Suggested questions for decision-makers:

1. The July draft of the Zone 0 regulations has a new clause giving local fire jurisdictions the opportunity to modify the regulations for local conditions. Who decides if the Ventura County Fire Department will modify the state Zone 0 regulations? Will there be a deadline for local jurisdictions to complete this process? Will there be minimum state requirements that cannot be reduced by local jurisdictions?

2. Why isn’t there a Zone 0 distinction made between well irrigated and maintained plants that are resistant to combustion and help protect properties versus dry or dead vegetation?

3. Will there be a government program aiding homeowners who cannot complete the requirements on their own or afford to pay for them to be done? AB 3074 stated an intention to take “into account property owners’ financial resources and the scope of work necessary to achieve compliance.” What does that mean?

4. Who will enforce the Zone 0 regulations? Who will pay for that enforcement? What will happen to a property owner who is unable or unwilling to comply?

5. Have the ecological consequences of a 5-foot ember proof - plant free - zone been considered? Air quality and outdoor temperatures are improved by irrigated vegetation. Urban birds depend on vegetation that is close to homes. Suburban lots don’t have 10ft, 20ft, 30ft spaces to move plants away from homes. These regulations could result in elimination of vital vegetation.

6. What are the data sources showing that a 5-foot “no-plants hard zone” meaningfully prevents structure fires in the Wildland Urban Interface? Plants can serve as ember screens and as temperature reduction vehicles. Why is this published science not being seriously considered?

7. It appears that for trees to be allowed in Zone 0, they must be taller than the peak (ridgeline) of the roof. That means that newer, two-story homes on smaller lots could have to remove all trees and bushes from their property. Is this a correct interpretation?

8. Will BBQ size propane tanks be allowed within 10 feet of a home? The current draft appears to restrict LPG tanks to a distance that will reach beyond the property line for many suburban homes. Won’t moving the BBQ away from the home place it close to wood fencing and the neighbor’s home?

9. Wouldn’t homeowners’ limited resources be better spent ember proofing attics and replacing wood fencing, well-documented routes for high wind event fires to spread from home to home?

10. If you add up the costs of Zone 0 mitigations for millions of homeowners, wouldn’t that be enough money to bury powerlines, the actual cause of most Wildland Urban Interface fires?

11. The rules for the size and spacing of potted plants are unnecessarily prescriptive and a terrible loss for homeowners who benefit from seeing plants through their windows and glass doors. [Page 3 of draft] What’s the evidence that potted plants are a problem?

12. How will local HOAs and their existing rules be brought into line with the Zone 0 requirements? Will these fire hazard regulations supersede HOA bylaws? How much will it cost HOAs to have them rewritten let alone enforced?

13. Will the adoption and enforcement of these standards be tied to guaranteed reductions in insurance costs and a pause in cancelation of fire insurance for residents in very high and high fire severity zones?

14. Who is capturing the feedback from residents that attend community information meetings regarding Zone 0 requirements? Is that feedback provided to the BOF or local fire jurisdictions?

15. How many homes will be impacted by the new regulations? What is the average cost of compliance per home estimated to be?