In 2000, I built my home in Warm Springs. Prior to building, I did extensive research and decided, despite the increased cost, to build a "fire- safe" home. Once construction was complete, representatives from Firewise visited to critique my home. I received an A+ in fire safety and the Firewise representatives noted my choice of a metal roof as essential in giving my home the greatest protection in case of wild fire.
Unfortunately, though the P&Z allows metal roofs throughout our valley, many neighborhoods are hog-tied by outdated CC&Rs, which forbid them. For some reason, shake roofs are seen as "better."
Forbidding Western homeowners from building fire safe-homes is as ridiculous as forbidding Southern homeowners from installing hurricane shutters or Midwesterners from excavating storm cellars. The lives and safety of the entire community are put at greater risk for no logical reason.
Driving north on Highway 75 recently, I saw dozens of firefighters climbing onto and hosing down huge shake roofs. The focus of resources and manpower on combustible roofs is a problem throughout the West and remains one reason that wildfires take longer to contain.
It is time to rethink how we construct our homes and to revise outmoded ideas of what is attractive. The fact is our roofs are covered with snow most of the year anyway. Consequently, they are uniform in appearance,
Additionally, metal roofs have an approximate life span of 75 years and are energy efficient. My roof reflects 75 percent of the sun's heat, helping to create a wonderfully cool haven during the hottest stretches of the summer.
I encourage the residents of Ketchum and Sun Valley to reevaluate their sense of aesthetics and their commitment to outdated and potentially dangerous CC&Rs.
Kitty Durtschi
Ketchum
