Real-world evidence of material performance
The Palisades Fire burned through residential neighborhoods in January 2025, destroying thousands of structures. Post-fire assessments by IBHS and CAL FIRE documented significant differences in material performance across affected properties.
Zone 0 principles demonstrated measurable impact on structure survivability. Material choice within the 0-5 foot perimeter was a significant factor in outcomes.
The Eaton Fire affected neighborhoods across Altadena and surrounding communities. Post-fire documentation revealed consistent patterns in material performance and defensible space effectiveness.
Consistent with Palisades findings: Zone 0 compliance with non-combustible materials significantly improved structure survival rates relative to non-compliant properties.
Research from the 2017 Santa Rosa and 2018 Redding fires formed the foundation for Zone 0 policy. These fires demonstrated that ember-driven ignitions were the primary cause of structure loss, leading to AB 3074 and the creation of the Zone 0 standard.
These examples show RELATIVE resilience, not absolute protection. Zone 0 is one layer of defense; Zones 1 & 2 also matter.
