Wildfire Los Angeles

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In California, the Ember-Resistant Zone—referred to as Zone 0—encompasses the first five feet surrounding a home or structure. This zone is a vital component of the state’s wildfire defense strategy, designed to prevent homes from igniting due to wind-blown embers, which are a leading cause of structure loss during wildfires. Mandated for certain properties under California Public Resources Code Section 4291, Zone 0 is focused on eliminating combustible materials and using fire-resistant practices to protect structures in high fire hazard areas. MySafe:LA continues to meet with residents and government officials to discuss the implications of Zone 0. Our approach is one of common sense – and many of the things listed below are very low cost (or even no cost) to accomplish in the five-foot zone around your home.

The details of Zone 0 are undergoing revision, including public input. MySafe:LA has completed a survey related to Zone 0 and has shared it with a combinatino of civic leaders, fire departments, and community leaders. If you’d like to review the results of the survey, you may download it here.

Some people are concerned about the cost of implementing a complete Zone 0 compliance project. While some items are expensive, some are not. Note our TOP 5 action items in the list below.
Click to view each tip. Click again to close.
1
Eliminate all combustible vegetation
This is a TOP 5 action item

Remove dead plants, dry grasses, brush, and flammable shrubs within five feet of the structure.

2
Remove combustible ground cover
This is a TOP 5 action item

Replace wood chips, bark mulch, and dry leaf litter with noncombustible materials like gravel, decomposed granite, or bare soil.

3
Keep the area clear of flammable items
This is a TOP 5 action item

Do not store firewood, cardboard boxes, plastic containers, outdoor furniture cushions, or trash bins in Zone 0.

4
Maintain a clean roof and gutters

Regularly clear leaves, pine needles, and debris from the roof and gutters to prevent ember accumulation.

5
Use fire-resistant plants only

If any vegetation remains in this zone, it should be low-growing, widely spaced, and fire-resistant (though ideally, Zone 0 remains plant-free).

6
Install ember- and flame-resistant vents
This is a TOP 5 action item

Replace standard attic and foundation vents with ones tested and rated for ember resistance, covered with 1/8-inch (or even 1/16th) corrosion-resistant metal mesh.

7
Harden exterior walls and siding

Use noncombustible or ignition-resistant materials (like stucco, fiber cement, or metal) for the home’s exterior within Zone 0.

8
Retrofit fences where they attach to the house

Replace the first five feet of wooden fencing where it connects to the home with noncombustible material like metal or masonry.

9
Seal gaps and cracks
This is a TOP 5 action item

Close openings in siding, eaves, or around windows and doors where embers can enter or lodge.

10
Avoid overhangs or open decks with exposed joists

Either enclose open eaves and decks with ignition-resistant materials or ensure nothing flammable is stored underneath.

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Thank you for all your efforts in battling the life-threatening and disastrous wildfires that struck the Los Angeles area this January. We are grateful for your devotion to saving lives.
MySafe:LA

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