A city rises again from the ashes
CBS News national correspondent Jonathan Vigliotti spent countless days and nights covering the terrible California fires last year. His new book, "Torched: How a City Was Left to Burn, and the Olympic Rush to Rebuild L.A." (to be published May 12 by Atria/One Signal), recounts that harrowing experience. This morning, he shares some thoughts:
TL;DR
- Recent fires in Los Angeles destroyed older wood homes (like straw houses) more than those built to modern codes (stick houses), with homes exceeding code (brick houses) faring best.
- Los Angeles is rapidly rebuilding ahead of the 2028 Olympics, compressing typical permit processes.
- Despite the availability of cost-effective steel and concrete composite homes that resist flames better than wood, the city is reverting to wood construction.
- Homeowners are often not informed about alternative, more resilient building material options.
- Cities like Joplin, Missouri, and New Orleans have implemented stronger building standards and resilience measures after disasters.
- There is still an opportunity to reconsider building materials before most homes break ground, to better prepare for increasing climate-driven threats.