Fire experts warn: it's your neighbor's clutter, not the plants Play

It's been two days since the state of California adopted Zone Zero, the controversial rules aimed at preventing fires from spreading from house to house.

Wednesday, a panel of experts met in Los Angeles to analyze what the rules mean for people in places like Malibu. It was the monthly meeting of the Los Angeles Regional Fire Safe Council.

David Barrett is the regional director of My Safe L.A.

"I can tell you that everyone is very concerned about the vegetation component that is in Zone Zero," Barrett said. "Not even because of vegetation."

Barrett said what your neighbor does with their vegetation directly affects you — in your house and in your pocketbook. Insurance companies are looking next door.

"Insurance providers are now starting to look at community-wide insurance," Barrett said. "How many homes on a particular street or in a particular neighborhood are doing things in connection with each other so that they can be insured."

One major, practical question: wooden fences are not going to be allowed to connect to houses anymore. They are combustible and can act like a fuse for fire.

But what about plastic fences — those white plastic fence panels used all over California? They will burn, but only if exposed to very high heat, and usually they melt first and crumple. Are they banned from connecting a fence to a house under Zone Zero? Still not clear.

The only real noncombustible fence gate that we know of is ugly chain link, with no ivy or any other type of landscaping in it.

The guy from the Fire Safe Council says people should not be worrying so much about landscaping. That's not the problem.

"When we drive through and we work in areas that are in the Very High Fire Severity Zone, we don't see vegetation as being the primary threat to many, many of those homes in those areas," Barrett said. "But what we do see are many things that will cause a house to catch fire and burn to the ground. Garbage cans, recycling bins, patio furniture, lumber stored up against the house. Move them 5 feet away."

David Barrett is regional director of My Safe L.A.

Malibu has its own fire team at city hall, who inspect properties at the owners' invitations. But L.A. County and L.A. city use the volunteers at My Safe L.A. for fire audits.

Malibu officials say they have plenty of openings to consult with Malibu residents on making their property safe, including how to comply with the new Zone Zero rules.

We'll have more of his comments next Monday.