly increase the capacity of the local firefighting water system. The governor recently issued orders to relax Coastal Commission permit requirements and environmental review for new construction as long as the replacement building is not more than 10% larger or taller than the original. Now that Mayor Karen Bass has agreed, this will allow property owners to more quickly start rebuilding — with the same building materials and lax fire safety requirements that failed to protect over 10,000 homes. …There are other building materials… which, when properly installed, withstand extreme heat for at least four hours, enough time for all surrounding foliage and structures to burn out, leaving the house standing.
Related by James Rodriguez in Business Insider: The LA wildfires are trying to tell you something