In a major blaze, like the recent wildfires, one of the most important factors in a home's survival is its roofing. Today, we'll discuss how and why steel is good, and why it beats most other type roofs. Whereas many homeowners think roof fires start as a result of embers landing and sitting on the roof surface, in reality the high winds that wildfires generate actually lift up the leading edge of shingles. This permits red hot embers to blow in underneath where they then ignite the underlayment and sheathing. Steel is both rigid and edge-sealed, and blowing embers tend to ride right over, or roll down and off steel roofing. This was demonstrated in the big San Diego fires of 2003, where in many cases, only homes with steel roofs survived. Beyond fire safety, steel has come a long way aesthetically, with wood and tile profiles that rival the real thing. Besides a 50-year "lifetime" warranty, steel offers superb heat resistance and long-term energy savings that help repay its higher cost.