Link to Forbes.com (March 25, 2025) | LA area residents who lost their homes, or had heavy damage, during the January fires have a long and difficult road to recovery ahead… What are the takeaways from this tragedy for others involved in developing, building, buying, owning and, yes, regulating home construction in high risk fire areas?
…“It is time we take defensible space seriously,” cautions Ben Stapleton, the US Green Building Council California’s executive director. Based in Pasadena, he’s less than four miles from Altadena, one of the two major fire sites. He recommends implementing Zone 0, which removes vegetation from within five feet of homes.
“Also, we know fire adapted, well-irrigated natives will reduce risk, along with strategically placed tree canopies to block embers funneled through wind tunnels, especially our native oaks.” Southern California has experienced wildfires since before any of its large cities were incorporated, so using the land’s native species just makes sense. “In some cases, the vegetation was almost left untouched while the whole home burned,” Stapleton adds. (Read full article)
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