In the sobering aftermath of the Eaton and Palisades fires, Southern Californians are learning much more than we ever wanted to about the dangers to our homes and our cities presented by massive conflagrations that begin in wildland areas and spread quickly to where we live.

Basic questions about the wisdom of where we live will continue to be asked by some. But just as Floridians are likely to keep living in a state that is prone to hurricane damage, the likelihood is that we and those who come after us will continue to live here.

After the fires, the deaths of dozens of our neighbors, the burning to the ground of about 12,000 homes and businesses, the destruction of historic neighborhoods and the displacement of on the order of 100,000 people, do we need to make wholesale changes to our zoning codes and the way we landscape in order to guard against the fire next time?

That’s our Question of the Week for readers.

You know that the questions are getting tough when some suggest that the iconic palm trees —all of which are non-native, except for the California fan palm that grows in the desert — that aesthetically define Southern California be banned. The Los Angeles County Fire Department, for instance, believes palms in L.A. should be done away with. With their dry fronds, they go up like Roman candles when ignited by embers. Should we ban them?

How much should future building codes aimed at making houses less flammable be implemented? Should wood framing be outlawed in favor of metals and concrete? We already have among the most stringent building codes for new housing. How much should those be applied to existing homes? Will too much regulation make the already expensive housing here prohibitively costly?

San Diego County currently prohibits any greenery within five feet of buildings and tree canopies must be 10 feet away. Do we need to adopt those rules? Is upgrading and undergrounding of power lines to prevent fires the best preventative tool, if also wildly expensive?

Email your thoughts to opinion@scng.com. Please include your full name and city or community of residence.