Who we are

Zone0 Berkeley is a volunteer working group formed after the City rushed through the EMBER ordinance with little public voice. We believe wildfire safety must be science‑led and democratically enacted. Berkeley can safeguard lives and homes and keep the trees and gardens that naturally resist fire while the State develops its Zone 0 rules.

Zone0 Berkeley emerged because EMBER advanced behind closed doors and leaves critical threats unaddressed. Here’s what the flyer highlights—and what drives our work:

🔍 Fact Check

  • Well‑watered vegetation saves homes - Latest studies show houses with maintained trees & plants within 5 ft survive fires more often than homes stripped bare.

  • Phase 1 is only the start - EMBER begins with 1 200 homes but scales to 9 000 +—impacting most hillside properties.

  • Missing environmental review - Erosion, heat‑island effects, and air‑quality impacts were not studied before mandating large‑scale vegetation removal.

  • Costs hit residents first - Homeowners face $1 000 – $30 000 in removals, inspections, fines, even criminal citations—while big utilities stay exempt.

⚠️ Policy Gaps

  • State guidance still in draft - The Board of Forestry’s Zone 0 rules aren’t final—yet EMBER goes further and starts enforcement in 2026.

  • Stricter than the State - EMBER targets fences and garden plants but ignores powerlines, eucalyptus groves, and Tilden Park fuel loads.

  • Fire response limits - The closest East Bay Regional Parks fire station is unstaffed after 6 p.m.—a key ignition risk left out of the ordinance.

🌳 Our Principles

  • Science‑led measures: focus on both ignition (aging powerlines, park vegetation) and balanced defensible space.

  • Democratic process: transparent hearings, real community amendments, and alignment with State Zone 0.

  • Living landscape: keep shade trees, slope‑holding roots, pollinator gardens, and backyard habitats that also reduce radiant heat.

  • Equity & feasibility: protect seniors, renters, and fixed‑income neighbors from unmanageable mandates.

🚀 What We’re Doing

  • Public awareness: distributing this flyer, tabling at markets, hosting block chats.

  • Policy briefs: plain‑language comparisons—EMBER vs. draft Zone 0—to share with media and officials.

  • Story & data collection: documenting real costs, tree‑loss impacts, and ignition hazards the ordinance missed.

  • State‑level engagement: submitting comments and coordinating with other communities before Zone 0 is finalized.

🤝 Get Involved

  • Write the State: publiccomments@bof.ca.gov

  • Learn more / volunteer: subscribe to zone0berkeley.org

  • Share the flyer with three neighbors this week

Together, we can craft wildfire policies that truly protect Berkeley—without sacrificing the green spaces and community fabric that make it home.

Why we Exist

Zone 0 Berkeley – Quick‑Look Fact Sheet

1. What is “Zone 0” and EMBER?

  • Zone 0 = first 5 ft around your home (measured from eaves/deck). Current draft interprets it as “complete hardscape, no vegetation.”

  • Berkeley’s EMBER ordinance adopts that same reading and starts city inspections in 2026—years before the State rules are final.

2. Why should Berkeley homeowners care?

  • Small lots get hit hardest – no room for any shrubs, vines, or foundation plantings.

  • Costly compliance & penalties – forced clear‑outs, liens for city cleanup costs, and insurance claim denials for “non‑compliance.”

  • Tree loss & heat – trees must clear the roof by 10 ft; many will be removed, increasing summer heat and slope erosion.

  • No environmental review / limited science – the draft rules moved forward without studying ecological or heat‑island impacts.

3. Key gaps in EMBER

  • Ignores real ignitions – aging power‑lines & park fuel loads stay untouched.

  • One‑size‑fits‑all – identical rules for flat Brentwood lots and Berkeley’s steep hillsides.

  • Minimal public input – ordinance approved with token hearings and little data.

4. Zone 0 Berkeley stands for

  1. Science‑led standards – balance ignition sources and defensible space.

  2. Democratic process – transparent hearings, real amendments from residents.

  3. Living landscape – keep well‑maintained trees & gardens proven to slow embers.

  4. Pause & align – delay EMBER enforcement until State Zone 0 rules are finalized and fully vetted.

5. How you can help

  • Measure your 5‑ft zone – see what EMBER would remove.

  • Share this sheet with neighbors.

  • Voice your views to Berkeley City Council and the State Board of Forestry.

  • Join Zone 0 Berkeley – volunteer, gather data, keep Berkeley green and fire‑resilient.

Contact us

Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!