New Findings Show Home Hardening and Zone Zero Mitigation Were Key to Protecting Homes in the 2025 Los Angeles Fires

December 10, 2025 – The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) released findings from its post-event investigation of the 2025 Los Angeles County Eaton and Palisades fires, showing that a systems-based approach to wildfire resilience dramatically improves home survival in suburban conflagrations. Based on on-the-ground assessments of more than 250 properties and lab testing, the study found that homes with multiple hardening features — such as Class A roofs, noncombustible siding, double-pane windows, and enclosed eaves — were substantially more likely to avoid damage than those with only a single measure, and that vegetation and combustible materials in the first five feet around homes (Zone Zero) significantly increase the risk of ignition and loss. these results underscore the importance of comprehensive home hardening and defensible space to protect homes and neighborhoods from wildfire.