To: Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council
From: Zach Curren, Fire Chief
Prepared By: Shuree Egloff, Principal Management Analyst
TITLE:
Title
Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zones Update
LABEL
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommendation
Receive a report on the Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zones
Body
DISCUSSION:
California Government Code 51178 mandates that the State Fire Marshal identify areas as Moderate, High, and Very High Hazard Severity Zones based on consistent statewide criteria and the expected severity of fire hazards in those areas. Assembly Bill 337, enacted in response to the devastating 1991 Oakland Hills Fire, requires CAL FIRE to evaluate fire hazard severity (FHSZ) in Local Responsibility Areas (LRA) and recommend Very High FHSZ designations to local jurisdictions.
It is important to note that hazard and risk are distinct. Hazard refers to physical conditions that determine expected fire behavior over a 50-year period, without considering short-term modifications. Risk refers to potential damage a fire could cause under current conditions, factoring in fuel reduction efforts, defensible space, and fire-resistant building construction. Insurance companies use risk models, which differ from hazard models because they account for the susceptibility of structures to fire damage and other short-term variables. Unlike CAL FIRE’s hazard mapping, which remains stable over time, insurance risk models incorporate frequently changing factors.
The FHSZ updates aim to more accurately reflect wildfire-prone areas in California by integrating new science, local climate data, and improved fire assessment modeling. The updated model evaluates the probability of an area burning and expected fire behavior under extreme fuel and weather conditions. Within wildland areas, key factors include fire history, flame length, terrain, local weather, and potential fuel over 50 years. In developed areas, additional considerations include urban vegetation, wind-driven embers, proximity to wildlands, fire history, and nearby wildland hazards.
Senate Bill 63 mandates the adoption of all three-fire hazard severity zone classifications in LRAs. It also requires local agencies to make the updated maps available for public review and comment within 30 days of their release. The updated LRA FHSZ maps were released on February 24, 2025. Public comments will be gathered, with a tentative review and first reading of the proposed local ordinance scheduled for May 20, 2025.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS:
No direct financial impacts.
CEQA:
The Fire Chief has determined that the Recommended Action described in this Staff Report is not subject to CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15060.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
ATCH 1 - Link to Fire Hazard Severity Zoner Viewer <https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/6a9cb66bb1824cd98756812af41292a0>
ATCH 2 - Fire Hazard Severity Zones Local Responsibility Area Factsheet
NOTIFICATION:
None.