How the 'miracle' Malibu mansion survived LA wildfires while homes on both sides were destroyed

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The area has been greatly damaged and severely impacted over the past week.

The Pacific Palisades area has been severely flattened, and tragically, a total of 24 lives have been lost, with people beginning to wonder what led to such extensive destruction.

But now, another aspect has caught people's attention: What made some homes remain intact when their neighbors were completely destroyed?

Oceanfront estate of former head of a waste management company, David Steiner.

Photos from the aftermath of the week-long fire show the lone white building standing intact among the charred remains of mansions, and although it's being called a "miracle" online, Steiner attributes its survival to "great architecture, brave firefighters, and possibly a little bit of luck."

It's believed that the house, which Steiner does not live in full-time and has owned since 2015, is built with concrete, giving it greater durability than many other homes in the area.

In the UK, it's common to build homes with concrete and brick, but in areas like California, where earthquakes are common, it's essential to consider more stable building materials.

Insulated concrete forms (ICFs) are gaining popularity here due to their energy efficiency, fire resistance, and earthquake resilience, but many of the homes affected by the fires were likely constructed from materials like wood or stucco, a type of cement-based sand coating.

"Survival of homes while others around them are destroyed can be credited to a combination of deliberate planning, strong building construction, external environmental conditions, and significant manual labor effort," says fire safety expert Daniel Vasilevski, of Bright Force Electrical.

The selection of materials isn't just a matter of aesthetics or cost," he notes. "It also significantly affects a building's ability to endure extreme fire conditions.

Other factors that can affect a building's chances of surviving include having double-glazed windows - these prevent shattering and keep flames out of the property.

Sealing gaps in walls keeps both smoke and fire out of a home and stops them from spreading.

“David Steiner's Malibu mansion was built with pilings that extend 50 feet deep into the solid bedrock,” says Vasilevski.

“These are designed mainly to offer stability during earthquakes, but they also make homes more resistant to wildfires. A well-anchored foundation can withstand heat-induced shifting or cracking in the ground, which could otherwise weaken the structure and leave it exposed to flames or sparks.”

The damage in Los Angeles is estimated at around $275 billion, so rebuilding will be a lengthy process.

Here are all the ways you can contribute to aid victims of the Los Angeles wildfires.

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