🎥 How One House Survived a Wildfire. The LA fires shocked the entire world... What Lessons?
Entering a decade of climate change & robotics adaptation. This is the first newsletter of 2025, welcome back to The Adaptive Economy.
👋 Hi, I’m Djoann Fal. I’m fascinated by our planet, our changing weather, robots, and peaceful, green technological utopias. Welcome to my monthly newsletter.
Note: We are deeply saddened by the devastation in Los Angeles and the loss of homes, communities, and natural ecosystems. The lessons I learn from this incident are truly personal and could certainly never reflect the pain my fellow LA citizens have endured last week.
❌ LA Wildfires have released more CO2 than all the emissions avoided by electric vehicles since 2010.
These fires have burned areas equivalent to the size of Manhattan, releasing as much CO₂ in a single season as an entire decade of emissions from millions of cars. To put this into perspective, Tesla, the leader in electric vehicle adoption, has sold over 430,000 vehicles in the past three years, accounting for nearly 74% of all EVs sold in the U.S. Together, these EVs have avoided millions of tons of CO₂ emissions. Yet, the emissions released by a single wildfire season in California can completely erase these environmental benefits.
✅ How did that one house survive? Read below…
Amid this chaos, one story stands out: a single house in Lahaina, Maui, that miraculously survived the August 2023 fires, while every other home around it was reduced to ash. When I zoomed into the picture, I noticed remarkable details: the car parked outside was fine, the fence seemed to halt the flames, and the house stood resilient as if it were invincible.
It raised the burning question: Why did this house survive when everything else didn’t? If a fire ever broke out where I live, I know one thing for sure—I want to be in that house.
🔥 History of Wildfires & Cities—Resilience Through Destruction
The recent Los Angeles wildfires are a sobering reminder of this escalating crisis. They are not just destructive—they are catastrophic.
Here is the harsh reality of today’s wildfire crisis, it has become “The New Normal”. The cost of fighting wildfires is skyrocketing, reaching nearly $4 billion per year for federal firefighting agencies. In 2023 alone, wildfires caused over $400 billion in economic damages, roughly 2% of the U.S. GDP.
This comparison underscores the urgency of addressing wildfires. Their environmental toll extends beyond destruction—they disrupt climate progress and impact public health and biodiversity.
Wildfires are no longer isolated events—they are part of a dangerous “new normal.” With climate change driving the increasing frequency and intensity of fires, the need for proactive solutions has never been more urgent.
Unfortunately, fires have shaped human civilization’s resilience and innovation for centuries, destroying entire cities but sparking new ideas, technologies, and urban reinventions.
The Great Fire of London (1666):
This devastating blaze consumed nearly the entire city of London, burning down 10,000 buildings and displacing 70,000 people. It was a tragedy of unimaginable proportions for the time, but it also became a turning point for urban development.
Out of the ashes, a new London emerged, with wider streets, brick and stone buildings, and stricter fire codes to prevent future disasters. The aftermath of this fire also inspired the scientific revolution in urban planning, leading to better infrastructure and the prioritization of public safety. Some historians argue that this new mindset of innovation laid the groundwork for the Industrial Revolution.
The Great Chicago Fire (1871):
Although less deadly than the Peshtigo Fire (which occurred the same day), the Great Chicago Fire left one-third of the city’s population homeless. As Chicago rebuilt, it became a hub of architectural innovation, with skyscrapers rising in its place and the development of modern steel-frame construction.
Peshtigo Fire (1871):
Often overshadowed by Chicago’s disaster, Peshtigo experienced a fire tornado fueled by drought conditions and wooden buildings, killing 1,100–2,500 people. The tragedy emphasized the need for fire-resistant building materials and better forestry management.
Wildfires as Catalysts for Innovation:
Even in modern times, wildfires have led to advancements in not only firefighting technologies but also urban planning and building methods. In part 3 below, we will see concrete innovation examples.
While wildfires are tragic, they’ve consistently driven humanity to adapt and innovate. These disasters remind us of our capacity to rise stronger from the ashes.
🔥 🏠 Wildfire High-Risk Areas & Forecasts Toward 2030
As wildfires increase in frequency and intensity, certain regions face significantly higher risks. By examining the most vulnerable cities, we can better understand the global scope of this threat and prioritize solutions.
The 10 Riskiest Cities in the World for Wildfires
Global Wildfire Forecast Toward 2030
As the planet warms by an estimated +2°C, wildfire frequency and intensity are expected to rise dramatically:
50% Increase in Fires: Studies predict that the number of wildfires globally could rise by 50% by 2030.
Urban Expansion into Fire Zones: Growing cities are encroaching on fire-prone areas, putting more homes at risk.
