“The home uses glass, steel, and concrete to resist fire — offering safety and simplicity after devastation.”
Rebuilding After the Eaton Fire: Why Some Families Are Choosing Prefab Homes
In Altadena, California, families displaced by the January 2025 Eaton Fire are rebuilding with prefabricated homes designed to be fire-resistant and weather-resilient.
The Warnesky family, whose home was destroyed, chose a manufactured home from a local program led by cityLAB UCLA. The program showcased six prefab options and provided guidance on financing and permitting.
Reasons for Choosing Prefab
- Reduce decision fatigue after losing their home.
- Seek safety features specific to wildland-urban interface areas.
- The chosen home uses glass, steel, and concrete to resist fire.
Industry Context
According to the Manufactured Housing Institute, nearly 21 million people in the U.S. live in manufactured homes as of 2024, which made up over 9% of new home starts that year. Three companies control about 83% of the market, with most sales in Texas, Florida, and California—states prone to flooding, hurricanes, or wildfires.
Manufacturer Claims
MDLR Brands, a prefab company, uses composite structural insulated panels with a 30-minute fire rating, which can be reinforced with cement board for up to an hour of protection. The panels are also elastic for earthquake resistance and have an exterior fiberglass layer to withstand category 5 hurricane winds (tested with a 2x4 at 170 mph).
Customization Option
Some residents, like Linda and Liam Mennis, chose a customized manufactured home from Bevy House, which adapts personalized architectural plans into modular components. Bevy House has built for California fire victims, including a post-Woolsey Fire project.
Historical Precedent
The concept of modular housing dates back to Charles and Ray Eames's 1940s Case Study House No. 8. Recently, the Eames Office launched the Eames Pavilion system—a modular kit using aluminum frames and interchangeable panels, initially for single rooms, with plans for full dwellings by 2027. Costs are expected to be under $500 per square foot.
Cost and Affordability
Prefab home prices range from under $100 to over $500 per square foot, excluding land, but often fall below traditional on-site building costs in many regions.