The Los Angeles fires may have started as a wildland interface fire, but the major damages from the fires came from when the fire transitioned into an urban firestorm. See this Washington Post article, A new kind of urban firestorm

There are some excellent photos of the damages and graphs indicating the challenges from a lack of rain after a previous year where extensive rain fueled the growth of vegetation. Add the Santa Anna Winds and all the conditions were ripe for a catastrophe.

I also liked one photo where they showed how newer building codes for houses built after 1980 likely save some houses when other older homes surrounding them all burned down.

Where I sit in a new house right now. There is exactly 10 feet between buildings. Not an ideal situation, when it is explained that just heat from a home burning next to yours can set your home on fire.

One last comment. I have read about a “fire resistant tape” you can put over the vent screens that exist on the soffit of homes. I’ve got get some of that. It can keep blowing embers from getting up into your attic. Once inside the house—it can be game over for a fire to consume the entire house.