Montana s governor raised exactly this question of homeowner responsibility for choosing to live in harm s way. He also recognized that trying to regulate home location and character raised difficult property rights questions. But these are not new questions. Almost all of us build our home subject to local and state building codes that enforce certain fire and safety standards. All buildings in earthquake-prone areas have to meet earthquake codes.
Coastal states have hurricane construction standards.
Counties in wildfire-prone areas have begun adopting similar codes to increase the survivability of homes. In Orange County in Southern California and the Sun Valley area of Idaho similar codes to protect against wildfire damage to homes have been adopted. In subdivisions, wider streets are required as both firebreaks and to allow easier escape and access by fire equipment. On some locations, for instance steep slopes where fire can spread very rapidly, building is simply banned. Insurance companies and local firefighting units have a role to play to in education and enforcement.