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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFD Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severrity Zone Maps PPTSan Rafael Fire Hazard Severity Zones and CALFIRE LRA Map Update CITY COUNCIL INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE Key Points WHAT ARE THE MAPS?WHY DO THEY MATTER? WHATS THE CITY'S ROLE? Fire Hazard Severity Zones SRA vs LRA Required by ​Government Code 3 Severity Levels History of Fire Hazard Maps Need to define Fire Hazard Severity Zones arose from major destructive fires in 1980's 1980 Legislative mandate to map FHSZs in State Responsibility Area (SRA) 1981 First FHSZ map model released for SRA 1985 Oakland Hills Fire of 1991 prompted legislation in 1992 to mandate the mapping and recommendation of Very High FHSZ in LRA 1991 Legislation was amended to add the mapping of Moderate and High FHSZ with the Very High designations in LRA 2021 FHSZ maps for LRA released by CAL FIRE for local agency adoption 2025 Fire Hazard Severity Zones Hazard vs Risk FHSZ Maps identify levels of fire hazard, not risk Hazard = physical condition that creates likelihood and expected fire behavior over a 30-50 year period, without considering short term modifications like fuel reduction, defensible space, or home hardening Risk = potential damage a fire can cause to an area under existing conditions, which includes modifications Fire Hazard Severity Zones What About Insurance Companies? •The FHSZ maps are not a structure loss model •All conversations with insurance representatives have indicated these maps do not provide any new information to them •City and County representatives continue to work on mapping and sharing our mitigation efforts to demonstrate reductions in risk Fire Hazard Severity Zones FHSZ maps and the Wildland-Urban Interface/intermix (WUI) The WUI defines areas where human development meets wildland areas and the risk of wildfire impact to those areas. The FHSZ maps consider hazards only, does not consider proximity of wildlands to the built environment In San Rafael, the FHSZ maps and WUI maps overlap throughout the City Fire Hazard Severity Zones How are the Zones determined? •CAL FIRE used the best available science and data to develop, and field test a model that served as the basis of zone assignments. •The model evaluated the probability of the area burning and expected fire behavior in the area. •Factors: fire history, vegetation, flame length, blowing embers, terrain, and climate Why This Matters: Policy Implications AB 38: Residential re-sale defensible space inspections and hazard disclosure for properties in HIGH zones. This will impact approximately 2000 structures in San Rafael Building Code Chapter 7A requirements:expanded from WUI to HIGH designations Defensible Space Requirements : City previously established Vegetation Management Standards Citywide in 2021 City Review and Authority City did not create maps, but can request changes Reviewed maps: no change is requested Designations align with WUI boundary and topography Community Outreach & Public Comment Staff made FHSZ maps publicly available on March 18, 2025, and solicited public comment Staff presented maps at 5 community events that reached over 300 people Three public comments were received and focused on concerns regarding insurance coverage and property designations Next actions 5 May Introduction of ordinance to designate FHSZ in LRA 19 May Ordinance adoption