Health Impacts: Smoke-related illnesses, such as respiratory diseases, are expected to affect millions, even in areas far from fire zones.
I have witnessed wildfires occuring almost every years for the past decade in my beautiful hometown in the Cote D’Azure (south of France).
In 2025, looking at these maps, understanding its data now seems critical, not only for climate investors/founders but for everyone with a home somewhere near a forest, really.
✅ 🏠 How Did the Lahaina Miracle House Survive—and What Can We Learn from it?
Let’s return to the "miracle house" in Lahaina. Over 2,200 buildings burned to the ground, yet this house stood untouched. What made the difference?
Secrets Behind the Miracle House—and How to Fireproof Your Home
Fireproof Roofing
The Millikins installed a corrugated metal roof with an air pocket to release heat. Roofs are one of the most vulnerable parts of a home during a fire, but metal provides superior resistance compared to traditional materials like wood or shingles.Your Action: Install fire-resistant roofing, such as metal, clay tiles, or treated materials, to protect your home from embers and intense heat.
Defensible Space
They cleared vegetation around their property, creating a buffer zone free of flammable debris. This simple step stopped the flames from spreading to the house.Your Action: Maintain a 30-foot defensible space around your home. Remove dry plants, debris, and fire-prone landscaping. Use non-flammable materials like gravel or stone near the house.
Strategic Barriers
The house’s proximity to the ocean and a road served as natural firebreaks, stopping the flames.Your Action: Add barriers like gravel paths, stone walls, or even water features to slow or stop fire spread.
Fireproof Materials for Walls and Insulation
Using fire-resistant materials was critical. Innovative solutions like mycelium insulation—biodegradable and fireproof—offer a sustainable way to fireproof walls and ceilings.Your Action: Explore cutting-edge materials like mycelium insulation (Biohm) or fireproof paints (Gush Earth).
Air Quality Protection
Wildfire smoke is more dangerous than many realize. Microparticles can lodge deep in the lungs, causing long-term respiratory issues.Your Action: Install smoke-protective HVAC systems and use smart air monitors like uHoo to keep your indoor air safe during wildfire season.
5 Advanced Wildfire Adaptation Tech companies to check out:
Vibrant Planet: Advanced Planning Tools for Communities
Vibrant Planet provides cutting-edge technology to help communities predict and mitigate wildfire risks. Their "Land Tender" platform uses data and AI to plan wildfire defenses, prioritize vegetation management, and accelerate recovery efforts after fires. Learn more: Vibrant PlanetFire-Dome Wildfire Defense
Fire-Dome offers advanced solutions for wildfire defense, including modular fire shelters that create protective barriers around your home. These structures resist high heat and provide critical defense against flames and embers. Learn more: Fire-DomeFrontline Wildfire Defense System
This automated sprinkler system activates when a wildfire is within seven miles, saturating the property with water and biodegradable firefighting foam to create a non-combustible environment. Learn more: Frontline Wildfire DefenseAll Risk Shield Wildfire Protection
Offers wildfire protection services, including long-term fire retardant application, vegetation management, and risk assessments conducted by trained professionals. Learn more: All Risk ShieldWetline Wildfire Defense Systems
Wetline designs custom exterior wildfire sprinklers and fire-retardant solutions to protect homes from wildfire damage. They provide free property assessments to optimize fire defense strategies. Learn more: Wetline Wildfire DefenseFire Adapted Communities
This program provides community-wide resources for wildfire resilience, including fire-resistant landscaping, community firebreaks, and evacuation planning. Learn more: Fire Adapted Communities
💪 Time for climate change adaptation & resilience.
It’s too late to stop climate change entirely—in the next decades, wildfires, heatwaves, floods, and hurricanes will remind us of this reality.
Welcome to the adaptation and resilience economy, where survival means transforming how we live, build, and plan for a rapidly changing planet.
While carbon avoidance remains an important goal, the new focus is on adapting our civilization and cities to withstand the impacts of climate change. These disasters demand immediate action, not just in prevention but in building resilience at every level—from individual homes to global systems.
As we enter 2025 and beyond, this will be the decade of climate adaptation tech. From AI-powered platforms like Vibrant Planet to fire-resistant materials, advanced wildfire defense systems like Fire-Dome, and flood-protective urban planning, innovation will lead the charge in safeguarding our homes and communities. These solutions aren't just about survival—they're about thriving in a climate-altered world.
The lessons from the Lahaina “miracle house” remind us that proactive preparation can make all the difference. By integrating fire-resistant materials, creating defensible spaces, and utilizing cutting-edge technologies, we can adapt to this new reality and protect what matters most.
Let’s embrace the challenges ahead, armed with the knowledge and tools to turn adaptation into opportunity. Together, we can ensure a safer, more resilient future for all.
Djoann.