Santa Barbara County Fire Marshal Fred Tan, right, says the department is already requiring Zone 0 rules for new construction, referring to the 5-foot fire-resistant area for properties in high-fire-hazard zones. At left is County Fire Chief Garrett Huff.
Santa Barbara County Fire Marshal Fred Tan, right, says the department is already requiring Zone 0 rules for new construction, referring to the 5-foot fire-resistant area for properties in high-fire-hazard zones. At left is County Fire Chief Garrett Huff. Credit: Screenshot via Santa Barbara County

Santa Barbara County officials are already enforcing Zone 0 rules for new construction in high-fire-risk areas, Fire Marshal Fred Tan said Tuesday.

The Zone 0 guidelines refer to a 5-foot fire-resistant area around homes and other structures within high-fire-risk zones.

The California Board of Forestry & Fire Protection approved the rules in late August, and the state Office of Administrative Law is now reviewing them. If they are approved, the rules will apply to new construction statewide immediately.

Property owners of existing homes will have three years to implement most of the rules, which include clearing debris and cutting back trees. 

Tan told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday that County Fire Department personnel are already requiring the 5-foot fire-resistant zone for new developments, while noting that the state has not passed the regulations yet. 

“Right now, Zone 0 is not passed. We are giving some advice and best practices,” he said.

Click here to see whether a property is located in one of the areas subject to the Zone 0 rules.

An interactive map of fire risk zones is available here.

The California Fire Hazard Severity Zone map shows very high risk areas in shades of red; high risk areas in orange; and moderate risk areas in yellow.
The California Fire Hazard Severity Zone map for Santa Barbara County shows very-high-risk areas in shades of red, high-risk areas in orange and moderate-risk areas in yellow. Credit: Courtesy photo

“We have a fairly aggressive defensible space inspection program in the county,” Tan said. 

The county also plans to start a home hardening program next year to make buildings more resistant to fires, in “more threatened areas,” he said. Clearing debris — “don’t forget the gutters,” he said — is part of that. 

Some major recent fires started on the edge of the wildland-urban interface — where communities meet forest or other unoccupied lands — and “those homes became fuel” for the fires, Tan said. 

Home hardening, enforcement and fuel reduction projects by fire departments are important elements of fire prevention efforts, he added. 

Pictured, a Santa Barbara Fire Safe Council diorama showing items that, when located too close to a home, can pose a fire risk. Under new state regulations, owners of properties located within high fire hazard zones would be required to remove or modify combustible items located within five feet of structures, seen here inside the red line.
Pictured, a Santa Barbara Fire Safe Council diorama showing items that, when located too close to a home, can pose a fire risk. Under new state regulations, owners of properties located within high-fire-hazard zones would be required to remove or modify combustible items located within 5 feet of structures, seen here inside the red line. Credit: Evelyn Spence / Noozhawk photo

County Supervisor Joan Hartmann had asked Tan about Zone 0 regulations after he talked about National Fire Prevention Week at Tuesday’s meeting.

The fire prevention public education effort this year emphasizes safely charging lithium-ion battery devices such as phones, laptops, toys, power tools, e-bikes and scooters. 

People should use the correct charger; charge devices on a hard surface so heat can dissipate properly; unplug the battery when devices are fully charged; watch for signs of overheating, swelling, smoke or odd smells; and charge large devices such as e-bikes outside when possible, Tan said.

Noozhawk executive editor Giana Magnoli can be reached at gmagnoli@noozhawk.com.