Controversial new state regulations requiring removal of vegetation and other combustible materials from within 5 feet of homes in high fire-hazard areas — called Zone Zero rules — received a mostly negative reception Thursday, Sept. 18 at a meeting in Pasadena.
The meeting, attended by about 150 people, including some who lost their homes in the Eaton and Palisades fires in early January, continued the debate over whether state-proposed defensible space regulations aimed at protecting homes from future wildfires are necessary, too restrictive, or will cause more harm.
In February, the state declared 2 million acres of land as “high” or “very high” fire danger areas. In the five months prior to that announcement, Southern California suffered three destructive wildfires — the Eaton and Palisades fires in L.A. County in January, and the Airport fire that burned in Orange and Riverside counties in September.
David Lefkowith gives some remarks during the public comment portion of a meeting with community members and the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Zone Zero Regulatory Advisory Committee at the Pasadena Convention Center Thursday, Sep. 18, 2025. Many homeowners feel new fire regulations are too strict following the destructive Eaton and Palisades Fires, but fire officials say these proposed new regulations are necessary.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Community members and local officials gather for a meeting with the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Zone Zero Regulatory Advisory Committee at the Pasadena Convention Center Thursday, Sep. 18, 2025. Many homeowners feel new fire regulations are too strict following the destructive Eaton and Palisades Fires, but fire officials say these proposed new regulations are necessary.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Community members and local officials gather for a meeting with the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Zone Zero Regulatory Advisory Committee at the Pasadena Convention Center Thursday, Sep. 18, 2025. Many homeowners feel new fire regulations are too strict following the destructive Eaton and Palisades Fires, but fire officials say these proposed new regulations are necessary.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Ryan Ulyate speaks during the public comment portion of a community meeting with the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Zone Zero Regulatory Advisory Committee at the Pasadena Convention Center Thursday, Sep. 18, 2025. Many homeowners feel new fire regulations are too strict following the destructive Eaton and Palisades Fires, but fire officials say these proposed new regulations are necessary.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Terrence O’Brien and fellow members of the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Zone Zero Regulatory Advisory Committee listen to concerned citizen during an in-person meeting at the Pasadena Convention Center Thursday, Sep. 18, 2025. Many homeowners feel new fire regulations are too strict following the destructive Eaton and Palisades Fires, but fire officials say these proposed new regulations are necessary.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
A large crowd gathered at the Pasadena Convention Center for a community meeting with the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Zone Zero Regulatory Advisory Committee Thursday, Sep. 18, 2025. Many homeowners feel new fire regulations are too strict following the destructive Eaton and Palisades Fires, but fire officials say these proposed new regulations are necessary.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Rich Snyder, retired Fire Marshal and Captain from the City of Sierra Madre, gives a presentation during a community a meeting with the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Zone Zero Regulatory Advisory Committee at the Pasadena Convention Center Thursday, Sep. 18, 2025. Many homeowners feel new fire regulations are too strict following the destructive Eaton and Palisades Fires, but fire officials say these proposed new regulations are necessary.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
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David Lefkowith gives some remarks during the public comment portion of a meeting with community members and the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Zone Zero Regulatory Advisory Committee at the Pasadena Convention Center Thursday, Sep. 18, 2025. Many homeowners feel new fire regulations are too strict following the destructive Eaton and Palisades Fires, but fire officials say these proposed new regulations are necessary.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
The California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection appointed an ad hoc committee called the Zone Zero Regulatory Advisory Committee, to finalize the defensible-space regulations by December or January, ordered by Gov. Gavin Newsom. They’ve held meetings mostly in Sacramento, and on Thursday the first meeting near the Eaton fire burn zone was held at the Pasadena Convention Center.
In previous meetings, thousands of comments received by the committee mostly from residents living in high fire-risk zones recently mapped by the state, indicated strict Zone Zero regulations would wipe out tree canopies, create heat islands and could actually increase the potential of a fire enveloping a home.
“These regulations are intended to reduce the risk of wildfire to our communities. But they are not without controversy,” conceded Terrence O’Brien, chair of the committee, at the top of the meeting. “We’ve heard expressed the potential impact to vegetation. That is one of the issues we have to consider.”
Most of the public speakers said the Zone Zero defensible space regulation was not based on strong science and should be reworked. Others said forcing removal of rose bushes, bougainvillea and even grasses will not stop wind-blown embers from igniting and burning down a house.
