Home hardening alone raised survival to 25%. Hardening and clearing defensible space closest to the home up to 5 feet improved survivability to 40%. CBS NewsBy: Kenny ChoiCBS San Francisco September 15, 2025 Home hardening alone raised survival to 25%. Hardening and clearing defensible space closest to the home up to 5 feet improved survivability […]

By: Todd LandoBattalion Chief, Wildfire Hazard Mitigation Specialist – Central Marin Fire Department September 25, 2025 The debate around California’s Zone Zero regulation has reached a critical point. What began as a necessary and science-backed policy proposal has become mired in misinformation, emotional appeals, and increasingly flawed logic. Much of this confusion can be traced

Up to 90% of home ignitions are caused by burning embers. Ember intrusion through openings in your home, and embers landing on vegetation and other combustible materials around your home, are your home’s primary risk to wildfire. That is the reason why a non-combustible zone around your home, known as Zone 0, is so important.

September is National Preparedness Month. It’s an annual observance sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to remind everyone to prepare for emergencies and disasters. For years, we have been talking about “Fire Season.” The trend in articles lately is to say Fire Season is now year-round. So, as we move into this dangerous period

As of July 1, 2021, California Assembly Bill 38 (AB 38) states that the seller of a residential property located in specified zones must submit documentation of compliance with locally adopted defensible space requirements prior to the close of escrow. The new home hardening and defensible space disclosure requirement in California, related to Assembly Bill 38,

Will trash cans burn? Watch the video to see if your guess is correct. Trash cans should always be moved at least 5 feet away from the house and any combustible material on: Red Flag days Voluntary Evacuation (Set!) orders are given Mandatory Evacuation (Go!) orders are given Video:Thanks to NIST (National Fire Research Laboratory),

Think the 5-foot “Zone 0” Means No Yard? Think Again.This homeowner created a 5-foot Zone 0 buffer using smart landscaping and noncombustible materials—and they still have a yard with grass, trees, and flowers spaced out with nothing flammable right against the home. “Zone 0 isn’t about going bare,” says State Fire Marshal Daniel Berlant. “It’s

City of Calabasas Community Wildfire Protection Plan Survey. A Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) is essential for communities in high-risk wildfire areas because it helps communities proactively address the threat of wildfires by identifying hazards, prioritizing mitigation actions, and fostering collaboration between residents, agencies, and other stakeholders. Essentially, a CWPP provides a roadmap for how

What is Defensible Space? CAL FIRE defines Defensible Space as the buffer between your structure and the surrounding area. Adequate defensible space acts as a barrier to slow or halt the progress of fire that would otherwise engulf your property. It also helps ensure the safety of firefighters defending your home. Defensible Space is the

One home burned and the other did not In a recent article by LA Times, staff writer Jack Flemming, writes about a home hardening demonstration put on by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), and the California Building Industry Association. The demonstration pitted the ignitability of two tiny homes, one built to