Fire official Autumn Lancaster briefs Clear Lake council on draft 'Zone 0' wildfire rule

Autumn Lancaster, a representative of the Lake County Fire Protection District, told the Clear Lake City Council that the California Board of Forestry is in the final stages of drafting a regulation called “Zone 0” that covers the immediate 5 feet around homes and attached decks.

Lancaster said the regulation is intended to reduce ember intrusion and other ignition pathways by removing combustible materials near exterior walls: “Zone 0 creates a combustible free boundary around the structure with no dry grass even if it’s cut, no combustible furniture or items, including trash cans, and very limited allowances for spaced plants.” She emphasized that the proposal is not yet ratified and that education and outreach are the board’s current priorities.

The presentation included a Board of Forestry video that, according to Lancaster, summarizes the draft’s rationale and key provisions. Lancaster described three inspection pathways the fire district offers: complaint‑driven educational inspections for defensible‑space minimums, AB 38 real‑estate inspections required on property sales in high/very‑high hazard zones, and free voluntary NFPA‑based home assessments that go beyond state minimums. She also noted a voluntary IBHS wildfire‑prepared home designation program for homeowners seeking a higher level of mitigation.

Council members and residents asked whether Zone 0 would apply to all homes and how accessory structures would be treated. Lancaster said Zone 0 would apply immediately to new construction in covered areas and that existing homes would have a three‑year phase‑in before retroactive enforcement; she added that accessory buildings within 5 feet of a primary structure may need their own defensible area or the homeowner could create a separate small Zone 0 around the accessory structure. Lancaster repeated that local fire agencies will perform inspections and can exercise discretion based on local conditions.

Lancaster outlined the fuel‑management rationale: embers can travel miles and account for the majority of home ignitions in extreme conditions, while radiant heat and direct flame contact are other major ignition pathways. She said the draft has been revised several times in response to public comment and that the Board of Forestry is continuing to accept input.

The council did not take regulatory action; Lancaster encouraged residents to engage with the Board of Forestry’s public‑comment process and described how the local fire district can schedule assessments or provide information about AB 38 inspections.