The worst fire disaster on record occurred not in the U.S. but in Australia. On Ash Wednesday in 1983, Australia experienced a fire destroying 2,463 homes, none of which had a wood roof! Estimates regarding the different types of roofing materials used on structures located within the Oakland and Berkeley Hills fire zone, show that over 70 percent of the homes destroyed, had Class A fire retardant roofing systems. In essence, this was not a wood roof fire and wood roofs did not contribute in spreading the fire.