After more than 8,000 wildfires exceeded $1 million across California in 2024, the state’s wildfire prevention task force published a list of top priorities and action plans on Monday.
The so-called 2025 important deliverable by the Governor’s Wildfires and Forest Resilience Task Force aims to make homes and property more resilient, while reducing factors that could accelerate the spread of wildfires.
Below are some of the plans listed on the roadmap.
Create a “defensible space” near your home
As shown in the aftermath of the Eaton and Palisade fire, some homes survived the flames, but many other homes in the same area were burned to the ground. Scientists and engineers point to the materials used to build homes, creating and maintaining rooms between structures and flammable materials such as trees and shrubs.
Defensible Space missions are carried out in high fire severity zones, such as the Pacific Ocean’s Pallisard.
The AB-3070 will require a home to pass and sign Gov. Newsom in 2020 and establish a fire-resistant “zone 0” within 5 feet of structures in high-risk areas.
Creating zone 0 can be achieved by exceeding the plant spacing within the site or by having gravel or paving between the vegetation and structure.
See current guidelines for resistance zones here.
Updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL Fire) has updated the classification of areas at risk of being affected by wildfires, adding Southern California neighborhoods to the “very high” fire hazard severity zone.
State officials have considered many updated variables, including pulling out new maps, including fire history, existing natural vegetation, predicted flame length, blow fire, topography, and typical fire weather.
More Grazing Goats
The state is looking to place goat-like livestock that will be used to eliminate vegetation, especially on sturdy terrain that firefighters are not accessible.
By expanding prescribed grazing, authorities believe that while supporting ecological goals, they can save more fortune and lives from possible wildfires.
UC Agriculture and Natural Resources will develop a strategic action plan that includes scope and timelines for mapping priority areas where grazing can protect communities, critical infrastructure and ecosystems, the state said.
Partnership with utility companies
California has a history of punishing and using utilities from false power lines that cause disastrous wildfires, but the state is now trying to work with utility companies to prevent such flames.
The task force said there could be more adjustments with the utilities as they invest billions of dollars to reduce ignition along the power line corridors.
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