Update: We are revisiting this story that first captured public attention in August 2023.
A distinctive house in Maui with a vibrant red roof has captured the public’s imagination due to its astonishing survival amid the severe wildfires that devastated the surrounding area. The homeowner has since shared her insights into the seemingly minor changes she believes contributed to the house’s remarkable endurance while the rest of the neighborhood was reduced to rubble.
Striking aerial photographs of the untouched house quickly circulated online last week, fueling some outlandish theories about the fires being caused by a deliberate space laser strike.
However, Dora Atwater Millikin, the homeowner, attributes the survival of her house to a series of unplanned renovations rather than any deliberate measures against such a disaster.
“The house is entirely wooden, so we didn’t do anything specifically to fireproof it,” Millikin, a landscape artist, told the Los Angeles Times.
When she and her husband, Dudley—a retired financial manager—undertook the restoration of the century-old home, their goal was to preserve its historical charm rather than to prepare it for potential disasters. “We have a passion for old buildings and aimed to restore it without changing its essence,” she explained.
One notable change that may have unexpectedly contributed to the home’s survival was the replacement of the old asphalt roof with a robust metal one. Although this renovation was not intended for fire protection, it proved to be a crucial factor during the fires.
Millikin recounted that during the blaze, “large pieces of burning wood, some up to a foot long, were being blown around by the wind.” These embers, which could easily ignite roofs, were effectively blocked by the new metal roofing.
Additionally, their landscaping choices, initially aimed at termite prevention, coincidentally matched expert recommendations for wildfire defense. By surrounding the house with stone up to the drip line of the roof and clearing flammable vegetation near the house, they had unintentionally taken steps to protect the property from the flames.
Susie Kocher, a forestry expert from the University of California Cooperative Extension, praised these efforts, noting that maintaining a defensible space around homes is essential to prevent ember attacks, which can lead to widespread destruction.
The house’s position also contributed to its survival. Being bordered by the ocean on three sides, with a road and an open lot as additional barriers, the location helped shield it from the fire’s main fuel sources.
Though the house was equipped with sprinklers, the power outage during the fire rendered them inoperative. Nevertheless, the couple had already removed combustible materials from the under-deck area facing the ocean.
Kocher explained that embers, rather than direct flames, are often responsible for igniting home fires. Many people misunderstand this fact, which can lead to unfounded conspiracy theories and misinformation.
As Millikin and her husband prepare to return to Maui, they are focused on supporting their neighbors who have lost their homes in the disaster. “We lost friends, and many lost everything,” Millikin stated. “In such times, we need to come together and help each other rebuild what has been lost.”
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Sources: New York Post
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