As scientists who study how vegetation ignites and burns, we recognize that well-maintained plants and trees can actually help protect homes from wind-blown embers and slow the spread of fire in some cases. So, we are concerned about new wildfire protection regulations being developed by the state of California that would prohibit almost all plants and other combustible material within 5 feet of homes, an area known as “Zone 0.”
As per usual, politicians coming up with half baked plans without consulting scientists or going with scientific recommendations.
The appearance of doing something about a problem is much easier and more politically expedient than actually doing something about a problem.