The toll of the forest fires in Los Angeles, California, USA, has become heavy. According to the statement made by the Los Angeles Forensic Medicine Institute, the number of casualties increased to 11 with the deaths of 5 people in the Palisades fire and 6 people in the Eaton fire. Local authorities announced that more than 12 thousand buildings became unusable due to fires and stated that more than 300 thousand people were under evacuation warning. It was stated that the Palisades fire, which turned more than 20 thousand decares of land to ashes, was brought under control by 8 percent, and the Eaton fire, which turned more than 14 thousand acres to ashes, was brought under control by 3 percent, and it was reported that the death toll was expected to increase as all affected areas were reached.
THAT BUILDING IS STANDING STRONG
Forest fires, which started in the Pacific Palisades region of the USA and reached Malibu, turned neighborhoods into ashes. But in the midst of this destruction, a house belonging to retired Texas businessman David Steiner miraculously remained intact. Steiner, known as the “trash king”, has revealed the secret to how his $9 million mansion survived the disaster.
“WE DID NOT THOUGHT IT WOULD BE THIS RESISTANT”
The three-storey mansion, which survived the fire disaster on its own, was designed with plaster and stone walls, a fireproof roof and deep piles driven into the bedrock. Steiner emphasized the importance of the durable structure by saying, “We wanted this house to be earthquake resistant. However, we did not think it would be this resistant to fire.”
THE ONLY HOUSE LEFT STANDING AMONG THE FIRES
Watching videos showing flames devouring other homes during the disaster, Steiner was certain his property would be completely destroyed. However, photographs taken after the fire revealed that his house was not damaged at all. “It’s a miracle. People keep telling me, ‘Your house is on the news!’ “He was texting,” said Steiner, comparing the fire-resistant design of his mansion to a “fortress”.
Source: İHA-Türkiye newspaper