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The ones around here (southern California) use tile roofs, and those seem to survive wildfires pretty well. Embers fall on them and they don't catch fire.

I haven't heard about the need for fireproof window shutters. If you have a sufficient defensible space, is that still necessary?

Our house is toast if there is ever a fire going through here. Eucalyptus trees surrounding us, and a wood shake roof. One ember would light the whole thing up. We know that, and are prepared to leave on short notice. Our evacuation routes are not likely to get jammed, we are close to a freeway. We have had a few close calls, and when you look at which houses burned up and which didn't, you can really tell how doing just a few things will ensure that your house will be pretty safe.

With a wood shake roof I am surprised you can even get insurance on your place in Southern California.
The reasoning behind the shutters is because of the radiant heat generated by forest fires and even close by structure fires; it doesn't take a spark or flame, just the radiant heat can cause interior drapes, carpet, and furniture to spontaneously combust.
Tile roofs are great; the only reason I don't care for them is the weight per square foot and the cost, the newer architectural metal roofs look really great and cost per square is not that bad. The really great thing about them is you only have to repair them about every 50 to 80 years, tiles crack and break and you can't walk on them (no I don't sell metal roofing, just been around the trades for many years).
Investing the money to upgrade and make you home more fire safe now is a whole lot cheaper than trying to replace it later. Notice I said MORE FIRE SAFE, nothing is 100% and bad things do happen.
Some of the notable fires in the last 20 or so years down in your area are the CEDAR, RIM, WITCH, LAGUNA, STATION, and SIMI fires.
Lots of structural damage and some lives lost.