why is that 'instinct' to build out of wood? The instinct is to build wealth, and it's cheaper to build wood than brick.
I find Western European construction standards to be higher than American. European homes feel like they're made out of brick and stone, seem better insulated, and American homes feel like they're wood-framed with giant modular pieces of wood (at least here in the northeast).
Exactly. This is the dilemma in LA. Build masonry frame and die in an earthquake. Build wood frame and die in a wildfire. Metal framing with concrete or other nonflammable siding?
You can evacuate from a wildfire. Earthquakes catch you by surprise. The choice is die in an earthquake, or just have your possessions destroyed in a fire.
It's not your choice though, state regulations prohibit earthquake-unsafe buildings.
The Great Fire of London put a stop to wooden houses in the UK. Maybe the same will happen in California now.
But having seen the pictures from social media of the torrent of embers, maybe a few more homes might have survived but probably not many (unless they concreted their gardens too).
I find Western European construction standards to be higher than American. European homes feel like they're made out of brick and stone, seem better insulated, and American homes feel like they're wood-framed with giant modular pieces of wood (at least here in the northeast).