California Delays 'Zone Zero' Wildfire Protection Rules Amid Evidence of Vegetation's Protective Effect.
A recent study has revealed that maintaining a 5-foot "ember-resistant" zone around homes in fire-prone areas can significantly reduce the risk of damage during wildfires. Despite this, California's efforts to implement strict regulations for homeowners are being delayed, with the state now expected to finalize the rules by mid-2029 at the earliest.
Researchers from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety surveyed 252 homes that had been in the path of devastating Los Angeles wildfires and found that properties with more than half of their 5-foot zone covered in vegetation were much less likely to be destroyed. In fact, 27% of such homes were completely destroyed, compared to just 9% for those with flammable material covering less than a quarter of the zone.
The findings support existing research on wildfire mitigation, which suggests that clearing vegetation and implementing home hardening measures can significantly increase a home's survival rate during a fire. Spacing between homes is also crucial, as a structure within 10 feet of another burning building is more likely to catch fire.
Despite these results, the state's delay in finalizing the 'zone zero' regulations has raised concerns among consumer advocates and homeowners, who worry about the costs of removing plants and other flammable materials. Some have even suggested that insurance companies may use the new rules to end coverage for homes with non-compliant landscaping.
Governor Gavin Newsom's office has stated that it is committed to getting the regulations right, balancing resilience to future fires with the realities of the insurance market and what homeowners can afford. However, the delay has pushed back the expected implementation date for the roughly 2 million homes in high-risk fire areas across California.
A recent study has revealed that maintaining a 5-foot "ember-resistant" zone around homes in fire-prone areas can significantly reduce the risk of damage during wildfires. Despite this, California's efforts to implement strict regulations for homeowners are being delayed, with the state now expected to finalize the rules by mid-2029 at the earliest.
Researchers from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety surveyed 252 homes that had been in the path of devastating Los Angeles wildfires and found that properties with more than half of their 5-foot zone covered in vegetation were much less likely to be destroyed. In fact, 27% of such homes were completely destroyed, compared to just 9% for those with flammable material covering less than a quarter of the zone.
The findings support existing research on wildfire mitigation, which suggests that clearing vegetation and implementing home hardening measures can significantly increase a home's survival rate during a fire. Spacing between homes is also crucial, as a structure within 10 feet of another burning building is more likely to catch fire.
Despite these results, the state's delay in finalizing the 'zone zero' regulations has raised concerns among consumer advocates and homeowners, who worry about the costs of removing plants and other flammable materials. Some have even suggested that insurance companies may use the new rules to end coverage for homes with non-compliant landscaping.
Governor Gavin Newsom's office has stated that it is committed to getting the regulations right, balancing resilience to future fires with the realities of the insurance market and what homeowners can afford. However, the delay has pushed back the expected implementation date for the roughly 2 million homes in high-risk fire areas across California.
I'm so stoked about this study!!! Maintaining a 5-foot ember-resistant zone around homes is literally gonna save lives! 
I mean, who knew having some greenery would actually help stop wildfires? It's like, we've been putting out fires with water for centuries and now we're discovering that plants can actually be our best friend when it comes to fire safety. 
That's just not right. Homeowners should be able to protect their properties without breaking the bank. And Governor Newsom is all about getting it right, I love that. They need to hurry up and finalize those regulations already so we can start seeing a change in these devastating wildfires. 
i mean, it's great that they found out keeping a certain zone around houses can help prevent fires from spreading, but is it too much for homeowners to have to deal with? i've seen some of these fire zones online and it's crazy how big they are...5 feet is no joke! 
what about the cost of removing all those plants and trees? not everyone has the budget for that. and then there's the insurance thing, where companies might just drop coverage for homes with non-compliant landscaping...that sounds like a whole other can of worms. 
i guess what i'm saying is, are these new rules really making things better or are they just creating more problems? 
. The fact that properties with more than half of their ember-resistant zone covered in vegetation were significantly less likely to be destroyed is a game-changer for homeowners and policymakers alike. It's high time we adopt a more holistic approach to wildfire prevention, one that takes into account the importance of native plants and landscaping in reducing fire risk 
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. The costs associated with removing non-compliant landscaping may be a significant burden for some homeowners, which could lead to a lack of adoption among those who need it most. I do hope that the state's efforts will prioritize education and outreach programs to help homeowners understand the benefits and costs of implementing these new regulations 
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i get that they wanna balance things out, but come on! 2 million homes are at risk here and we can't even count on the state to make some common sense decisions about landscaping 
. i'm all for safety, but let's not forget that humans can be pretty creative when it comes to dealing with fires... maybe just give homeowners some guidance and support instead of leaving them to figure it out on their own? 
The delay on implementing these wildfire protection rules is a classic case of the old 'common good vs individual interests' debate 
. On the other hand, insurance companies and real estate developers might be breathing a sigh of relief, knowing that they won't have to absorb the costs of removing flammable vegetation 
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The irony here is that people are worried about removing plants and increasing costs when in fact those very same plants were found to be a lifesaver for some homes. Delaying regulations just pushes back progress. 
We should focus on finding solutions, not obstacles!
It's so cool that keeping some greenery around your house can actually help save it from going up in flames. I mean, I've seen movies like The Day After Tomorrow and Twister where you gotta evacuate your home because of a fire, but this is the opposite – it's like having a superhero cape for your property 
! But for real, Governor Newsom needs to get those regulations finalized ASAP so that homeowners can feel safe again. The insurance companies are already getting all anxious about people losing coverage, and I don't blame 'em 
. all those studies that said having some greenery around the house can actually reduce damage... just gets tossed out the window because of insurance companies and homeowners who don't wanna pay for landscaping 
. 2029 feels like forever away from when these rules should've been finalized 
... They're delaying rules to protect homes from wildfires because some people don't want to shell out cash to remove plants and flammable stuff. Like, come on! It's better to be safe than sorry, right? 
. We need to take action now, not wait till 2029! 
. And don't even get me started on the cost of removing all those plants 
I just hope they get it together soon and these 'zone zero' regulations are finalized ASAP. We can't keep living in fear of those fires, you know?