Moraga-Orinda fire district considers defensible space ordinance

ORINDA, Calif. (KRON) -- The Moraga-Orinda fire district is considering an ordinance that would require homeowners to increase defensible space within five feet of their homes. This is amid an insurance crisis due to the risk of wildfires.

Moraga-Orinda Fire District Chief Dave Winnacker is talking about being prepared when that next big wildfire takes place.

Winnacker discussed a proposed ordinance "Zone Zero" with the community earlier this week. The ordinance would require all homes to have no combustible material within five feet of their property.

"Research and the science researched by the National Institute of Science and Technology and the Institute of Business and Home Safety has been definitive that the presence of combustive vegetation within five feet of a structure is highly correlated to structure loss," Winnacker said.

Homeowners would have to remove combustive materials, including wood fences, mulch, bark, dead or dying trees to prevent fire or embers from igniting that can spread to homes.

"We know this would be a huge change, it would be expensive for people," Orinda Mayor Darlene Gee said. "It would be disruptive and it would be a huge change to the look and feel of our community but we also know how worried people are about fire danger."

Orinda is one of the cities at the top of the list in terms of insured households that were dropped by State Farm this year.

Chief Winnacker says "Zone Zero" would help in the long term.

"We met with the California Department of Insurance with a number of carriers that write the risks and it's very clear the vulnerability present in Zone Zero is what creates the risk," Winnacker said. "There's the risk and the result of large scale loss in homes is what's driving the insurance crisis. If we can take this action with fewer homes burned, the insurance crisis will get better much quicker."

In the meantime, Mayor Gee is urging residents to become engaged with "Zone Zero."

"I think this is something that will be very much be impacting everyone in the community, so people need to pay attention and share how they feel about it," Gee said.

This ordinance proposal is still in its early stages the next fire district board meeting is scheduled for next month.