The May 2016 Fort McMurray wildland/urban interface fire disaster provided an unprecedented opportunity to learn firsthand about the survival and ignition of homes. Results of field evidence combined with observations regarding the arrangement of homes, forest fuels, and clearances between them led to the conclusion that the vast majority of initial home ignitions within this transition zone were most likely caused by embers of the forest fire. Based on sites visited, no instances were observed where home ignition could confidently be attributed to direct contact by flames of the burning forest, and there were very few observations where home ignition was likely due only to radiant heat from the forest.