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February 27, 2025

HOMES THAT SURVIVED THE PALISADES FIRE

The following is an excerpt from an interview conducted by the El Dorado County Fire Safe Council with Jeff Hogg, Battalion Chief of the Wildfire Resilience Program for the Amador-El Dorado Unit of CAL FIRE.

Jeff Hogg’s report is essential for Serrano homeowners, offering valuable insights on strengthening our community’s wildfire resilience. With noncombustible siding and fire-rated roofs, our primary concern isn’t structural materials but preventing embers and flames from entering our homes.

After weeks of analyzing the surviving homes and the many destroyed in the densely populated, flatter areas of the Palisades Fire, Jeff returned home with these insights:

What were the key factors that allowed some homes to survive?

“Five key factors stood out to me:

1. No ember penetration. No gaps larger than 1/8 inch in vents, walls, eaves, or other openings.

2. Noncombustible siding, such as stucco or fiber cement.

3. No plants or combustibles were in a 0-5 foot zone around the survived houses. This truly made a big difference.

4. Many surviving homes did not have combustible fences attached directly, which helped break potential fire paths.

5. Homes with significant setbacks from surrounding structures, such as across a street (typically 60-80 feet wide), also played a crucial role in reducing structure-to-structure ignition and preventing fires from spreading between neighboring houses.”

Is there anything else you’d like us to know about the fires?

“Firefighters worked hard to get people out safely. Evacuation was a huge issue. People had a good warning that a major wind/dry event was coming but didn’t always heed it or prepare to evacuate quickly. My advice: Be ready, and pay attention!”

Could the widespread destruction you witnessed in L.A. happen here in El Dorado County?

“The possibility of urban conflagration exists under the right conditions. We typically do not see the wind events we saw in Southern California in El Dorado County. But that does not mean it could not happen. Several factors could lead to a similar event, but many variables make it difficult to say when or where. We have witnessed catastrophic incidents in communities not only from strong wind events but from fuel and terrain-driven fires as well. When people prepare their homes, and communities work to reduce the available fuels around them, it greatly helps to reduce the chance of such events.”

Source: Foothill Fire Flash. El Dorado County Fire Safe Council. Winter 2024/20255

December 13, 2024

INSURANCE REGULATIONS

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has introduced several significant regulatory changes affecting homeowners insurance in the state:

Expanded Coverage in Wildfire-Prone Areas: Insurers must issue more comprehensive policies in areas heavily impacted by wildfires.

Inclusion of Reinsurance Costs: Insurance companies are permitted to factor in the cost of reinsurance when calculating their cost basis.

Recognition of Mitigation Efforts: Catastrophe models must now incorporate the mitigation measures undertaken by homeowners, businesses, and communities.

While these changes address coverage challenges in high-risk areas, they are expected to raise insurance premiums substantially.

The impact of these regulations on homeowners currently relying on the FAIR Plan remains uncertain.

October 31, 2024

ZONE 0

Senate Bill 504 signed into law extended the five-foot noncombustible zone (Zone 0) effective date on existing structures to 3 years after it becomes effective on new construction.

August 29, 2024

CWPP

The County Office of Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience announced the launch of the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP)'s new website, public survey,and workshops.

July 17, 2024

DEFENSIBLE SPACE ORDINANCE

The Board of Supervisors approved Defensible Space Ordinance 5186, effective August 16, 2024. The Ordinance applies to the County's unincorporated areas, including El Dorado Hills.

Homeowners must maintain 100 feet of defensible space from all sides of their home and decks but not beyond their property line. The owner beyond their property line shall remove hazardous vegetation within 100 feet.

This ordinance impacts golf course fairways, natural open space firebreaks, front, side, and rear yard landscaping, and possibly landscaping along parkways, private roads, and on slopes and green belts inside villages.

At the July El Dorado County Fire Safe Council meeting, Jeff Hoag, Cal Fire Battalion Chief, said IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home Plus is likely to be adopted as a standard by Cal Fire and fire districts because of its scientifically backed research.

June 1, 2024

NEWSLETTER

The El Dorado County Fire Safe Council issues its Spring 2024 Newsletter.

May 29, 2024

INSURANCE REGULATONS

New Language in California Budget Seeks to Expedite Insurance Rate Filing Approvals. (Insurance Journal)

May 15, 2024

SERRANO FIRE SAFE COUNCIL

The El Dorado County Fire Safe Council Board votes to accept the Serrano Fire Safe Council as its 32nd Advisory Council.

April 23, 2024

SERRANO FIRE SAFE COUNCIL

The Serrano Owner's Association Board votes to support the formation of the Serrano Fire Safe Council.

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