The State has recently released updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps that cover both State Responsibility Area- SRAs (ie China Camp) and Local responsibility Areas-LRAs. The City invites public comment on these maps, before the City adopts them as required by State law. The State has developed a full FAQ that can help interested parties learn more about the development process, released maps, and potential impacts of the maps.
The maps can be accessed here: https://osfm.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/community-wildfire-preparedness-and-mitigation/fire-hazard-severity-zones
At this time, the City does not believe these maps will have any large or immediate impact on residents or City projects for three main reasons. First the maps are generally aligned with our existing Wildland Interface (WUI) which already outlines building code requirements for those areas. Secondly, the City already has citywide vegetation standards to protect all homes and property in San Rafael from risks associated wildfire. Lastly, City staff have already been prioritizing wildfire risk reduction work in the majority of the areas designated on the maps. Staff will continue to work with other landowning partners, such as County Parks, to manage risks in strategic areas.
Background: The “Bates Bill” (AB 337), Government Code Section 51175, was prompted by the devastating Oakland Hills Fire of 1991. This mid-1990s legislation calls for CAL FIRE to evaluate fire hazard severity in local responsibility area and to make a recommendation to the local jurisdiction where very high FHSZs exist.
New legislation, Senate Bill 63 (Stern, 2021), now requires the adoption of all three Fire Hazard Severity Zone classes in the Local Responsibility Area. Previously only Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones were required for adoption in Local Responsibility Areas. These are the same classifications that have existed in State Responsibility Areas previously.
Development: The Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps are developed using a science-based and field-tested model that assigns a hazard score based on the factors that influence fire likelihood and fire behavior. The hazard mapping process incorporated new science in local climate data and improved fire assessment modeling in determining hazard ratings.
Many factors are considered such as fire history, existing and potential fuel (natural vegetation), predicted flame length, blowing embers, terrain, and typical fire weather for the area. There are three levels of hazard in the State Responsibility Areas: moderate, high, and very high.
Understanding Hazard vs Risk: Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps evaluate “hazard,” not “risk”. They are like flood zone maps, where lands are described in terms of the probability level of a particular area being inundated by floodwaters, and not specifically prescriptive of impacts. “Hazard” is based on the physical conditions that create a likelihood and expected fire behavior over a 30 to 50-year period without considering mitigation measures such as home hardening, recent wildfire, or fuel reduction efforts. “Risk” is the potential damage a fire can do to the area under existing conditions, accounting for any modifications such as fuel reduction projects, defensible space, and ignition resistant building construction.
Public Comment: The City of San Rafael is seeking public comment on the Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps as received by the California State Fire Marshal’s Office. Please provide your thoughts by completing this form not later than April 7th, 2025 at 9:00am.
Comments may be submitted via email to srfd.dspace@cityofsanrafael.org or mail to :
San Rafael Fire Department
ATTN: FHSZ Comment Period
1375 Fifth Ave
San Rafael, CA 94901