Two months after the Eaton and Palisades wildfires tore through Los Angeles County, a long-delayed California regulation aimed at protecting the state’s most vulnerable homes is moving forward.
The new “Zone 0” regulations would require residents in certain high-severity fire zones to clear combustible materials from within 5 feet of their homes. Originally scheduled to take effect in January 2023, the rules have been in limbo for years.
But a recent executive order from California Gov. Gavin Newsom has added urgency, directing the state’s Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to enact the regulations by the end of this year.
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It’s better late than never, advocates say. But some supporters are worried the new rules still won’t go far enough.
