The next time you get a nice dry bale of straw and a propane torch together, try setting the bale on fire. Time it. Let me know if you succeed after an hour.

One of the most quake- and fire-retardant homes are straw-bale covered with concrete and a metal roof. Concrete block or wire fencing. No foundation plantings.

Some years ago (1995?), there was a concrete/steel roof house in Malibu surrounded by fire. The firemen took a look at the house and said, "This is where we'll make our stand". That house was the only one left standing amid blocks of ashes and chimneys.

Of course, that house was built by someone from another country, who didn't base his home on TV fantasy and wishful thinking.

Doesn't asphalt burn?

Sue

I second the straw-bale home fire-resistance. Here in New Mexico, straw-bale homes are permitted as part of the building code - not discouraged or even outlawed as they are in some areas of certain states.

Another good one is rammed earth.

I have seen stacks of "hay" bales start smoldering, and eventually burning, all on their own in central CA. Spontanious combustion the fire guys say, and very hard to put out. Do you know of any straw-bale homes doing that???

"...stacks of "hay" bales start smoldering, and eventually burning, all on their own in central CA. Spontanious combustion the fire guys say..."

Yes, that does happen with hay (probably straw, too) when they were too moist when baled. It's a form of composting, but with the large amount of hay stacked together, the heat can't dissipate.

When someone is building a straw bale house, they have a little meter with a probe on the end, and they insert it into the bales to check for moisture. It has to be less than 12 or 14%, IIRC.

Sue

Makes sense to me...