A new ‘Zone Zero’ defensible space draft rule grows in controversy at Pasadena meeting

Controversial new state regulations requiring removal of vegetation and other combustible materials from within 5 feet of homes in high fire-hazard areas — called Zone Zero rules — received a mostly negative reception Thursday, Sept. 18 at a meeting in Pasadena.

The meeting, attended by about 150 people, including some who lost their homes in the Eaton and Palisades fires in early January, continued the debate over whether state-proposed defensible space regulations aimed at protecting homes from future wildfires are necessary, too restrictive, or will cause more harm.

In February, the state declared 2 million acres of land as “high” or “very high” fire danger areas. In the five months prior to that announcement, Southern California suffered three destructive wildfires — the Eaton and Pa