Newsom speeds up regulations

Fireproofing homes may be worth the cost

Fireproofing your home in California is now a necessity to stave off devastating losses with the ever-increasing wildfires that regularly whip through the state.

Gov. Gavin Newsom is on his own fire rampage to speed up regulations that were adopted four years ago to help homeowners fire-proof their homes. A state law adopted in 2020 that requires a five-foot clear area surrounding homes in high fire hazard areas was expanded to the defensible space property owners are supposed to create and maintain around their homes.

After almost 12,000 homes were incinerated during the Palisades and Altadena fires, now said to be the most destructive fires in California history, the state is scrambling to find ways to encourage homeowners to create buffers around homes, especially those located in densely populated areas near unmanaged vegetation or nearby mountain ranges.

According to a Feb. 22 Los Angeles Daily News article, Newsom told the state Board of Forestry to speed up the 2020 ember-free regulations to help fire-proof homes.

High fire areas, according to the article, are called “wildland-urban or WUI interface,” areas where humans dwell near open land. Adding to the danger is climate change, which means fires are more intense than ever. An increasing number of people around the US now live in that transition zone where open lands meet human development.

So, what’s a homeowner to do? Certain design elements can help. Greg Chasen, a Santa Monica-based architect noted in a Feb. 11 Wall Street Journal article that a famous home he had designed in the Palisades withstood the recent fire devastation. He offered some tips:

• Heat resistant, dual paned windows made with tempered glass. These windows can withstand high temperatures and slow down breakage, which allows embers to enter the house.
• Creating landscape five feet away from homes around homes helps reduce fire risk. This means no vegetation near the home or fire-safe plants.
• Concrete planters are also able to withstand high temperatures. Chasen also recommends substituting stone for mulch outside the five-foot perimeter.
• Fire-resistant siding on a home, like high-performance stucco, also helps mitigate fire risk.
• Thermal-treated wood is another great choice for siding. Chasen said in the article that an additional layer of gypsum board behind the siding adds another layer of protection.
• Fire-resistant decks are also on the list for home protection. These decks are made of Ipe wood, which is extremely durable and termite-resistant. Concrete or Class A fire-treated wood can provide the same protection. Keeping decks free from flammable objects is also recommended.
• The roof of a home is very vulnerable to fire because of its size. A metal roof, according to experts, is the best option for fire safety, but Spanish clay tiles is another good choice. Chasen said that because embers often fly horizontally, an unvented attic helps ward off flames as does the removal of wooden eaves from the roof.
• 50,000-gallon tank of water on a property was also on the recommendation list. Powered by a solar battery and liquid gas, the tank would continue to run during a power shortage. Some homeowners, Chasen said, have purchased a personal fire hydrant.
• CLICK HERE to read original Daily News Article