The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) has released findings from its post-event investigation of the 2025 Los Angeles County Fires, shedding light on how property-level mitigation can reduce wildfire losses.
The study, The 2025 LA Conflagrations, drew lessons from the Eaton and Palisades fires, which collectively burned tens of thousands of acres, destroyed hundreds of homes and forced mass evacuations across Southern California.
IBHS combined field assessments with CAL FIRE’s Damage Inspection Program, analyzing over 30,000 structures across both fires. While CAL FIRE data captured broad damage patterns, IBHS fieldwork identified the specific structural vulnerabilities that led to loss. This integrated approach gives insurers and homeowners a more actionable understanding of wildfire risk and resilience strategies.
Home hardening and fire-resistant materials reduce losses
IBHS researchers assessed more than 250 properties affected by the fires. They found that homes with four key hardening features, including a Class A roof, non-combustible siding, double-pane windows and enclosed eaves, had a 54% likelihood of avoiding damage, compared with just 36% for homes with only one mitigation measure.
The research demonstrated that, especially in densely built areas like Los Angeles, noncombustible materials combined with defensible space can significantly reduce the risk of structure-to-structure fire spread.
Vegetation management in zone zero is critical
A companion report, called Vegetation in Zone 0: Amplifying Damage to Structures, confirmed that vegetation within five feet of a home increases heat exposure and amplifies damage, even when plants are well-watered.
Household items such as hot tubs, patio furniture and trash bins were identified as “connective fuels,” carrying flames to vulnerable building features.
Meanwhile, properties with over 25% fuel coverage in Zone Zero faced nearly a 90% risk of damage or destruction.
Opportunities for loss prevention
For insurers and risk managers, these findings highlight opportunities for loss prevention and risk-based underwriting in wildfire-prone regions. Policies that encourage home hardening, defensible space and noncombustible materials can reduce claims severity and frequency.
Insurers can incorporate these insights into risk models, premium incentives and targeted mitigation programs to protect both homeowners and communities.
