Better Planning Helped Contain California Wildfires

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 30, 2005 — -- In the hills outside Los Angeles, firefighters are beginning to get control of the enormous fire that burned through several suburbs.

The fire has caused surprisingly little damage. Time after time, the flames stretched up to the backyards of homes, then fizzled.

What saved the homes was part luck and part planning.

"It's nice to see the look on people's faces when they saw their house was still there," said Deby Harrisberger of West Hills, Calif.

Since the raging fires of 2003 leveled 3,000 homes, Californians have become serious about preventing a repeat -- primarily by clearing dry bush at least 100 feet from the house. If homeowners don't do it, the local government will.

"Three notices, and it will be done," said Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Roy Rodriguez. "L.A. County will send personnel out to clear that brush that has not been cleared, at the homeowner's expense."

As suburbs stretch farther into the hills, new building materials like flame-resistant walls, boxed eaves and fireproof roof tiles also help prevent the spread of wildfires.

As proof, one of the few houses that burned was made in 1946.

"You looked at the news the last two days, you see stucco homes, tile roofs, protection of 100 to 200 feet, depending on where you left for brush clearance. Those are all of great assistance to the firefighters," said Assemblywoman Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills.

Firefighters have also dropped flame retardant from helicopters, cut fire lines in wooded areas and sprayed houses with retardant foam.

"By being there, they were able to put out any spots that could have potentially destroyed homes," said Los Angeles County Fire Department Capt. Curt Schaefer.

The weather has been a big help, as well, with cooler temperatures and lower winds. Instead of returning home to rubble, today many people were simply returning home.

ABC News' Brian Rooney filed this report for "World News Tonight."