Concrete Home Survives Raging Wildfire in Washington State

A Washington man’s concrete home is still standing after surviving a raging wildfire that passed his home and scorched acres of surrounding land. John Belles said he was prepared for the inevitability of a wildfire when he built his thin-shelled, concrete dome in 1999 surrounded by dry fields in Okanogan County. After shuttling three vehicles off his property, Belles said he realized he had to hurry as the fire was only a couple hundred yards away. Belles said he waited out the flames for about a minute as the fire passed by his home. The only damage sustained was a service pole, which resulted in a loss of power.