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CAL FIRE battalion chief urges focus on 'Zone 0' — the first 5 feet around structures
Summary
CAL FIRE battalion chief Steven Hewlett outlined new emphasis on Zone 0 (first 5 feet) under Public Resources Code 4291, saying compliance can reduce structure involvement risk by about 17%; he emphasized education before enforcement and recommended specific clearance distances.
Battalion Chief Steven Hewlett of CAL FIRE told the workshop that defensible space remains the cornerstone of wildfire survivability and that recent guidance highlights the importance of Zone 0 — the five-foot buffer immediately adjacent to structures. "Defensible space as required by law, public resource code 4291," Hewlett said while explaining CAL FIRE's authority and the three-zone concept that now includes Zone 0.
Hewlett and presenters walked through the practical implications: remove combustible mulch and flammable plants in the five-foot zone, keep decks and fences separated from siding by at least five feet where possible, and maintain a 10-foot clearance around chimneys. He said CAL FIRE's current emphasis is educational: the agency will provide guidance and training and is not starting immediate, broad enforcement in the community, though citations remain a tool when neighbor properties create clear risks.
