Home Ignition Zone Assessment

Wednesday February 25th | 6:30PM-8PM | Poway City Hall Council Chambers

Hear from the experts and learn about your Home Ignition Zone, including Zone Zero.

The Poway Neighborhood Emergency Corps and Fire Safe Council has invited experts from CAL FIRE San Diego, the San Diego Regional Fire Safe Council, and the Poway Fire Department to provide information on regional wildfire risks, the importance of your Home Ignition Zone, low-cost retrofits, and a FREE Home Ignition Zone Assessment program.

As wildfire awareness continues to grow across San Diego County, the term Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) is becoming increasingly familiar to homeowners. Research has shown that what surrounds a home – such as vegetation, fencing, outdoor furniture, or wood piles – can act as “ladder fuels”, increasing the risk of a home igniting during a wildfire.

To help residents better understand and reduce the risk, the Poway Fire Safe Council, with assistance from the Poway Fire Department, is launching a Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) Assessment Program beginning May 2026.

The Home Ignition Zone includes the structure and the areas extending 0 to 100 feet from the home; the HIZ is divided into three distinct zones:

0 to 5 feet, the most critical zone, also known as Zone Zero
5 to 30 feet, also known as the Intermediate Zone
30 to 100 feet, also known as the Extended Zone

The 0 to 5 foot zone is especially important in dense neighborhoods where homes and property lines are close together. Small changes in this zone can make a significant difference in protecting a structure from embers and radiant heat.

Many Poway homeowners have recently received notices from their insurance companies requiring compliance with these zones to maintain coverage – often leaving residents unsure about what is allowed or discouraged within each zone. Questions commonly arise around landscaping, fences, storage, outdoor furniture, and other items near the home.

To address this confusion and support homeowners, San Diego County successfully launched a HIZ Assessment Program last year through the San Diego Fire Safe Council. This confidential program has helped homeowners understand wildfire risk and take practical steps toward making their properties safer and more insurance-compliant.

Building on that success, Poway is now ready to offer a local HIZ Assessment Program tailored to the community.