Home Builder Designs Entire Neighborhood With Fireproof Homes

KB Home, one of the nation’s largest builders, recently launched Dixon Trail, a new neighborhood in Escondido, California, made entirely of wildfire-resistant homes. The 64-home community was designed using guidance from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, incorporating Class A fire-rated roofs, ember- and flame-resistant vents, and a five-foot buffer around each structure.

Priced around $1 million, the homes aim to offer peace of mind in a region increasingly affected by wildfires. Developers removed common ignition sources like flammable exterior materials and included features like noncombustible gutters, upgraded windows and doors, and all-metal fencing.

Beyond individual protections, Dixon Trail’s neighborhood-level planning includes increased spacing between structures and curated desert landscaping to reduce fire fuels. These design elements earned the development a provisional wildfire safety designation, confirming it meets the highest standards for resisting flame, radiant heat, and embers. Despite its location in a high-risk wind corridor, the way the neighborhood and homes were designed is meant to limit wildfire spread.