Why a California city may give up these gardens for wildfire safety
City councilmembers in Berkeley, California, are considering law to ban most plants within five feet of houses in wildfire-prone neighborhoods.
For Bert Monroy, it's all about the details.
The painter and digital artist said he and his wife, Zosia, have spent more than 30 years growing colorful plants and foliage around their home near Grizzly Peak in Berkeley, California. They're meticulous about where numerous agapanthus, nandinas, campanulas and camellias should line up in their Japanese-style garden and how the listeria plant, a white vine, hangs above their patio.
Monroy strongly objects to a proposed ordinance before the Berkeley City Council to ban most plants and other flammable items within five feet of houses in scenic and hilly neighborhoods, which city officials consider the most wildfire-prone.
"People tell me my house looks serene and peaceful," said Monroy, 76, renowned as one of the earliest innovators of Photoshop, the software widely used for editing and creating images. "But we may have to strip it all away. It's a bit heartbreaking."
Berkeley council members unanimously approved the ordinance's plan during their special meeting on April 15. The ordinance will still need a final vote from the City Council to become official on May 8.
The goal would be to create an "ember-resistant zone" for almost 1,000 homes between Tilden Regional Park and Panoramic Hill in the eastern part of the city, Berkeley councilmember Brent Blackaby told Paste BN. He believes creating defensible space could allow for fast-moving fire embers to land on rock or cement instead of plants and other shrubbery.
Blackaby said he’s held about a dozen neighborhood meetings on the topic and is optimistic residents will respond. He’s hoping to get between 60% to 80% compliance within the affected neighborhoods.
"I feel very comfortable knowing where my neighbors stand. We know many may not love being asked to do it, but I think we all want to protect our homes and our community," Blackaby said. "The defensible space would give our firefighters a much better chance of holding the line."
However, for some residents in the proposed area, including Monroy, the ordinance could drastically alter the neighborhood’s charm, which they have spent years creating.
"Walk up and down the street, every home will have to remove some foliage," Monroy said. "There's going to be a big loss of beauty, privacy, some shade and character. It's going to look a lot like just rocks and concrete."
Berkeley motivated to take action after deadly Southern California fires
Blackaby drafted the state-advised proposal with the Berkeley Fire Department shortly after the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires in the Los Angeles region killed at least 30 people; burned more than 37,000 acres, or 57.8 square miles, and damaged or destroyed more than 16,000 structures. Since then, hundreds of spring wildfires burned across the Southern U.S., fueled by an unusual combination of strong winds, low humidity.
Berkeley is following California’s long desire to remove home vegetation and create "zone-zero rules," beginning with a 2020 law ordering the state's Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to draft new standards for what items can be placed near homes by 2023. A committee drafted zone-zero regulations in 2022, but the board has never voted on the draft.
Officials are still trying to work out how those laws would be implemented on a statewide scale, but California Fire Marshall Daniel Berlant told KGO-TV they're coming.
"There are certain plants that are more flammable than others, but the reality is even well-manicured and well-watered plants at the right temperature are going to burn," Berlant said. "And once they catch on fire, they can spread to the home."
Before that, insurance companies statewide urged policyholders to harden their homes against wildfires to keep their coverage; Their suggestions include implementing 5-foot ember-resistant strategies near their homes.
Since the Southern California wildfires, Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency in March to fast-track critical wildfire projects across the state, followed by an executive order to suspend unnecessary permits and review requirements to quickly rebuild the cities of Altadena, Malibu, Pacific Palisades and Pasadena. Even though California has the world's fifth-largest economy, the state is still seeking more federal aid for wildfire damage and economic losses estimated to be in the billions.
"To meet the needs of increasingly extreme weather, where decades-old buildings weren't planned and designed for today's realities, these proposals are part of a bigger state strategy to build wildfire and forest resilience from forest management, to huge investments in firefighting personnel and equipment, community hardening, and adopting state-of-the-art response technologies," Newsom said on Feb. 6.
There are many reasons why Berkeley residents need to clear the foliage around their homes, Char Miller, an environmental analysis professor at Pomona College in Claremont, Calif., told Paste BN.
"It is not a heavy lift," Miller said. "First, it gives the homeowners a possibility of saving their properties. Although if a wind is blowing 40 to 50 mph, then there's little chance. Second, the clearance gives them a buffer to escape more quickly. In short, it could save their lives.
"And, third, they can do it to protect the lives of firefighters who are coming up to save their homes," Miller concluded. "It’s an essential part of our social responsibility to protect those who protect us."
Berkeley's proposed ban isn't limited to foliage
Blackaby's Berkeley home is among those within this proposed zone near Tilden Regional Park. “They’re not the only ones,” Blackaby said. “I’ve got some serious work to do myself.”
According to the city’s latest draft of the proposal released last week, the ban isn’t limited to plants. The proposal would also apply to wooden fences, play sets, trash and recycling bins, boats, and RVs,
Some trees would also have to be removed from the 5-foot zone, unless they are taller than the house they are near, the city's draft mentioned.
Blackaby said he realizes this could be an expensive proposition as Berkeley officials are working on a financial plan, possibly including grants, to help alleviate some pressure on residents.
But Monroy told Paste BN he believes "there won’t be enough money to go around for everybody. These homes are far too big for the millions of dollars it will take to remove all of this foliage."
If passed, Blackaby said the goal would also be to educate residents living on Berkeley’s eastern edge on how to make the defensible space within the next 12 to 18 months to reach “the level of protection needed to shift our attention to other areas.”
"We’re not dismissing anybody’s concerns," Blackaby concluded. "But there is a sense of urgency to get this done."