As scientists who study how vegetation ignites and burns, we recognize that well-maintained plants and trees can actually help protect homes from wind-blown embers and slow the spread of fire in some cases. So, we are concerned about new wildfire protection regulations being developed by the state of California that would prohibit almost all plants and other combustible material within 5 feet of homes, an area known as “Zone 0.”
That’s in the article too.
I don’t know their reasoning for the 5’ and I live in a different climate, but ….
Maybe it’s as simple as avoiding things that catch dead leaves near the house
The 5’ is called defensible space here in the mountains, it gives firefighters room to work.