Among the most visible and debated shifts in current wildfire policy is Zone Zero — a defensible-space standard requiring the first five feet surrounding a structure to be cleared of all combustible material.

While the policy aims to reduce home ignition and ember spread, it comes with a financial – and often emotional – impact on homeowners.

For insurers, policymakers, and community leaders, understanding the science and risk mitigation of any new consumer-facing regulation – and how to then communicate that more broadly – is key.

Join Milliman principal and consulting actuary Nancy Watkins in conversation with Berkeley Fire Research Lab’s Michael Gollner, battalion chief Todd Lando, and forest advisor and county director Yana Valachovic as they discuss defensible space, wildfire policy, and the intersection of social change.