California Wildfires

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

Devastating wildfires in California have already killed five people and destroyed thousands of properties.

Apparently, many of these fires have been started deliberately.

Malibu is one of those areas that has been badly hit.

Hundreds of firefighters are trying to bring these fires under control, but they are being hampered by very strong winds that are fanning the flames from property to property.

 

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

So sad for these people & thousands more who have lost their homes.

 

[Fan of Big Tone 𝕏 @mainstandpie]

It’s very sad, looking at the pictures it looks like a war zone with houses burnt to the ground, it looks like they are all built from wood or at least combustible material, don’t they have brick built buildings over there?

If that happened in a big city here at least the shell of the buildings would be intact.

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

To answer your question @Fan of Big Tone

Quoted from Google 

Houses in the USA are not primarily made of brick because it is generally more expensive and less efficient to build with brick compared to wood framing, due to factors like higher labor costs for masonry work, the need for specialized skills to install bricks, and the readily available supply of wood in the country; additionally, modern building codes and aesthetic preferences often favor other materials over solid brick construction. 

Key reasons why brick isn't widely used for houses in the USA:

Cost:

Brick is significantly more expensive than wood framing, including the cost of materials, transportation, and labor needed for installation by skilled masons. 

Construction time:

Building with brick takes considerably longer than wood framing, increasing overall construction costs. 

Availability of wood:

The US has a readily available supply of lumber, making wood a more economical choice. 

Seismic concerns:

In earthquake-prone regions, solid brick construction can be less resistant to seismic activity compared to other building methods. 

Aesthetic trends:

Modern housing design often favors different aesthetics than traditional brick houses, leading to a shift towards other materials. 

[Fan of Big Tone 𝕏 @mainstandpie]

Thanks @Robbie I can understand the earthquake threat but I’m not sure about the other reasons, cost of materials, labour etc. I’d imagine cost would be last thing on the minds of the wealthy people in some of those areas.