An unprecedented wind-driven fire in January flew from the embers of a hillside brush to the fiery fencing and furniture. Those flames spread across adjacent homes, and the wind propelled millions of embers through the air into more houses and yards. Whether more firefighters on the ground, or helicopters and reservoirs spraying water in the air have managed to stop the destruction, one thing is overwhelmingly clear to scientists.
To that end, California Legislature passed legislation 3074 in late 2020, establishing five feet of defensive space around fire-rising local homes and occupied structures. It has been mandated. The state already needs brushes and dead leaves clearances within 100 feet of the home. However, the bill called for creating a zone of zero to five feet or zone zero around the house. This does not guarantee that the home will not burn, but it provides the best defense homeowners may have against embers heading their path.
The problem is: The 2020 law is not yet in effect. The state’s Forestry and Fire Prevention Commissions were accused by January 2023 of writing rules and regulations for Zone Zero. The board has been working on this for four years, and is two years past its deadline.
When the fire is getting more and more intense, it’s not only ridiculous, it’s irresponsible. Why hold up? How long does it take a homeowner to decide that they shouldn’t really have a wooden fence or a flammable shrub within five feet of their home? According to Cal Fire spokesman Christine McMorrow, the board is driving that process. However, there are many things board members should consider. “For now, mitigation is focused on what’s most important as the new Zone Zero Rule has a financial impact on people,” she said last week. The board also wants to provide an education plan to help people understand why people don’t have that wood fence. “We’re always looking to promote education rather than quotes,” she said.
Apparently, the biggest obstacle is knowing the details of what to allow and what to prohibit. What should not be allowed on deck? What about the acceptable documentation for the deck itself? Are entrance mats prohibited? Do all window frames have to be metal? Still, it doesn’t take four years to put the rules out. Even if it is politically unpopular, these are decisions that need to be made. State law requires that homes already in areas that are prone to fire are built with more fire-resistant materials and have vents that are resistant to vents. However, the Zone Zero rule also allows you to compare and consider materials such as paneling in your home.
Cal Fire already has recommendations on all of these. (By the way, there’s no need to wait for state law to create its own Zone Zero.) Essentially, no flammability is recommended. There is no mulch or bark. There are no flammable furniture or planters. Use pavement, gravel or concrete.
The Forest Conservation Committee is expected to discuss rules at its next meeting in March, but will not decide them. Every time a rule is decided, they still have to go through the state’s rulemaking process and make it for public comment.
It’s very clear that this process is taking too long. Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order on February 6th, drafted the rules to the board, published them for public comments within 45 days of the order, and made official rules by December 31st of this year. You have been instructed to complete the creation process. Even that’s too long. Reconstruction is ongoing in burnt areas of Los Angeles County.
Once official, rules apply to new construction first. Existing properties must be modified within a few years. The cost of the materials would be much cheaper than rebuilding a burnt-down house on the ground.
And these rules help to provide protection for the entire neighborhood. The more homes have defensible spaces, the stronger the whole neighborhood will be. “It’s a matter of community ignition and community structure,” said longtime fire scientist Jack Cohen. Of course, even neighborhoods with perfect zone zero adherence are susceptible to fires, but the chances of that structure surviving will increase.
If there was time to enforce zone zero regulations, it’s now when the houses are burned by thousands of owners who have been burned to hurry up and sell to others who are rebuilding it. The broad implementation of Zone Zero could have a major impact on fire safety in Swass, Los Angeles County.
However, even while state rulemaking is dragged down, local jurisdictions could pass their own Zone Zero Regulations. There are many areas throughout the state that already require the Zone Zero Rule. Los Angeles County and LA City were able to do the same.
If state rules are not in effect when homeowners are rebuilt, they should still seriously consider rebuilding with at least 5 feet of defensive space around the home. Giving up your flammable favorite ingredients and plants is the smallest sacrifice to give your home and neighbour a chance to fight when the next embers rain in LA
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