Photo courtesy of Placer County

AUBURN, CA (MPG) – Placer County, in partnership with the Placer County Fire Department, has launched the Engage Placer: Fire Hazard Severity Zones webpage, a centralized hub to help residents understand newly updated wildfire hazard maps, compliance requirements and insurance information.

The page, available at https://wwww.EngagePlacer.org/fhsz, equips property owners in unincorporated Placer County with Fire Hazard Severity Zone mandate information, an interactive map viewer and frequently asked questions to navigate state-mandated fire resilience standards.

This initiative follows Governor Gavin Newsom's February 2025 executive order expediting updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone mapping for local responsibility areas, regions overseen by local fire districts like the Placer County Fire Department.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal is mandated to classify lands within Local Responsibility Areas into Fire Hazard Severity Zones.

The maps, now available for public review, classify unincorporated areas into moderate, high or very high fire hazard zones. Local jurisdictions are required to adopt either the new standards as released or more stringent ones of their choosing within 120 days of the new maps' release.

Placer County's maps integrate factors like vegetation, slope and ember cast production potential, and fire history to prioritize safety in high-threat regions.

Key impacts of updated Fire Hazard Severity Zones maps:  

Fire services: Changes to the Fire Hazard Severity Zones classifications do not affect how fire services are provided, firefighters will continue to respond as always.

Fire Hazard Severity Zone classification: Properties are categorized as moderate, high, or very high fire hazard severity zones based on terrain, vegetation, fire history and climate conditions.

Fire hazard vs. risk: The maps indicate hazard potential, not immediate, risk and do not account for mitigation efforts like defensible space or fire-resistant construction.

New construction: Projects in designated zones must adhere to wildland-urban interface building codes.

Impact on property owners: Homeowners in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones must comply with stringent defensible space requirements. A 100-foot defensible space clearance is mandatory around structures in these zones. (Gov Code 51182). New construction and renovations in designated zones must adhere to wildland-urban interface building codes. Property sellers must disclose Fire Hazard Severity Zones designations during real estate transactions.

Webpage features include an interactive map viewer where residents can search addresses to view Fire Hazard Severity Zones classifications for unincorporated areas. Compliance guides for detailed steps for defensible space, home retrofitting and wildland-urban interface code standards. View frequently asked questions from CAL FIRE, California Department of Insurance and Placer County's Community Resource Development Agency. A public question and answer (Q&A) portal is also available for those who would like to submit questions and comments before adoption by the Placer County Board of Supervisors.

Draft maps will be presented to the Placer County Board of Supervisors for review and adoption in May. Finalization is targeted for June 10.

Residents are encouraged to review the maps and submit feedback via the webpage before the board's decision.  

Visit https://www.engageplacer.ca.gov/fhsz for more information.