Years before the L.A. fires, Orchard Hills faced a fire of its own — and came out mostly unscathed due to a long collaboration between the developer and fire department.

Irvine, CA — February 15: An aerial view of Orchard Hills in Irvine, where homes have been built to be fire-resistant. Photo taken Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. Orchard Hills, a neighborhood in ...

Orchard Hills' fire resilience is no accident ... cities across California could adopt to protect lives and property. Irvine's proactive stance starts with rigorous building regulations.

As L.A. looks to fortify itself against future fires, Orchard Hills could serve as the road map to get there. Of course, the comparison isn't exact. Irvine is a newer city with modern homes built ...

An aerial view of Orchard Hills in Irvine, where homes were planned and built to be fire-resistant. The master-planned community, which straddles the wildland-urban interface, was in the path of ...