WILDFIRE. WE’RE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS ONLY THE SECOND IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, THE FIRST IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. THAT IS CONSIDERED TO BE WILDFIRE PREPARED. THREE TWO ONE IN THE PAST, WE HAVE REPORTED ON HOME HARDENING TECHNIQUES THAT APPLY TO INDIVIDUAL HOMES, BUT IT IS THE COLLECTIVE FEATURES OF ALL OF THE HOMES THAT WILL ULTIMATELY BE BUILT HERE IN THE STONE CANYON COMMUNITY. THAT WILL GIVE THIS THE DISTINCTION OF BEING A WILDFIRE READY NEIGHBORHOOD. THE STANDARDS FOR THAT DESIGNATION, SET OUT BY THE INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR BUSINESS AND HOME SAFETY, FEATURES ON THE HOMES, INCLUDING FIRE RATED ROOFTOPS, EMBER AND FLAME RESISTANT VENTS, AND NONCOMBUSTIBLE LANDSCAPING AND NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGN THAT PLANNERS SAY HELP KEEP FIRES FROM SPREADING FROM ONE HOME TO THE NEXT. YOU’VE GOT TO LOOK AT THE SPACING BETWEEN EACH OF THE STRUCTURES. YOU’VE GOT TO LOOK AT THE FUEL LOADS THAT SURROUND IT. WE’RE REALLY LOOKING AT THE PATHWAYS THAT WILDFIRE WOULD TAKE IF FIRE GOT IN. IF THE FIRST STRUCTURE WAS TO BURN. AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE, THERE ARE SO MANY HOMES, MILLIONS OF HOMES ACROSS THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA THAT DON’T HAVE THESE PROTECTIONS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE INVESTMENTS IN, AND THAT WE NEED TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ON DOING THE RIGHT THINGS TO MAKE THEIR HOMES THE MOST WILDFIRE SAFE. KB HOME, WHICH DESIGNED THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, SAYS THIS COMMUNITY DEMONSTRATES WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN WILDFIRE RISK REDUCTION IS BUILT IN FROM DAY ONE VERSUS HOMES HAVING TO BE RETROFITTED. NOW, WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE, ABOUT 24 HOMES WILL BE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY WILL ALL BE SINGLE STORY HOMES. REPORTING FROM CAMERON PARK MELANIE WINGO KCRA THREE NEWS. ALTHOUGH SAFETY FEATURES DO COME WITH A HEFTY PRICE TAG, HOME PRICES IN THE STONE CANYON NEIGHB
Northern California’s first ‘wildfire prepared’ neighborhood to be built in Cameron Park
Updated: 12:40 PM PST Jan 22, 2026
Northern California is now home to one of only two neighborhoods in the state considered to be “wildfire prepared.”When constructed, 24 single-story homes in the Stone Canyon development, located in El Dorado County’s Cameron Park, will meet the wildfire prepared standards put forth by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS).KCRA 3 has previously reported on what are known as “home-hardening” features on individual homes. However, it is the collective features, of all the homes in the Stone Canyon community that will give the whole neighborhood the distinction of being wildfire ready.”We took all of the things related to a home and put that into the wildfire, prepared home designation,” said IBHS President & CEO Roy Wright, “Over the last year, we’ve expanded that to what are the things necessary to prepare a neighborhood.”Features on the homes will include fire-rated roofs, ember-and flame-resistant vents, and non-combustible landscaping and neighborhood design that planners say help keep fires from spreading from one home to the next.”You’ve got to look at the spacing between each of the structures. You’ve got to look at the fuel loads that surround it,” Wright explained. “We’re really looking at the pathways that wildfire would take if fire got in, if the first structure was to burn.”Developer KB Home said the community demonstrates what it looks like when wildfire risk reduction is built in from day one as opposed to homeowners having to pay for costly retrofitting.According to the KB Home website, pricing on the homes is in the high $700,000 range.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
CAMERON PARK, Calif. —
Northern California is now home to one of only two neighborhoods in the state considered to be “wildfire prepared.”
When constructed, 24 single-story homes in the Stone Canyon development, located in El Dorado County’s Cameron Park, will meet the wildfire prepared standards put forth by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS).
KCRA 3 has previously reported on what are known as “home-hardening” features on individual homes. However, it is the collective features, of all the homes in the Stone Canyon community that will give the whole neighborhood the distinction of being wildfire ready.
“We took all of the things related to a home and put that into the wildfire, prepared home designation,” said IBHS President & CEO Roy Wright, “Over the last year, we’ve expanded that to what are the things necessary to prepare a neighborhood.”
Features on the homes will include fire-rated roofs, ember-and flame-resistant vents, and non-combustible landscaping and neighborhood design that planners say help keep fires from spreading from one home to the next.
“You’ve got to look at the spacing between each of the structures. You’ve got to look at the fuel loads that surround it,” Wright explained. “We’re really looking at the pathways that wildfire would take if fire got in, if the first structure was to burn.”
Developer KB Home said the community demonstrates what it looks like when wildfire risk reduction is built in from day one as opposed to homeowners having to pay for costly retrofitting.
According to the KB Home website, pricing on the homes is in the high $700,000 range.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel