Lauren Frayer

Yeah, you know, Los Angeles was one of the first major cities to ban wood roofs. And now there are strict rules about the vegetation around homes in risky areas. Every year, residents get an inspection for defensible space. Trees have to be cut back from your roof. You know, the brush has to be spaced out. The gutters have to be cleared of dead leaves.

And in 2022, Los Angeles County did more than 58,000 inspections.

And in 2022, Los Angeles County did more than 58,000 inspections.

And in 2022, Los Angeles County did more than 58,000 inspections.

The city or county will fine them and then hire a contractor to do the work, which the homeowners also have to pay for. Many other Western states don't have policies that are even close to this. But even in California, they're realizing it's not enough because studies show it's the area right next to a house that matters the most.

The city or county will fine them and then hire a contractor to do the work, which the homeowners also have to pay for. Many other Western states don't have policies that are even close to this. But even in California, they're realizing it's not enough because studies show it's the area right next to a house that matters the most.

The city or county will fine them and then hire a contractor to do the work, which the homeowners also have to pay for. Many other Western states don't have policies that are even close to this. But even in California, they're realizing it's not enough because studies show it's the area right next to a house that matters the most.

So starting next year, there are going to be new rules for almost no vegetation within five feet of a house. And that's already causing a lot of pushback from homeowners who like to have that greenery, you know, outside their windows.

So starting next year, there are going to be new rules for almost no vegetation within five feet of a house. And that's already causing a lot of pushback from homeowners who like to have that greenery, you know, outside their windows.

So starting next year, there are going to be new rules for almost no vegetation within five feet of a house. And that's already causing a lot of pushback from homeowners who like to have that greenery, you know, outside their windows.

OK, so what else could L.A. have done to be better prepared? California has tough building codes for fire prone areas that require using fire resistant building materials, you know, like the roof or the siding. But that's only for houses that have been built since 2008. And the majority of L.A. 's housing stock is older than that.

OK, so what else could L.A. have done to be better prepared? California has tough building codes for fire prone areas that require using fire resistant building materials, you know, like the roof or the siding. But that's only for houses that have been built since 2008. And the majority of L.A. 's housing stock is older than that.

OK, so what else could L.A. have done to be better prepared? California has tough building codes for fire prone areas that require using fire resistant building materials, you know, like the roof or the siding. But that's only for houses that have been built since 2008. And the majority of L.A. 's housing stock is older than that.

And then getting a new roof or replacing your siding.

And then getting a new roof or replacing your siding.

And then getting a new roof or replacing your siding.

Yeah, definitely. I spoke to Michael Gallner, an engineering professor at UC Berkeley, about that. And he said there are grant programs to help homeowners harden their homes, as it's known, but they're very small.

Yeah, definitely. I spoke to Michael Gallner, an engineering professor at UC Berkeley, about that. And he said there are grant programs to help homeowners harden their homes, as it's known, but they're very small.

Yeah, definitely. I spoke to Michael Gallner, an engineering professor at UC Berkeley, about that. And he said there are grant programs to help homeowners harden their homes, as it's known, but they're very small.

And, you know, one other thing that L.A. could have done, both the city and county don't have community wildfire protection plans. These are plans that are commonly used in other places to identify where the big vulnerabilities are. And those are just in the early stages of being written in L.A.