We planted Monterey and Leland cypress for screens. They grow fast and provide good screens. I don't know how well they do in your area.

I hope you are wanting to plant what is recommened by the fire dept. Not every fire can be stopped but I would hope you want to try.
Here are a few links for info which includes recommendations by la county fire and to save water at the same time.

http://www.cal-ipc.org/landscaping/dpp/planttypes.php?region=socal

http://www.bewaterwise.com/knowledge01.html

http://www.bewaterwise.com/fire02.html

Pittisporum tenufolium
Prunus caroliniana
Hollywood juniper
are used frequently in the San Jose area.

Also Eugenia (Syzigium) (AKA Monterey Brush Cherry), but it does tend to get those psyllids.

CA native Ceanothus 'Ray Hartman' is one of my favorites.

Thanks! Keep the recs coming! The Ceanothus Ray Hartman looks gorgreous online and seems california-climate-friendly. The landscaping sites were very informative. I'm keeping a list of all possibilities. All sites suggest a Coast Live Oak, which I'd love to have if I could afford. FYI, this fire would have taken out our neighborhood regardless of what landscaping we had. The canyon behind us was very dry and went inferno in seconds, driven by very strong santa ana winds we get here.

I'd suggest that Coast Live Oaks/Quercus agrifolia is among the best evergreen trees for fire zones in California, as they resist fire better than almost any other native tree besides Coast Redwoods/Sequoia sempervirens, which does not do well in southern California with the smog, heat and low humidity during Santa Ana wind conditions. Another relatively fire resistant tree to consider would be Cork Oak/Quercus suber, and Marina Madrone/Arubutus 'Marina'. Palms such as Brahea armata, Brahea edulis, Butia capitata would also be relatively fire resistant, if the old dry fronds are regularly pruned off. Tree Aloes such as Aloe bainsii, or Cordyline australis, or Dracena draco/Dragon tree would also be good fire resistant trees.

Ceanothus 'Ray Hartman' is not really a fire resistant species, nor does it do well in hot, southern California conditions, as it prefers more cool, humid coastal conditions. Any type of tree that is resinous is prone to spreading fires, and this would include all Cypress, Pine, Juniper species, including Italian Cypress and Hollywood Junipers. Fire safe plantings also presume keeping a certain distance between structures and large trees. I'd advise that you don't ignore the safety recommendations of your local fire district, even if it does conflict with blocking unsightly views of neighbors. I'd also strongly suggest that you consider using a swimming pool as a source of water for roof top fire sprinklers, and a generator to pump and power such a system in case of fires. Also avoid wood decks, exposed wood rafters, and utilize masonry walls and concrete or masonry paving to create a clear zone nearer the house, which can't burn.

Look into "California natives" and Xeriscape stuff. I'm sure those two topics will have some tree recommendations. There are some nurseries at least in Org Cnty like (Tree of Life, in San Juan Capistrano) that give out lists and specialize in these type of plants for our area and I've been there with my Master Gardener group but I can't remember if we walked through any tree areas. They have a website. Let us know what you get. I'm looking at taking out several melaluca sp? that a previous owner put in that are monsters but I need that privacy since the neighbors they block,,,really need blocking. So I'll be checking back to see what you decide on.

Thanks all. The Coast Live Oak is great but pricy. I need some smaller tress or shrubs I can buy in large amounts, all along both sides. I'll research tree aloes and other suggestions.

Regarding house structure, rest assured we will use no wood, enclose the eaves, and follow all the new codes for our newly-declared urban wildfire interface. We are also now responsible for a soil, geo and topo study of the site. It is absolutely overwhelming and all on our own dime. So I doubt a pool is in our future anytime soon.

Hi mives,
I'm so sorry to hear about your house. I hope you had time to get some things out before it all went.

Your new home will be beautiful, and the style is perfect for Southern California.

I love podocarpus. They are not natives, of course, and they do get a little frostbite here and there, but I find them to be both drought tolerant and lush. I like them grown naturally the best, but I have a privacy hedge as well that is about four feet thick/deep and eight feet tall. They grow pretty fast, and they are not expensive.

Good luck!
Renee