Overview
How to build a base that will not burn. (much)
How To Fail at Burning
I was looking for an effective way to prevent summer base fires and I found this post by ocelost:
Fire Safety: A study of Fire Spread and Minimum Safe Distance from dontstarve
It essentially says to space things out so any fire cannot spread from the first thing it burns to something else and it gives recommended distances.
So, for example, after you place down a science machine remove everything within 15 spaces of it. (Using the Geometric Placement mod. to count spaces.)
Additionally change the turf on your base to something an eyeplant can’t spawn on.
A flingomatic can help by putting out fires. Have whatever you want to protect in range of it.
A lightning rod can help by preventing lighting based fires. Have whatever you want to protect in range of it.
The other way to cope is to simply not return to your base during the summer.
I theorize that if you could also stay away during spring and autumn you wouldn’t have to use lightning rods either, but I have not tested.