"California struggled for years to adopt new landscaping rules that dictate what residents in fire-prone areas can plant and build within five feet of their homes, known as Zone Zero.
Experts were deadlocked on how much to ask of homeowners, versus the benefit in fire protection. The committee drafting the regulations even stopped working on them for two years, blowing past a state-mandated deadline. When the L.A. fires in 2025 prompted action, some of the proposals experts did agree on still enraged homeowners.
Yet last week, California managed to pull it off — navigating the public backlash that has derailed and limited efforts by other Western states.
“I think it’s worth just noting what a good job this board has been able to do,” said Matt Weiner, chief executive and founder of Megafire Action, a national advocacy group working to end the wildfire crisis. “The board was able to find a functioning compromise that is still grounded in science … while addressing the biggest of the concerns from the community in the context of really unscientific opposition.”"
Noah Haggerty reports for the Los Angeles Times' Boiling Point column August 27, 2026.
