A red wooden house in Lahaina, Maui, gained attention for being the only one to survive recent wildfires. The owner, Dora Atwater Millikin, explained that the house was renovated recently, not with the intention of fireproofing it.

The 100-year-old house, owned by Dora and her husband Dudley since 2020, was restored without changes. However, they replaced the asphalt roof with heavy-gauge metal, a decision that might have unintentionally saved the house during the wildfires. Flying embers could ignite asphalt roofs, but the metal roof prevented this.

Dora and Dudley also improved the surroundings by lining the ground with stones and cutting down shrubbery to prevent termite infestations. This unintentional detail ended up protecting the house during the fires.

Despite their fortunate outcome, Dora and Dudley plan to open their home to neighbors who lost theirs. They emphasize the need for the community to come together and help rebuild after the devastating wildfires in Maui.