Yeah, the town nearest to the site of my northern permaculture project, which was a fish camp at the time, burned and many of the townspeople had to swim or boat out into the lake to save themselves. Future fire potential will depend a good deal on how soon torrential rains edge further northwards. Currently water levels are historically high, but eventually levels are supposed to approach historic low, although this will not be very consequential given size/volume of the Great Lakes. However, this eventuality will be more relevant/related to future wildfire risk.It happened in 1871. Mrs O'Leary's cow was in all likelihood a fable. Huge fires in NW Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and even Southern Ontario iirc.
Actually, this line of thought made me remember that sand is also a fire barrier and potential suppressant. Concrete is basically just sand rendered immobile at great energetic cost. It might be cheaper and more sustainable to build and maintain artificial dunes in Southern California than artificial moats. The sand would tend to move and mound in the same direction(s) as the fires. SClass could build a house that is a sand-covered mound on the side facing the prevailing winds, with access and windows and small green oasis inclusive of water flowing in a loop on the other side.