California leads the nation in fire safety standards. In 2020, the fire Zone 0 became a formal standard through the passage of AB 3074 and is now becoming an important element.

 

According to the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, Zone 0 is the ember-resistant zone within five feet of a structure. The guidelines reduce the potential for "direct ignition of the structure from flame contact, by embers that accumulate at the base of the wall, and/or indirect debris or other combustible materials located close to the structure that result in either a radiant heat...or a direct flame contact exposure to the structure."

In February, Governor Newsom signed an executive order to further prepare for future urban firestorms. The order launches initiatives that directs the use of Zone 0, tasks the office of the State Fire Marshal with releasing updated fire Hazard Severity Zone maps for areas under local government rules, which will update planning requirements, and requires CAL FIRE and the Governor's Office of Emergency Service (Cal OES) to work with local and federal partners works on the Federal resource ordering system for wildfire response.

With that, a Cal landscape design contest was held to offer design ideas for all budget for Berkeley Hills to maintain curb appeal and fire zones. Kristina Hill, research director at UC Berkeley's Institute of Urban and Regional Development administered a wildfire-prepared home design contest at UC Berkeley to display what can be done with these new rules. On August 14, Kristina Hill will join LandscapeWebinars.org for a live and recorded session that dives further into the recent fire research by the Insurance Institute for Building and Home Safety, what types of plants and patterns of planting can be specified to reduce fire danger, and examples of these design methods. Head to LandscapeWebinars.org for more information.