TO: ADAM PIRRIE, CITY MANAGER
FROM: BRAD JOHNSON, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
DATE: JULY 22, 2025
Reviewed by:
City Manager: AP
SUBJECT:
Title
ADOPTION OF FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES (FHSZ) PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 51178 AND THE CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE (FUNDING SOURCE: GENERAL FUND)
Body
SUMMARY
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) has completed its most recent update to the Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps for Local Responsibility Areas (LRAs) throughout California, including the City of Claremont. The revised maps identify areas within the city as Moderate, High, or Very High fire hazard severity zones based on updated data and modeling.
Pursuant to Government Code Section 51178, the City is required to adopt the recommended map by ordinance within 120 days of its release. This item recommends adoption of an ordinance implementing CAL FIRE’s updated March 24, 2025 map for the City of Claremont.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the City Council introduce for first reading, and that reading be by title only AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLAREMONT, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES WITHIN THE LOCAL RESPONSIBILITY AREA PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 51178.
Body
ALTERNATIVE TO RECOMMENDATION
In addition to the recommendation, there is the following alternative:
• Add areas to the FHSZ maps that may have been unintentionally excluded.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The staff cost to prepare this report and administer this project is estimated at $750 and is included in the operating budget of the Community Development Department.
ANALYSIS
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection periodically updates fire hazard severity zone maps for Local Responsibility Areas throughout the state. These maps identify varying levels of fire hazard-Moderate, High, and Very High-based on factors including vegetation, topography, weather, crown fire potential, and ember production and movement. CAL FIRE uses a fire hazard severity model for wildland fire that has two key elements: probability of an area burning and expected fire behavior under extreme fuel and weather conditions. The zones reflect areas that have similar burn probabilities and fire behavior characteristics. The factors considered in determining fire hazard within wildland areas are fire history, flame length, terrain, local weather, and potential fuel over a 50-year period.
State law requires local jurisdictions to formally adopt these maps by ordinance to ensure proper implementation of associated building standards and fire safety requirements in the identified hazard zones. CAL FIRE has completed its latest assessment of fire hazards in Claremont’s jurisdiction and has provided updated LRA maps that reflect current conditions and risk factors.
The proposed ordinance formally adopts these updated maps and authorizes their use for:
1. Determining applicable building standards for new construction
2. Implementing defensible space requirements
3. Disclosure requirements during real estate transactions
4. Emergency planning and fire prevention efforts
These updated maps are non-discretionary and must be adopted as presented by CAL FIRE. Per Government Code Section 51178, jurisdictions are not permitted to reduce the designated severity levels. Local agencies may only propose amendments that increase the severity classification of areas that may have been unintentionally omitted. Adoption of the maps ensures consistency with state law and supports regional efforts to improve wildfire preparedness and community resilience.
Parcel Boundaries and Zone Designations
In response to concerns raised by community members regarding how the FHSZ maps align with property lines, the City contacted CAL FIRE for clarification. CAL FIRE representatives confirmed that parcel boundaries and built structures are not considered when drawing the fire hazard zones. This is because parcel lines can be modified over time, and the mapping methodology focuses on environmental and topographic risk factors rather than property lines.
As a result, it is possible for one parcel to be included within a designated fire hazard zone while an adjacent parcel is not. In some cases, a single parcel may contain multiple hazard zones. In such instances, CAL FIRE and the Los Angeles County Fire Department have clarified that the highest severity classification intersecting the parcel will apply to the entire parcel.
To provide greater clarity, City staff has prepared a map displaying parcel lines in relation to the updated FHSZ zones (Attachment C), allowing residents to identify the applicable fire hazard level for their property.
Insurance Considerations
It is important to clarify that the adoption of CAL FIRE’s FHSZ maps does not directly affect insurance rates or availability. According to the California Department of Insurance, insurance providers use their own proprietary risk models for underwriting and do not rely on CAL FIRE’s maps when making coverage decisions. The purpose of the updated maps is to guide local planning, building, and safety practices, not to influence insurance determinations.
RELATIONSHIP TO CITY PLANNING DOCUMENTS
Staff has evaluated the agenda item in relationship to the City’s strategic and visioning documents and finds that it applies to the following City Planning Documents: General Plan and the 2024-26 Budget.
CEQA REVIEW
This item is not subject to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
The agenda and staff report for this item have been posted on the City website and distributed to interested parties. If you desire a copy, please contact the City Clerk’s Office.
Submitted by: Prepared by:
Brad Johnson Alex Cousins
Community Development Director Senior Management Analyst
Attachments:
A - Proposed Ordinance to Adopt Fire Hazard Severity Zones
B - Claremont Local Responsibility Area Hazard Severity Zones Map
C - Claremont Fire Hazard Severity Zones Map - Parcel-based
D - Public Comments