“Jon Keeley said the homes are the fuels, not the vegetation around them,” said Thelma Waxman, president of the Brentwood Homeowners Association. Keeley is a fire ecologist and research scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey.
“Real safety comes from ember-resistant vents (in attics and crawl spaces) and double-paned windows,” Waxman added. “You must replace these unworkable rules.”
Martin Hak explained to the committee that well-watered plantings near one’s home will not burn in a fire. “I saw how my hydrated hedges I planted near my house were actually a protector,” he said. Hak’s home in the Pacific Palisades was spared. The Palisades fire destroyed 6,837 structures on Jan. 7.
“My home and a neighbor’s home burned because of adjacent structures, not vegetation,” Jessica Rogers, president of the Pacific Palisades Residents Association, told the board. “Zone Zero will cost billions of dollars while failing to address the real problem.”
Ryan Ulyate, with the Topanga Canyon Fire Safe Council, told the board they are doing good work and that the proposed rules will protect property as well as the lives of first responders. “I think it is a reasonable program,” he said.
Others not at the meeting but following the rules process and other meetings by the Zone Zero committee agree with homeowners who say this one-size-fits-all approach is not the answer.
“The current proposal is to create an ember-resistant zone. That includes all vegetation. That is where the controversy lies. Not all vegetation is likely to be burned in a fire,” said Travis Longcore, an environmental scientist who is co-chair of the Environmental Science and Engineering Program of the Institute of Environmental Sustainability at UCLA.
Agoura Hills Mayor Peggy Sylvester addressed the board with concerns from her City Council. “I implore you to allow our local fire officials to be the ones to determine what our regulations should be.”
Here’s what homeowners can expect from the proposed Zone Zero requirements, according to a draft from the committee:
• No landscape materials that “are likely to be ignited by embers” are allowed within 5 feet of the structure. This includes grass, ornamental or native plants, shrubs, branches, fallen leaves, tree needles, combustible mulch, bark and wood chips. Some plants in pots are allowed but not near a window, door or vent and in a non-burnable 5-gallon or less container. And they must be moved out of Zone Zero space on red-flag days.
• Some trees are allowed but they must be trimmed and not have any dead or dying branches. The trees must be taller than the adjacent structure or ridgeline, and all live branches must be 10 feet above the roof and ridgeline, and 10 feet away from chimneys or stovepipe outlets, and 5 feet from the sides of any building.
• No combustible boards, wood, firewood, synthetic lawn, attached window boxes and trellises are permitted. No combustible gates are allowed. Fences must have a 5-foot span of non-combustible material at the point of attachment. Outbuildings are not permitted. After the rules are in effect, there can be no new combustible fences or attached decks within five feet of the building or structure.
• These requirements shall take effect immediately after approval for any new construction. Existing buildings will have three years to comply. The rules could be finalized by December or January, officials said.
Rich Snyder, retired Sierra Madre fire captain and fire marshal, gave a lengthy presentation involving video from the Eaton fire on Jan. 7 right after it started, with graphics depicting how to protect a home from wildfire. The Eaton fire was a wildfire that turned into an urban conflagration, wiping out more than 6,000 homes in Altadena, east Pasadena and Sierra Madre.
The fire started in the wild regions of Eaton Canyon and spread into Angeles National Forest. But winds up to 75 mph blew the flames toward the homes, first to the south, then to the west, unusual behavior he had never seen in 36 years of a firefighting career.
“I’ve never seen anything like this and I’ve been on many fires,” he told the audience.
Now, more than eight months later, he advocated a two-pronged approach to protecting homes from future fires.
Home hardening improvements to his home included adding tight, mesh coverings on all exposed vents and crawl spaces, so embers could not penetrate the house. He also said newer products, such as fire retardant for homeowner use, roof sprinklers and double-paned windows are other home hardening improvements he recommended.
Outside his home, he has removed all the rose bushes that scraped up against his house and replaced them with smaller, potted plants that can be removed during a red-flag warning day.
If a homeowner wants bougainvillea or rosemary plants, both highly flammable, he says don’t put them within 5-feet of your home. He also said wood decks can easily catch fire and bring the flames into the house. All leaves and pine needles in gutters must be cleaned out regularly.
“Defensible space and home hardening. It has to be both,” he said.
To ask questions or give your opinion, send to: PublicComments@bof.ca.gov.