Masonry Fire Resistance: Lessons Learned from the Marshall Fire

Speaker: Donald Harvey, PE, Atkinson Noland Associates

The 2021 Marshall Fire challenged long-held assumptions about modern construction and wildfire risk, destroying more than 1,000 structures and causing over $2 billion in damage. This seminar examines lessons learned from the fire, including the performance of building materials, the science behind fire testing, and emerging code requirements. Participants will explore how fire-resistant construction—including masonry and other noncombustible materials—can improve community resilience and help reduce future wildfire losses.

Learning Objectives:
1. Understand lessons learned from the Marshall Fire
2. Describe fire resistance testing and what it really means
3. Identify masonry’s fire resistant properties
4. Implement lower cost non-combustible masonry construction options.