Gov. Gavin Newsom is ordering the state to speed up its rulemaking for wildfire safety around homes in fire-prone areas that would ban most plants and combustible materials like mulch and wood fencing.
The rules would require people to clear an area within 5 feet of homes — dubbed zone zero, or an ember resistant zone — of any flammable materials, with the exception of mature trees. The rules would apply only in areas where the risk of fire is rated “very high,” in accordance with the state’s fire-risk designations .
Newsom planned to sign the order Thursday after returning from Washington, D.C., where he met with President Donald Trump to push for federal aid to help Los Angeles recover from last month’s wildfires. The blazes ignited in open spaces and raged into Los Angeles County neighborhoods, making clear how unstoppable fires can become when strong winds propel flames and embers from home to home…