California is introducing new rules to help protect homes from wildfires, especially in areas that are most at risk. These new regulations aim to stop fire hazards from getting too close to houses, making it harder for wildfires to spread. The changes follow a law called the “zone-zero” law, which was passed by lawmakers in 2020 after wildfires in 2017 and 2018 caused massive damage, including the tragedy in Paradise.
The new rules, which will be developed by California’s fire agency, CAL Fire, focus on limiting certain items, like wooden fences, outdoor furniture, sheds, and brush, within five feet of homes in high-risk areas. This means that homeowners in fire-prone areas will need to keep these things away from their homes to reduce the risk of fires.
These rules are an important part of the state’s efforts to reduce the damage caused by wildfires, but there have been delays in finalizing them. The new regulations were supposed to take effect in 2023, but they have been delayed, leaving some lawmakers frustrated that the rules haven’t been in place yet, especially after the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles just last month.
After meeting with President Donald Trump about disaster aid, Governor Gavin Newsom signed an order to push CAL Fire to release a draft of the new rules next month. The goal is to have the rules fully adopted by the end of 2025. These rules will be in addition to the existing defensible space laws that require homeowners to clear flammable materials within 100 feet of their homes.
The new regulations are part of a bigger effort to prevent the kind of destruction seen in recent wildfire seasons. It’s expected that these regulations will help improve safety and reduce the damage caused by wildfires in the future. With more people moving to fire-prone areas, these rules are critical to ensuring that homes and lives are better protected in case of a wildfire.
(Source : mymotherlode.com)
