Author: Tim Stone
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Zone 0: What the New Wildfire Rules Really Mean for Our Homes
There has been a great deal of discussion about California’s new Zone 0 wildfire regulations — and, as often happens, some rather alarming claims on social media about what homeowners will be required to do. So what does Zone 0 actually mean for those of us living in Rancho Cielo? This week, the California Board of Forestry…
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Fire-Safe Vents: One More Step Toward a More Resilient Home
We’ve lived in Rancho Cielo for 34 years, and we truly enjoy our neighborhood and our home. Like many residents, we’ve gradually made improvements over the years to better prepare for the wildfire risks that come with living in such a beautiful area. Most of my efforts have focused on embers. Unlike flames, embers…
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The First Five Feet Around Your House May Be the Most Important
Wildfire experts often talk about the area immediately around a house as the 0–5 foot zone. This area, right next to the house, may be the most important area to keep clear of materials that can ignite from embers. If embers land right next to a wall, window, or door and ignite something in that area,…
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Why Wind-Blown Embers Are the Biggest Risk to Homes
When most people think about wildfires, they imagine a large wall of flames moving through an area and burning everything in its path. In reality, many homes are not lost from the main fire front, but from wind-blown embers that can travel long distances ahead of the fire. During major wildfires, burning embers can be carried by…
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We can make a difference
Over the past several years, wildfires have become an increasing concern throughout California and especially in communities like ours that are located near open space and natural vegetation. One important thing we have learned from recent fires is that many homes are not lost from the main fire front, but from wind-blown embers that travel…