Radiant Heat and The Domino Effect : How Houses Catch Fire

In partnership with the City of Calabasas, EPIC-FSC is alerting residents to the second most frequent way houses can catch fire – Radiant Heat. And while flying embers is the number one way, there’s another powerful—and often underestimated—threat putting houses at risk in communities where there is less than twenty feet distance between them.

What is Radiant Heat?

Radiant heat is the intense energy that radiates outward from a wildfire, capable of igniting homes and vegetation without a single flame or ember ever touching them. Think of it as the heat you feel when standing near a campfire—only multiplied many times over during a wildfire. Radiant heat from nearby burning homes, trees, or brush can be strong enough to:

Ignite siding, decks, or wooden fences
Break windows and allow flames inside
Weaken roofs and other structural components

The Domino Effect

Here’s the real danger: once one home catches fire, the radiant heat it produces can ignite the next house, and the cycle repeats. This domino effect can devastate entire streets in a matter of hours. In residential neighborhoods, like many in Calabasas where homes are close together and surrounded by mature vegetation, this risk is especially high. This was a major factor in rapid fire spread in the recent Palisades and Eaton Fires, resulting in the loss of Palisades Fire: 6,837 structures and Eaton Fire: 9,418 structures.

Why This Matters for Calabasas Residents

A single vulnerable property doesn’t just endanger one family—it threatens the whole community. That’s why EPIC-FSC volunteers, trained by CAL FIRE, are working tirelessly to help their neighbors harden their homes and create defensible space. Stopping the domino effect starts with one house at a time—yours.

What You Can Do

Schedule your free home hardening assessment and learn how to make your home more fire-safe. EPIC’s trained volunteers will visit your home, look at key vulnerabilities, and make recommendations based on their findings.

Don’t wait—prepare today!

EPIC-FSC is here to support you every step of the way. Learn more about the importance of home hardening and explore valuable resources on emergency preparedness. From practical tips and timely alerts to tools that help safeguard your family, your home, and your community—you’ll find it all in one place.