Why these houses survived the L.A. fires

More than 10,000 houses burned in Los Angeles. But fire-resistant design helped keep some standing even on blocks where the rest were lost.

On Thursday, January 9, as fires spread across the Los Angeles area, architect Greg Chasen woke up early after a fitful night’s sleep. He’d been at his parents’ house in Pacific Palisades the night before, desperately trying to protect it by trimming back shrubs, turning on sprinklers, and turning off the gas and power, as the wind howled and flames rose in the distance.