Nevada County, CA – As severe wildfires burn across the West, California on Wednesday adopted stringent rules for homeowners to help protect communities from burning.
“Fire chiefs and fire scientists have shown without a doubt that clearing the first five feet around your home, known as Zone 0, can help prevent homes from igniting,” said Jo Ann Fites-Kaufman, president, Wildfire-Ready Coalition. “The ruling is critical to wildfire-readiness in Nevada County.”
After years of debate, the rule adopted by the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection requires new homes to implement the Zone 0 rule. Combustible materials including firewood, wood mulch, wood chips and accumulated debris have to be removed, while certain maintained plants and existing trees can remain under specified conditions. It allows phased implementation for existing homes.
However, said Fites-Kaufman, “The regulation that was adopted is difficult to interpret. It’s likely to cause confusion.”
The regulation says that the plant-free free safety area must extend at least one foot from the structure or to the edge of its eaves, whichever is greater. Vegetation must also be kept two feet from windows, doors and vents and five feet from attached decks and similar features.
In addition, as implementation of the new regulation moves forward, local governments can choose to enforce science-based protections that maximize ember resistance around homes, or they can adopt alternatives.
“Fire doesn’t read regulations,” said Fites-Kaufman. “Research shows that all plants can burn. Even well-watered ones can burn, it just takes longer for them to dry out.”
She pointed out that insurance companies are increasingly enforcing the stricter interpretation of Zone 0: nothing combustible within the first five feet of the home.
Ultimately, she said, “Homeowners need to ask themselves: ‘Do you want to be legal? Or do you want to be safer and keep your insurance?’ Wildfire-Ready Coalition urges Nevada County residents to follow the science and do what insurance companies are requesting or requiring.”
“Wildfire Ready Coalition is committed to helping residents implement actions that are the most beneficial to public safety,” said Fites-Kaufman. “Our Wildfire-Ready Home program translates the best science into actions for homeowners.”
WRC offers Wildfire-Ready Home Workshops for homeowners on preparing your home for wildfire, including meeting requirements of insurance companies, defensible space and home hardening, and Home Advisory Assessments by trained volunteers.
“Our trained volunteers give the homeowner prioritized recommendations that can improve wildfire survivability, strengthen insurance eligibility, and support available insurance discounts,” said Terry Hastings, coordinator of the Wildfire-Ready Home program.
“At the end of a Home Advisory Assessment visit, the homeowner will understand what matters most when preparing a home for wildfire,” she said. “They’ll know what actions to take.”
The program is based on requirements developed by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS), the California Department of Insurance Safer from Wildfires standards, and CAL FIRE PRC 4291 Defensible Space.
Wildfire-Ready Homes Advisory Assessments are educational and advisory only. Information from the assessments is not kept by the Coalition or shared with any other agency or organization. Only the homeowner keeps the results.
Rockrose Risk, an AI-enabled insurance brokerage specializing in wildfire coverage, is a Wildfire-Ready Homes Program sponsor.
Sign up to attend a Wildfire-Ready Homes Workshop this fall.
Sign up for a Home Advisory Assessment.
About Wildfire-Ready Coalition of Nevada County
Formed in March 2025, Wildfire-Ready Coalition of Nevada County is a volunteer-driven nonprofit helping residents, businesses, and communities become better prepared for wildfire through education, Firewise Community support, collaboration, and action.
With growing support, the Coalition is looking towards developing a Fire-Adapted Youth Corps to help low-income seniors with basic home hardening and defensible space. See more about us on our Facebook and Instagram pages.