Wildfire Season Approaching

Summer is the season for wildfires, and the National Association of State Foresters estimates that approximately 70,000 homes and businesses are at risk for being damaged or destroyed by fire this year. Not only are wildfires a danger to the communities in their direct paths, but their roaring flames may also spark new fires and cause additional devastation to surrounding areas. After the flames have been extinguished, the recoveryprocess begins, but it may take years for the areas to be completely rebuilt.

For people who have lost their homes or business, the wait to rebuild their lives can seem endless. Areas that are remotely located make it difficult for onsite construction, adding to recovery time. Typically, it can take several months and sometimes years to construct a conventional building, with larger projects requiring much longer time to build. In some cases, people may have to scramble to find temporary housing. The loss of commercial space has a negative impact on the local community making it important to help business owners get back up and running again.

For those affected by wildfires and other natural disasters, modular construction can provide a much-needed alternative to conventional building methods. Modular buildings often serve as temporary recovery housing immediately following a disaster, but they can also be used as permanent structures. Because factory construction and site preparation occur concurrently, modular construction is a faster alternative to conventional methods. Modular buildings can be constructed 40 percent faster than conventional construction resulting in earlier occupancy and significant savings. In an emergency, pre-leased modular buildings can be brought in immediately for use as recovery housing for individuals or as commercial housing.

Because modular buildings are more cost effective to construct, they can also help speed the economic recovery of the communities that have been affected by natural disasters. In addition to residential and commercial housing, the buildings are often used as schools, medical centers and offices. Using modular construction to rebuild a community hastens the recovery process and allows people to get their lives back to normal as soon as possible.