Hmmm . . . hard time reading the “fire resistant” comment. Of course nothing is fire proof. On the “lit like a Christmas tree” comment see the words of the experts as laid out in the article as to why 4S would not have been lit like a Christmas tree. It was specifically designed so it wouldn’t. Also, by Tuesday the fires had burned past 4S and were in Crosby and Rancho Santa Fe. The only fire east of 4S was in far east Poway east of Espola road (yea all of Carmel Mtn Ranch and all of Poway are essential a big 10 mile defensible space to the east of 4S). I know because I did not evacuate 4S and spent all of Monday, Monday night, and Tuesday on the hill with the water tower next to 4S watching the fire and where it was going (police scanner, GPS, KOGO radio, binoculars, NO-DOZ, water, Dr. Pepper, and 30 second sprint down the paved road from the water tower if necessary). Like the fire chief’s comment with respect to Cielo, any fire would have burned up to and then around leaving the homes untouched. Cielo was directly (build with exact same fire resistant standards as 4S) in the path of the fires on late Monday evening (again I know because I saw it first hand) when the winds were still intense. Cielo suffered no damage. As to why this has “anything” to do with what is ordinarily discussed here? We discuss RE values here. The excellent points made about 4S in the article highlight a true value of 4S real estate that is not well known. Especially now if a prospective home buyer is looking to buy in SD, all other things being equal, they would consider the fire RESISTANT technology and construction design of 4S a huge plus. Psychology in this market is everything. If 4S is less likely to burn than other places people will be more likley to buy here, it will make 4S more in demand on a relative basis, and be somewhat supportive of home values. No offense JWM but I’ll choose to see your “Christmas tree” comment as ignorant and biased (you are praying values continue to drop) and go with the words of the experts AS LAID OUT IN THE ARTICLE.
I am heart broken and sad for those who lost their homes. They are in my prayers.
