It gets into the housing areas and the flames don't have to hit the house next door. The heat from the fire of one structure is high enough to cause any exposed wood next door to combust. Doesn't help when embers get into those areas or attics. Horrible deal.
You have stucco homes with tile roofs going up in flames with no regard for the materials used in construction. As though they had an accelerant on them. Poof!
Another deal. NOBODY in those neighborhoods wants to live in an area landscaped comparable to the surface of the moon! Put in all sort of oily trees and bushes that are fuses when this stuff gets going.