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Are Log Homes Fire Hazards?

You may love the idea of living in a log home, perhaps perched in a remote spot where you feel "away from it all," but what if you live in a dry climate where forest fires aren't that uncommon? Should that stop you from building a log home? Is all that wood a fire hazard?

The short answer is no.

Log homes are actually less susceptible to fires than traditional stick built homes. This is because of the simple fact of the mass of the walls. Heavy logs and timbers are much more difficult to set fire than the smaller framing components such as joists and studs, which make up the walls of stick-built houses.

While it's true that a log might smolder or become charred when exposed to flame, it will not support combustion very easily. Log homes even hold up better in fire-prone areas than steel-based construction. According to the Complete Guide to Log and Cedar Homes

, "log or timber framing will resist fire damage to a greater extent than will steel beams because steel subjected to high heat has a tendency to soften and warp, pulling the structure into itself and destroying it."

So, there you have it. Not only are log homes not fire hazards, but they're less prone to structural damage than the other common types of houses out there.

Source: Complete Guide to Log and Cedar Homes