San Elijo Hills Launches New Grant to Help Homeowners Clear Wildfire Risks Near Their Homes |
Qualifying homeowners could receive $750 to $2,250 toward removing combustible vegetation within five feet of their homes |
For some San Marcos homeowners, making a property more wildfire-resistant could soon come with a little financial help.
The San Elijo Hills Fire Safe Council is launching a new Zone 0 Vegetation Removal Grant Program designed to help qualifying homeowners remove trees and combustible vegetation immediately surrounding their homes.
According to the council's announcement, homeowners who qualify may receive $750 to $2,250 in reimbursement funding, with a dollar-for-dollar match required.
Why the First Five Feet Matter
“Zone 0” refers to the area extending from a home or other structure out to five feet.
It's a relatively small space with an outsized role in wildfire safety.
The San Elijo Hills Fire Safe Council describes Zone 0 as a home's “noncombustible moat” — an area intended to reduce the chance that wind-driven embers will ignite vegetation or other combustible material directly next to a structure.
The council recommends removing vegetation within five feet of a home, eliminating trees and branches within or overhanging the zone, replacing combustible groundcover with materials such as gravel or pavers, and removing items such as firewood and combustible outdoor furnishings.
California wildfire guidance similarly focuses on reducing combustible material immediately adjacent to structures as part of defensible-space and home-hardening efforts.
Who Can Get the Money?
The council says the new program will reimburse qualifying homeowners for eligible vegetation-removal projects, including removing trees and other combustible vegetation within the first five feet of a home.
Exactly who qualifies, which projects will be eligible and how applications will be prioritized are expected to be explained when the program officially launches in September.
The San Elijo Hills Fire Safe Council is a homeowner-led nonprofit formed to improve wildfire preparedness in San Elijo Hills and surrounding neighborhoods. All three of its local zones — San Elijo Hills North, San Elijo Hills South and Old Creek Ranch — have earned Firewise USA recognition.
The council was also among 30 local Fire Safe Councils receiving funding through the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation's 2026 Project SAFE grant program.
Grant Applications Launch September 17
Residents can learn more at the 2026 San Elijo Hills Fire Safe Council Forum:
Thursday, September 17, 2026 5:30–7:30 p.m. Double Peak School, San Marcos
The forum is open to the public and will include information about Zone 0, homeowners insurance and wildfire risk, wildfire decision-making and evacuation procedures, along with the official launch of the vegetation-removal grant program.
The council says applications will open that evening.
For homeowners staring at an overgrown shrub, tree or other combustible landscaping a little too close to the house, September may bring both an incentive — and some help paying to get it gone.
Questions You May Have About The Wildfire Risk Grant
What is Zone 0? Zone 0 is the area within the first five feet surrounding a home or structure and is intended to minimize combustible materials that can ignite from wildfire embers.
How much could homeowners receive? The San Elijo Hills Fire Safe Council says qualifying homeowners may receive $750 to $2,250 in reimbursement funding, with a dollar-for-dollar match required.
When do applications open? The council says applications will officially open during its September 17, 2026 Emergency Preparedness Forum.
Where is the forum? Double Peak School in San Marcos, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. |
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I think this will help insurance costs too if more people clean up their yards. Wildfires are no joke anymore.
Does this include replacing wood fences right up against the homes? Our HOA is strict about changes.
I went to one of the Council’s talks last year. They really care about keeping us safe. I’ll be at the forum in September!
Julie AnnGlad to hear the talks were useful, Julie! I might check out the forum too since I’ve got some old shrubs I need to deal with. Would be nice to learn a bit more about their actual process.
Nice idea. I just hope they make the process easy. Grants like this can get tangled in paperwork.
Always wondered what ‘Zone 0’ meant. Makes sense to clear everything right up against the house.
$750 to $2,250 is pretty generous. Not sure about the dollar-for-dollar match though, some folks may still not be able to afford it.
Curious to see how they decide who qualifies. My neighbor’s yard is a jungle, hope they apply.
Wish this had been around when I had to rip out all the old bushes by my place last spring. That was not cheap!
Glad to see our Fire Safe Council stepping up with real support. Every bit helps when it comes to these fires.