Researchers in South Carolina have deliberately set fire to 13 houses to investigate how to make buildings more resilient to wildfires, as climate change intensifies fire seasons worldwide. The experiments, conducted at a remote site near Richburg, involve burning structures under controlled conditions to test the effectiveness of various fire-resistant materials and landscaping strategies.
The facility, run by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, features a wind tunnel capable of generating gusts up to 105 mph. Scientists monitor how flames spread from nearby vegetation and wooden fences to the houses, which are equipped with sensors and cameras. The goal is to understand how to prevent embers from breaching vents and windows, a common cause of home ignition.
From 2016 to 2025, wildfires in the United States burned an average of 11,000 square miles annually, 2.6 times the average of the 1980s. Canada’s burnt area over the past decade was 2.8 times higher than in the 1980s. In the US, wildfire damage has cost an average of $17.7 billion per year since 2020, according to NOAA and Climate Central.
The research has already informed California’s fire code, requiring ignition-resistant walls, tempered windows, and mesh vents. A key finding is the importance of a 5-foot buffer zone around homes, free of flammable materials like pine straw, wooden fences, or hot tubs. In tests, wind-driven flames from such objects easily shattered windows and entered eaves, igniting furniture and clothing.
However, experts caution that fire-resistant measures have limits. Under extreme conditions—such as very high winds—their value may be reduced. The upcoming fire season in the US is expected to be severe, with record drought and low moisture levels in the West, unless late spring rains provide relief.
