improve safety by dressing your home in a 5 foot ember resistant “skirt”
September 2023. By Oscar Ortega: Our teams spent the summer improving the safety of Zone 0s for dozens of grantees supported by the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains (RCDSMM). We learned a lot! We can absolutely create beautiful Zone 0s that enhance curb appeal and day-to-day living – it is also possible to just get safer by taking a few simple steps.
January 2025 Notice: This article is designed to provide long-term guidance.
If you have been asked to evacuate, Get Set and Go!
If you simply want to get safer fast, here are five relatively easy steps that will get you there.
Step 1: Identify Your Zone 0
Zone 0 is the five feet closest to your home, including any physical structures like decks or stairways. Let’s walk the perimeter around your home and mark this space. This action alone brings valuable awareness to the space.
Pro Tip: Measure five feet out from the wood structures like decks. For example, in the photo above Andres has bumped out the Zone 0 to accommodate wood stairs that will sit at the entrance to the home.
Step 2: Think Home First
Every fire defense strategy starts with the home. For now, let’s document where we are. Take pictures and make notes of what is in this space. Pay attention to human-made materials – they are often the most easily ignitable, flammable and explosive items on our properties. Ask: How easy would these items be to move? Could you (or your home-alone aged kids) do it alone? How quickly?
Pro Tip: Keep these notes and photos to show fire and insurance agencies. It will be useful to have proof of your progress when enforcement begins. It may also earn an insurance discount or help defend against a loss of insurance.
Step 3: Relocate Critical Dangers
Now that we understand what is in your Zone 0, let’s make it safer. We’ll start by addressing items that are not planted or firmly attached to the home.
- Remove explosive items (e.g. paint cans, gasoline and propane containers, chemical fertilizers, and garbage cans).
- Relocate and store items that easily ignite (e.g. cushions, umbrellas, outdoor rugs and matts; wood piles; wood or plastic furniture, containers, hoses, tools and toys).
Pro Tip: Store noted items in a garage or other ember resistant container as far from the home and neighboring structures as possible. Take a beat to note the effort involved. Would you want to do this under pressure?
Step 4: Clear Exposed Ground
You and your home are already substantially safer. Our next step will be to clear ground level materials away from the home. This typically means you will:
- Rake away mulch and leaf litter, which can be placed in foliage beds beyond Zone 0,,
- Pull back synthetic or turf grass, and
- Prune foliage away from the ground, siding and roofline.
Pro Tip: With the area around your home much more accessible and visible, now would be a great time to get a Home Ignition Zone assessment.
Step 5: This Is the Fun Part!
Now a great time to assess what you want to keep and create. If we were there, we would ask a few questions:
- How do you feel now that you, your home and your neighbors are now much safer?
- How do you want to use the Zone 0 space day-to-day?
- What ember materials do you find charming? Architecturally consistent?
Pro Tip: Ignite your imagination! An ember resistant Zone 0 can facilitate a fun lifestyle, even as it increases safety. With that understanding, we can look out to the broader landscape to plant beautiful, enjoyable defensive spaces.
