@gchas.bsky.social
Watching this Palisades house burn definitely got me thinking more about the risks. In wildfire zones IBHS now suggests 30’ min spacing to have any chance of resisting house to house ignition.
Non sprinklered non fire rated 3 story townhomes spaced just 6’ probably pushing it - esp as they age.
Non sprinklered non fire rated 3 story townhomes spaced just 6’ probably pushing it - esp as they age.
January 15, 2026 at 4:38 AM
Watching this Palisades house burn definitely got me thinking more about the risks. In wildfire zones IBHS now suggests 30’ min spacing to have any chance of resisting house to house ignition.
Non sprinklered non fire rated 3 story townhomes spaced just 6’ probably pushing it - esp as they age.
Non sprinklered non fire rated 3 story townhomes spaced just 6’ probably pushing it - esp as they age.
My friend’s Palisades blue bin at the start of the year comes to mind.
December 27, 2025 at 9:41 AM
My friend’s Palisades blue bin at the start of the year comes to mind.
Trees are very difficult to burn compared to houses. Moisture content of 100% vs 10% for stabilized framing lumber.
December 19, 2025 at 5:33 AM
Trees are very difficult to burn compared to houses. Moisture content of 100% vs 10% for stabilized framing lumber.
Watching this house go up in flames was my holy shite moment. This was in the morning when winds were calm - now imagine 50mph gusts with 3% humidity.
December 19, 2025 at 5:19 AM
Watching this house go up in flames was my holy shite moment. This was in the morning when winds were calm - now imagine 50mph gusts with 3% humidity.
After the fire a Palisades resident shared this terrifying photo showing how structure to structure ignition leveled their entire neighborhood. Each wood frame home blasting its downwind neighbor with a tanker truck worth of fuel.
December 19, 2025 at 3:03 AM
After the fire a Palisades resident shared this terrifying photo showing how structure to structure ignition leveled their entire neighborhood. Each wood frame home blasting its downwind neighbor with a tanker truck worth of fuel.
Will take a repeat conflagration to force change it seems. The fuel is recovering nicely!
December 19, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Will take a repeat conflagration to force change it seems. The fuel is recovering nicely!
This picture from 5:47pm shows flames marching down Iliff - one house to the next. No embers here with a cross wind at the periphery (note clear sky).
December 18, 2025 at 7:25 PM
This picture from 5:47pm shows flames marching down Iliff - one house to the next. No embers here with a cross wind at the periphery (note clear sky).
1920s in my Santa Monica neighborhood.
December 17, 2025 at 1:36 AM
1920s in my Santa Monica neighborhood.
That never happens around here.
December 11, 2025 at 6:20 PM
That never happens around here.
Actually amazing how much localized winds drive these fires
December 11, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Actually amazing how much localized winds drive these fires
Thick chaparral only grows in the hills, where bone dry Santa Anas get funneled through the canyons. Embers get carried for miles.
December 11, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Thick chaparral only grows in the hills, where bone dry Santa Anas get funneled through the canyons. Embers get carried for miles.
Opened his own joint in LA. Here he’s hanging with Reagan, Sinatra, and ….Harpo.
December 2, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Opened his own joint in LA. Here he’s hanging with Reagan, Sinatra, and ….Harpo.
LA worst case estimated at 3x today’s AQI then
November 30, 2025 at 6:58 PM
LA worst case estimated at 3x today’s AQI then
More great LA Times reporting by @nohaggerty.bsky.social. “Some ecologists question whether breaks even help in ember-driven fires” because firebreaks have been breached repeatedly in previous high wind fires.
At 12:30pm firefighters just pissing in the wind as embers spotted 2-3 miles ahead.
At 12:30pm firefighters just pissing in the wind as embers spotted 2-3 miles ahead.
November 25, 2025 at 10:01 PM
More great LA Times reporting by @nohaggerty.bsky.social. “Some ecologists question whether breaks even help in ember-driven fires” because firebreaks have been breached repeatedly in previous high wind fires.
At 12:30pm firefighters just pissing in the wind as embers spotted 2-3 miles ahead.
At 12:30pm firefighters just pissing in the wind as embers spotted 2-3 miles ahead.
@nohaggerty.bsky.social's LA Times article about wildfire evacuation challenges reminded me how indispensable my e-bike was in the Palisades fire.
November 24, 2025 at 9:12 PM
@nohaggerty.bsky.social's LA Times article about wildfire evacuation challenges reminded me how indispensable my e-bike was in the Palisades fire.
Last footage from a friend’s camera. Ground level embers (chunks of 2x) eddied into the driveway, either directly igniting the wood garage door or allowing ember intrusion. Many such cases.
November 22, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Last footage from a friend’s camera. Ground level embers (chunks of 2x) eddied into the driveway, either directly igniting the wood garage door or allowing ember intrusion. Many such cases.
Hadn’t been back since the day of the fire. This view from inspiration point at 2:35.
November 9, 2025 at 3:30 AM
Hadn’t been back since the day of the fire. This view from inspiration point at 2:35.
This another bad response – likely costing millions after overtime and legal fees.
November 8, 2025 at 5:49 PM
This another bad response – likely costing millions after overtime and legal fees.
There’s something about industrial sash in a forest. This a favorite California early modern (1921) by Maybeck in the Sierras.
November 1, 2025 at 3:50 PM
There’s something about industrial sash in a forest. This a favorite California early modern (1921) by Maybeck in the Sierras.
As someone with a building on Sunset that’s walking distance to the stadium, I kinda hope the Jays win as well.
November 1, 2025 at 3:21 PM
As someone with a building on Sunset that’s walking distance to the stadium, I kinda hope the Jays win as well.
Velux offers this for skylights/blinds in the US - includes CO2. All phone app controlled. Works great.
September 29, 2024 at 5:01 PM
Velux offers this for skylights/blinds in the US - includes CO2. All phone app controlled. Works great.