What was the determining factor for areas that escaped the worst impacts of the fire, compared to areas that were severely burned?

Financial implications.

Explanation:

When a fire ravages a plot of land. There are many factors determining its severity, such as loss of life, displacement and many others. But the determining factor would be money. How much money was lost or destroyed due to the fires affects. Things such as property loss or damage, car damage, infastructure damage and others. These all fall under the catergory of financial implications and the higher the implications, the higher the damage.