Cal Fire begins releasing new state-mandated maps showing highest fire hazard areas

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection this week released new fire hazard severity zone maps for dozens of inland Northern California cities and towns — the first updates to maps for these areas in more than a decade. Cal Fire introduces new fire hazard zones for Northern California Local responsibility areas Moderate High Very high Non-wildland State responsibility areas Moderate High Very high SISKIYOU COUNTY MODOC COUNTY Eureka TRINITY COUNTY SHASTA COUNTY LASSEN COUNTY Redding TEHAMA COUNTY PLUMAS COUNTY GLENN COUNTY Chico BUTTE COUNTY SIERRA COUNTY NEVADA COUNTY COLUSA COUNTY YUBA COUNTY Truckee PLACER COUNTY SUTTER COUNTY LAKE COUNTY EL DORADO COUNTY 50 MILES Sacramento Eureka Redding Chico Truckee Sacramento 50 MILES California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Sean Greene LOS ANGELES TIMES The updates are expected to increase the extent of “very high” and “high” hazard zone areas — where most increased fire safety regulations apply — by some 1.4 million acres. Proposed fire hazard severity zones in local responsibility areas Moderate High Very high Jurisdiction Local State Federal Chico, Calif. Chico Municipal Airport Paradise Chico 2011 “very high” hazard severity zone BUTTE COUNTY 5 MILES Truckee, Calif. NEVADA COUNTY Truckee Truckee Tahoe Airport PLACER COUNTY Lake Tahoe 5 MILES California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Sean Greene LOS ANGELES TIMES The only city the agency mapped that saw a decrease in hazard severity zoning was Placerville in El Dorado County. Proposed fire hazard severity zones in local responsibility areas Moderate High Very high Jurisdiction Local State Federal EL DORADO COUNTY 2011 “very high” hazard severity zone Placerville Airport Placerville 2 MILES California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Sean Greene LOS ANGELES TIMES The release started a 120-day clock for local jurisdictions to receive public input, officially adopt the maps and begin enforcing the heightened fire safety regulations that come with them. Proposed fire hazard severity zones in local responsibility areas Moderate High Very high Jurisdiction Local State Federal Shasta Lake Paradise SHASTA COUNTY Redding 2011 “very high” hazard severity zone Anderson Cottonwood 5 MILES California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Sean Greene LOS ANGELES TIMES Cal Fire had zoned 72,000 acres as “very high” across the 16 Northern California counties in its old maps, created between 2008 and 2011.