California plan to ban most plants within 5 feet of homes for wildfire safety overlooks some important truths about flammability
- Written by Max Moritz, Wildfire Specialist, University of California Cooperative Extension; Adjunct Professor at the Bren School, University of California at Santa Barbara, University of California, Santa Barbara
Photos after the Los Angeles fires in January 2025 show many yards where vegetation didn't burn while neighboring houses did.AP Photo/Chris PizzelloOne of the most striking patterns in the aftermath of many urban fires is how much unburned green vegetation remains amid the wreckage of burned neighborhoods.
In some cases, a row of shrubs may be all...
