Good day, lovers of our paradise. Welcome to our periodic Firewise newsletter, where we introduce one topic pertinent to our neighborhood’s Risk Assessment and 3-year Action Plan (on our Resources page). 

Today’s topic is Zone 0. But first…

But first:

• Don’t forget to report your time and money investments in keeping your property fire-safe. Go to this fire reporting link. Or, from our website, click on “resources” and look for “reporting”. Our community’s name is “Las Canoas, Foothill, and Tierra Cielo lanes”.  You don’t need receipts, and no one is going to come to your house to check. A ballpark estimate of what you have done is fine.
• If you rely on electrically powered medical devices (such as CPAP machines, oxygen concentrators, or motorized wheelchairs) or have health conditions sensitive to temperature, you may qualify for Southern California Edison’s Medical Baseline Program. This program provides extra electricity at the lowest baseline rate and guarantees advanced, specialized alerts before a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) event.

ZONE 0

Fire research shows that homes are less likely to burn if all combustible materials are avoided within 5’ of the house (also called Zone 0). You’ve probably heard that in Zone 0 you should:

1. Use hardscape like gravel, pavers, or concrete. No combustible bark or mulch. Plants can be added just outside Zone 0 as a way to maintain vegetation around the home. Home Depot or SB Stone are great places to consider. The latter has exhibits of the many types of gravel they carry.
2. Remove all dead and dying plants, weeds, and debris (leaves, needles, etc.) from your roof, gutter, deck, porch, stairways, and under any areas of your home.
3. Remove all branches within 10 feet of any chimney or stovepipe outlet.
4. Limit combustible items (such as outdoor furniture and planters) on decks.
5. Relocate firewood and lumber to Zone 2 (30-100 ft or more from the house).
6. Replace combustible fencing, gates, and arbors attached to the home with noncombustible alternatives.
7. Consider relocating garbage and recycling containers outside this zone.
8. Consider replacing other fencing, gates, and arbors with fire-resistant materials such as metal.
9. Consider relocating boats, RVs, vehicles, and other combustible items outside this zone.

See more info, including a good video, here:

But Zone 0 may be moving from a “nice to have” option to a requirement. As reported in Noozhawk, “Proposed 5-foot regulations to help fortify properties against the risk of fire could come before the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection for a final decision in August.  Under the draft released last month, property owners in State Responsibility Area and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in Local Responsibility Areas would be required to remove or modify combustible items within 5 feet of structures. If the board approves the new rules in August, they will go into effect in the fall. If approved later this year, the changes would immediately apply to any new construction within those zones.   Owners of already-built structures would have three years to remove combustible items.”

If enacted:

• “Any vegetation, live or dead, must be removed within a minimum of 1 foot of a structure or up to the edge of a structure’s roof eve, whichever is longer.  
• Trees would be allowed, but branches must be at least 10 feet away from chimneys. Branches must also be trimmed to 5 feet above roofs and would be prohibited under eaves.
• Property owners would also be required to create an “under-eave safety zone,” where any combustible material is removed under a property’s eaves, within five years of regulation approval.
• Any gates made of combustible materials, such as wood, would have to be replaced with a non-combustible material, such as metal, also within five years.
• Any sheds, fences and outbuildings within 5 feet of a property must also have exterior non-combustible materials.”  

Does creating the recommended Zone-0 space mean that your house will look ugly? Not at all. There are great examples of homes that use hardscaping and judicious use of plant materials to create stunning landscaping.

•  Electric Gates: If you have an electric gate, consider getting a Knox box. It allows the Fire Department to enter your property in the event of a power loss. Learn more here:
• Red Flag Warnings: When wildfire danger is at its highest, the National Weather Service and local weather stations will announce a Red Flag Warning. At this time, residents should consider taking preventative actions such as: Filling the car with a full tank of gas; moving flammable items away from the home such as umbrellas, awnings, large tarps, wooden furniture, potted plants, etc.; packing a go bag if not done already
• Fire Safe Council Newsletter: Sign up for the Fire Safe Council Newsletter, which provides monthly and quarterly updates to keep residents informed about current programs, staff highlights, and important wildfire-related news.

    We’d love to know what you thought of today’s newsletter so we can improve it.

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