Zone 0 Fire Safety
Retired Fire Marshal & ISA Certified Arborist
30+
years in the fire service
Former Fire Marshal
Up to date on regulation and what fire inspectors look for
Battalion Chief & Strike Team Leader
Led strike teams in the major CA wildland fires
Cal OES Safety Officer
Statewide emergency response
ISA Certified Arborist
Proper pruning techniques and tree care
B.S. Forestry & Natural Resources
Vegetation and wildlife management expertise
Licensed Real Estate Broker
Understands defensible space and property value for buyers and sellers
Every Zone 0 project is personally overseen by Robert, from the first walk-through to the final load hauled away.
Alpine, CA
Overgrown to Zone 0 ready
Dead brush, leaf litter, and overgrown plants were packed right up against this home. We cleared the five feet around the house, trimmed the trees back from the roof, and hauled everything away.
- Dead vegetation and debris removed
- Trees trimmed back from the roof
- Mulch replaced with gravel
- Everything hauled away
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What is Zone 0?
Zone 0 is the first five feet around your home. It matters because most homes lost in wildfires are lit by embers landing on something that burns right next to the house, not by the fire front itself.
- Remove dead plants, leaves, and needles
- Replace bark mulch and wood chips with non-combustible material
- Move firewood and stored items away from the walls
- Keep roofs and gutters clear
Healthy, well-spaced plants can often stay. California's statewide rules are still being finalized and phased in, and some cities already have their own, so we'll tell you what applies to your address.
Read the full Zone 0 guide
From the assessment to the last load on the truck
- Zone 0 assessment
- A walk-around of the five feet around your home, with a plain-English list of what to clear, fix, or keep.
- Clearing and debris removal
- Mulch, dead plants, leaf litter, stacked wood, and anything else that shouldn't sit against your walls.
- Haul-away
- Everything we clear leaves on our truck the same day. No piles left for you to deal with.
- Roof and gutter clearing
- Leaves and needles out of gutters, roof valleys, and the spots embers tend to land.
- Tree trimming near the house
- Arborist-guided pruning of limbs over the roof, keeping healthy trees healthy.
- Zone 1 and 2 work
- When it makes sense, we extend the clearing out to 30 and 100 feet.
Gravel fill
Once Zone 0 is cleared, we can lay gravel around your home. It keeps weeds and dust down, it helps prevent soil erosion, and it leaves the area looking clean and finished.
Open the map Map: CAL FIREIs your home in a fire hazard zone?
Zone 0 rules apply based on your home's Fire Hazard Severity Zone. Look up your address on CAL FIRE's official map to see where you stand.
Check your addressOpens CAL FIRE's official map in a new tab.
Check your Zone 0 in a minute
Six yes-or-no questions. Walk outside with your phone if it helps.
Question 1 of 6
Is there bark mulch, wood chips, or dry leaves within 5 feet of your house?
Recent projects
Real Zone 0 work across Southern California: cleared, hauled away, and left clean.
How it works
- 1
Request an assessment
Call or send the form. Add a few yard photos if you'd like a rough quote before the visit.
- 2
We walk the property
Robert looks at your home the way a fire crew would, and explains what matters most.
- 3
We clear and haul it away
You get a clear quote. Once approved, we do the work and leave the site clean.
Meet Robert
More than 30 years in the California fire service, including roles as Fire Marshal, Battalion Chief, and Safety Officer for Cal OES. Robert is also an ISA Certified Arborist with a degree in Forestry and Natural Resources, and a licensed real estate broker. He personally oversees every Zone 0 Fire Safety project.
Read his storySan Diego to Ventura
We work across coastal and inland Southern California, including:
Not sure if we cover your area? Call and ask.
(424) 327-9111Realtors, HOAs, and property managers
Get listings and communities ready ahead of inspections, insurance renewals, and sales. Ask about scheduling multiple properties. DRE # 01313057
Talk about partneringCommon questions
Is Zone 0 required where I live?
It depends on your city. California's statewide Zone 0 rules are being finalized and phased in, and some cities already enforce their own. We'll tell you what applies to your address.
Do I have to remove all my plants?
No. Some plants and trees can stay if they're healthy, maintained, and properly spaced. The focus is on dead material, mulch, and things that catch embers.
My insurance company sent me a notice. Can you help?
Yes. That's one of the most common reasons people call. Bring the notice to the assessment and we'll work through it with you.
Get a firefighter's eyes on your home
The assessment is free, and there's no pressure to book the work.