New fire zone regulation creates pushback in the community
By the end of 2026, all structures in a high or extreme fire risk zone will have to remove all flammable objects within a 5-foot radius, according to a new regulation called Zone Zero. This includes, but is not limited to, all plants, chairs, tables and fences. Zone Zero is currently in effect for all new constructions, and all structures in a high or extreme fire hazard zone will soon have to follow these regulations.
Betsy Connolly, a resident in Conejo Valley and founder of the Zone Zero Conejo Valley website and Facebook page, became involved with the regulations after noticing the lack of public input in the new regulations. “California is subject to many wildfires, and that has resulted in a series of serious fires over the decades that have burned down a lot of homes, including right here in Ventura County,” Connolly said.
The rules of Zone Zero state that any plants, no matter their size, variety or management, have to be removed within a five-foot radius of one’s home. However, Connolly believes that well-maintained green plants may be beneficial in stopping fires near homes. “There are a lot of experts who say well-irrigated, green, high moisture plants actually can protect homes from fires,” Connolly said. “The Board of Forestry and the fire insurance industry seem to have turned a deaf ear to those experts,” Connolly said.
Jay Lopez, California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection board member, is one of the main heads of the Zone Zero implementation council. Lopez believes in the effectiveness of Zone Zero, specifically how it can prevent embers from igniting plants near the structure. “When [the embers] land, they hit a tree, hit the structure and [the structure] goes down,” Lopez said.
Yana Yagalovich, scientist at the University of California’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Fire Network, helped provide research and conduct labs for Zone Zero. “[What] I have seen commonly in Southern California is that block walls are coated in vegetation, [and] there’s a climbing vine on that wall, and it serves as a wick, bringing the fire from one location to another,” Yagalovich said.
From research at the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety [IBHS] fire research center, CAL Fire has concluded that Zone Zero will be effective in preventing fires. “Removing flammable materials within the first five feet of a structure prevents embers from starting a fire, greatly reducing the risk of ignition to exterior walls, eaves, and gutters,” according to their website.
Steve Hawks, Senior Director of Wildfire at IBHS, is in support of the Zone Zero regulation. Hawks is against the belief that green plants prevent fires. “What happens is the radiant heat from the fire and the convective heat that normally goes up is being blown sideways [by the wind], and it’s drying out the moisture content off of these plants at an extreme rate,” Hawks said. “Then leading them to their ignition temperature and then lighting and leading to the ignition of the structure.”
The Zone Zero regulations will be finalized in January of 2026, and the regulations will begin to be mandatory for all structures in a high or extreme fire risk zone by the beginning of 2026. Zone Zero regulations have caused community leaders like Connolly to speak out. “I want the experts to do their homework and I don’t want them to be repeating things that they learned 30 years ago when they first started firefighting,” Connolly said.
