I've been told that gun safes, fridges ,, freezers are safe places to put important papers.
Wrapped in plastic or fireproof materials.
What other suggestions have you hear that with stand fire damage?
Unfortunately, NOTHING is going to withstand a sustained wildfire.
Ground temps can reach temperatures of 800°C (1,472° F) or more. What may work in a smoky housefire will not work where combustible building materials and gas/propane tanks are combined with high gusty winds, low humidity and acres of dried out brush and grasses.
You will note in the OP's photos that the washer/dryer units are completely burnt. The doors have melted off and the drums inside are charred black. Nothing inside, least of all paper, would have been salvageable.
That's why people should take their important papers with them when they evacuate. Personal photos are all fine and good, but you need the policy #s and contact info for ALL insurance policies and important contacts (banks for mortgages, credit cards, loans, personal accounts) with you. Even just a printed spreadsheet tucked in your purse or wallet is fine.
Digital backups are essential but DO NOT DEPEND solely upon them. There are often power outages in wildfires and without electricity your laptop, Internet access, and even cell phone may be of little or limited use, especially if you are forced to go to an emergency shelter.
If you are adequately insured, a policy will usually cover 65-85% of the replacement cost. Building new means you must now build to meet all current building codes. Unfortunately, prices of materials and labor rise in a seller's market.
Firefighters are focused on containing and beating back the fireline in front of them. They're not saving houses because they can't; that's not how a wildfire is fought. These homes are in the
Wildland Urban Interface and heavily surrounded by trees and brush. Once a home goes up in flame, it's almost impossible to save it.
This is a photo from one of the 2019 CA wildfires. See all those gorgeous, forested hillsides? What you can't see is there are hundreds of homes nestled under those trees. That's the WUI - beautiful, idyllic, private.....but the risk is always there, not just in CA but in most states. 80% of new homes in the last 50 yrs have been built in America's WUI.
Mrs. Robinson, your friend has my deep sympathies. It's a devastating loss and unfortunately, one that seems to be happening more and more often.
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It’s good to know you are ok .
