Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) arose from major destructive fires, prompting the recognition of these areas and strategies in order to reduce wildfire risks.
Legislative response led to mandated mapping across California under the California Public Resources Code 4201-4204, encompassing all State Responsibility Areas (SRAs)
The California laws that require Fire Hazard Severity Zones include California Public Resources Code 4201-4204, California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 1280 and California Government Code 51175-89.
What do Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps Tell Us?
FHSZ maps evaluate "hazard", not "risk".
They are similar to flood zone maps, where lands are described in terms of the probability level of a particular area being inundated by floodwaters and are not specifically prescriptive of impacts
"Hazard": 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": 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 construction.
How Are FHSZ Maps Determined?
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.
Many factors are considered, including:
Fire history
Existing and potential fuel
Predicted flame length
Blowing embers
Terrain
Typical Fire Weather for the area
3 levels of hazard in the State Responsibility Areas. The State Fire Marshal is mandated to classify within these areas.
Moderate
High
Very High
What is my FHSZ? Where Can I Learn More?
Residents can determine their FHSZ by visiting this link:
