Governor Newsom’s Executive Order on Zone 0 Fire Safety: Insights from the Slow the Burn Training

Posted on March 3, 2025

With wildfires becoming increasingly destructive across California, Governor Gavin Newsom has issued a new executive order focusing on fire prevention, particularly in very high fire hazard severity zones and the critical first five feet surrounding a home—known as Zone 0. These measures align with research-backed strategies discussed in the recent Slow the Burn training, which emphasized fire-resistant landscaping, home hardening, and effective community-wide mitigation efforts.

Understanding Zone 0: The First Line of Defense
Zone 0 is the immediate area around a structure, extending up to five feet from the foundation. According to Slow the Burn experts, embers—carried by high winds during a wildfire—are the leading cause of home ignition. By minimizing flammable materials in this zone, homeowners can drastically reduce fire risk.

Key Takeaways from Slow the Burn and Newsom’s Executive Orders

Eliminating Combustible Materials Near Structures
Governor Newsom’s order mandates the removal of flammable items from Zone 0, echoing Slow the Burn’s core principle: “Your home’s first five feet should be an ember-resistant barrier.” This means:
Clearing dead leaves, pine needles, and dry vegetation
Replacing wood mulch with gravel, decomposed granite, or stone
Removing wooden furniture, fences, and combustible decorations near structures

Hydration Over Plant Selection

The Slow the Burn training emphasized that hydration—not just plant choice—determines flammability. Well hydrated native vegetation can actually catch and cool embers rather than fueling a fire.
Drip or overhead irrigation to maintain plant moisture levels
Fire-resistant native plants like Manzanita, Ceanothus, and Lemonade Berry
The strategic use of greenbelts to slow ember spread

Hardening Homes Against Embers

The training highlighted the importance of home hardening—an approach Newsom’s order now encourages. Essential upgrades include:
Ember-resistant vents to prevent embers from entering attics
Class A fire-rated roofing materials
Dual-pane, tempered glass windows to withstand heat exposure

Community-Based Fire Resilience

A major theme in Slow the Burn was the importance of collective action. Governor Newsom’s orders provide funding and incentives for:
Community-wide fire-safe greenbelts that act as protective buffers
Local grant programs to help residents retrofit homes
Neighborhood education initiatives to promote defensible space best practices

Why You Should Watch Slow the Burn

While executive orders help set regulations, true wildfire preparedness starts with knowledge and action. The Slow the Burn training provides invaluable, hands-on guidance on:
How to create and maintain defensible space effectively
Which plants and materials may provide an increased level of fire resistance
Practical demonstrations of home-hardening techniques
Strategies for community-based fire resilience

By watching APLD’s video archive from the Slow the Burn Symposium, landscape designers, homeowners, landscapers, and community leaders gain the tools needed to make their properties safer while preserving California’s natural landscapes.

What You Can Do Now

Even if you or your clients do not live in a high fire hazard severity zone, all of us can take measures to harden our homes and property.

Assess your Zone 0 area and remove flammable materials
Replace traditional wood mulch with fire-resistant alternatives in Zone 0
Invest in native and climate adapted plants, and fire-resistant landscaping strategies
Upgrade home materials to ember-resistant options
Take advantage of local and state fire-prevention grants
Receive the videos for the Slow the Burn Symposium to learn how to protect your home, please use this site: PURCHASE ONLINE

Pricing for Video Access:
APLD CA Chapter and Board Members: $75
APLD CA General Members: $150
APLD other Chapter Members: $250
Non-APLD students: $200
Non-APLD general pricing: $400