To his surprise, Steiner soon received calls and photos confirming that his home had survived. “I started getting pictures and realized we had made it through,” he said. “My wife sent me something this morning that said, ‘Last house standing.’ And it brought a pretty big smile to my face at a pretty bad time.”

Steiner credits the house’s survival to its robust construction, which he likened to a cruise ship’s durability. “It has an ‘ultra-sturdy construction’ and was built to withstand earthquakes,” he explained, adding that the house features stucco and stone with a fireproof roof, and is anchored by pilings that extend about 50 feet into the bedrock for stability against strong waves.

“To be totally honest with you, I never in a million years thought a wildfire would jump to the Pacific Coast Highway and start a fire,” Steiner admitted. “I thought, ‘If we ever have an earthquake, this would be the last thing to go.’ I honestly didn’t think that if we had a fire, this would be the last thing to go. And it was.”

Steiner appreciated the design and resilience of his home, particularly the stucco and fireproof roof. However, he emphasized that for him, the loss of the property would not equate to the loss of a home, as he had not built family memories there. “We need to pray for those who have lost their homes,” Steiner said, recognizing the profound impact on others who have faced such devastating losses.