[Your Full Name]
[Your Street Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]
[Email Address]
[Phone Number]
[Date]
CAL FIRE Zone 0 Advisory Committee
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)
P.O. Box 944246
Sacramento, CA 94244-2460
Sent to: PublicComments@bof.ca.gov
Re: Support for Strong Zone 0 Defensible Space Requirements
Dear Zone 0 Advisory Committee Members,
I am writing to express my strong support for the adoption of strict Zone 0 defensible space requirements, as outlined in the current draft regulations.
The science is clear: the area within five feet of a structure is the most critical to structure ignition during a wildfire. All firefighting teams providing testimony in front of this committee, and a very large consensus of wildfire scientists testifying in front of this committee, have endorsed strict Zone 0 defensible space requirements. Ensuring that this critical perimeter is clear of flammable materials is one of the most effective and cost-efficient measures we can take to prevent catastrophic losses.
With California facing longer and more intense fire seasons, and with more homes than ever at risk, we need to adopt strong, evidence-based policies now. The proposed Zone 0 guidelines—including the removal of combustible vegetation and materials immediately adjacent to structures—are both reasonable and essential for community resilience. The only question is whether they go far enough to provide the right amount of safety to residents in the WUI.
I urge the committee to follow the science, and to stand firm against any efforts to weaken or delay these requirements. What could the impact on the residents of Altadena and Pacific Palisades have been, had these regulations been in place already in 2020? Public safety, firefighter protection, and long-term economic sustainability all depend on proactive mitigation. These regulations will save lives, protect homes, reduce the extraordinary burden on our emergency response systems, and may also well make a critical impact on the insurance crisis faced by the WUI neighborhoods around California.
Thank you for your leadership on this critical issue, and for your continued efforts to protect Californians from the growing threat of wildfire.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
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