Since 2005, wildfires have destroyed over 100,000 structures in the U.S., leading to thousands of deaths and massive economic losses. In 2022 alone, 4,446 fire-related fatalities were reported, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. The National Institute of Standards and Technology estimates wildfire-related damages cost the U.S. between $71.1 billion and $347.8 billion each year.
But there’s good news: building codes are making a major difference.
A joint pilot study from FEMA and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), called the Building Codes Save (BCS) – Fire Hazards Pilot Study, found that modern building codes significantly reduce fire-related deaths, injuries, and property losses. The study focused on California statewide and Colorado’s Boulder and El Paso counties, evaluating key code improvements like:
- Fire-rated construction materials
- Smoke alarm systems
- Fire sprinkler systems
Key Findings:
- $1.8 billion in structure fire savings in California and $44.9 million in the two Colorado counties
- $24.4 billion in wildfire savings in California and $457.7 million in Boulder and El Paso counties
- 100+ lives and 1,000+ injuries prevented in California alone
These results were based on comparisons between homes built before and after modern codes were adopted (post-2000 for structure fires and post-2008/2014 for wildfires, depending on the state).
The long-term outlook is promising. FEMA and USFA expect that broader adoption of modern codes—like California’s newly adopted 2025 Wildland-Urban Interface Code—will save billions more nationwide and help build safer, more resilient communities.
🔗 Learn more about wildfire building codes and best practices here.