Q: Could you explain what the “Zone 0” law entails? I live in a subdivision with a small yard, so if I removed all the plants within 5 feet of my house, I would have nothing green left in my yard.
The Zone 0 laws require that if you live in a high-risk area, you must maintain a 5-foot perimeter of nonflammable material around all sides of your home, including plants. This perimeter can consist of concrete, gravel, or plain dirt. Bark mulch should not be used within 5 feet of the foundation since it is quite flammable.
Patio furniture made of wood, wicker, or any other flammable material should be kept at least 5 feet from the house. The same goes for propane tanks, RVs, or boats.
Even if you live on a small property, you can take steps to decrease your fire risk. Flying embers pose a significant hazard since wind can carry them great distances, and they can cause attic fires by entering through unprotected vents. Installing ember-resistant vents, chimney covers, and vent covers can greatly reduce this risk for minimal cost. Gutter guards can eliminate the buildup of dead leaves and other flammable materials in gutters. Many home-improvement stores now carry kits that allow you to harden your home against wildfire risk. Of course, this introduces the risk of the do-it-yourself home improvement project disaster. (Sometimes you just can’t win.)
Don’t forget to look up! Trees should be pruned so that branches stay 10 feet from the roof. This has the added benefit of eliminating an entry path for rats to get into the attic. Palm trees have the unfortunate tendency to explode when ignited, throwing sparks far and wide. Rats love them as well, so now you have two good reasons to get rid of those palm trees.
Look around your property now to identify what steps you can take to minimize your risk. Wildfire can travel very quickly, leaving you with barely enough time to escape. Put together a checklist (and keep it somewhere you can find it in a hurry). If you are under an evacuation warning, it will give you a list of tasks to focus on instead of panicking. There are many different checklists online, so you can download and customize one that suits your needs.
The 5-foot zone 0 law applies to structures located in high-risk zones. This usually means properties adjacent to wild areas. Most subdivisions do not fall within this category. The Cal Fire website has a map where you can enter your address to determine whether you are in a high-risk area (calfire-forestry.maps.arcgis.com).
Los Angeles County
mglosangeleshelpline@ucdavis.edu; 626-586-1988; http://celosangeles.ucanr.edu/UC_Master_Gardener_Program/
Orange County
ucceocmghotline@ucanr.edu; http://mgorange.ucanr.edu/
Riverside County
anrmgriverside@ucanr.edu; 951-955-0170; https://ucanr.edu/sites/RiversideMG/
San Bernardino County
mgsanbern@ucanr.edu; 909-387-2182; http://mgsb.ucanr.edu