California Developer Builds ‘Wildfire Prepared’ Neighborhoods

As builders in fire-prone areas like California race to reimagine homes for a more fiery future, one developer is zooming out to build entire fire-resilient neighborhoods.

KB Home’s developments tackle an issue that’s hard for any individual homeowner to overcome: “You can do your home perfectly, but if your neighbor didn’t, you still have a fire risk,” said Roy Wright, chief executive officer of the research nonprofit Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety. In other words, to slow the spread of urban fires it takes a village.

Earlier this year, KB Home held a ribbon-cutting ceremony outside Sacramento for Stone Canyon, the first ...