MEETING DATE:
MAY 13, 2025
SUBJECT:
Title
ORDINANCE NO. 2025-1559 - ADOPTION OF LOCAL RESPONSIBILITY AREA FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE MAP
Body
Recommendation
Recommendation
INTRODUCE (First Reading) Ordinance approving the local responsibility area fire hazard severity zone maps.
Body
Board or Commission Action
Not Applicable
Relevant Council Strategic Theme
Good Governance
Executive Summary
The City of San Marcos Fire Department (SMFD) seeks adoption of an Ordinance to adopt updated local responsibility area (LRA) fire hazard severity zone (FHSZ) as required by state law. These maps categorize fire hazard levels based on statewide criteria and require City adoption. SMFD is not proposing to make changes to the recommended LRA FHSZ maps.
Discussion
The California Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is responsible for classifying lands within State Responsibility Areas (SRAs) into Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZs), in accordance with Public Resources Code Section 4202. These classifications are based on scientifically modeled physical characteristics that affect wildfire behavior, including fuel loading, slope, local weather patterns, and other factors-particularly areas where wind has historically contributed significantly to wildfire spread.
Similarly, Government Code Section 51178 requires the State Fire Marshal to identify lands across the state as Moderate, High, or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones based on consistent statewide criteria. These criteria focus on the severity of hazard expected in the area, utilizing factors such as historical fire behavior, vegetation (fuel) conditions, terrain, and wind exposure. Government Code section 51179 requires that local agencies designate, by ordinance, moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones within its jurisdiction within 120 days of receiving recommendations from the State Fire Marshal.
Purpose of Map Updates
The FHSZ maps are currently being updated to more accurately identify areas throughout California that are susceptible to wildfires. These updates integrate the latest fire science, localized climate data, and improved fire modeling techniques. Importantly, the FHSZ maps evaluate hazard, not risk. Hazard represents the likelihood and anticipated intensity of wildfire in a given area, assuming no mitigation efforts are in place, over a 30- to 50-year planning horizon. Risk, by contrast, considers current modifications such as fuel treatments, building construction features, and defensible space maintenance that can reduce wildfire impact.
FHSZ designations are determined by evaluating both the probability of an area burning and the expected fire behavior under extreme weather and fuel conditions. In wildland areas, factors such as fire history, flame length, slope, and weather patterns are included. In more urbanized areas, additional criteria like ember transport, urban vegetation and proximity to wildlands are considered.
It is important to note that FHSZs are not structure loss models; they do not account for individual building characteristics such as roofing materials or defensible space.
Regulatory Framework and Local Responsibilities
FHSZs apply to lands within the SRA comprising more than 31 million acres-and to the LRA where cities and counties maintain fire protection responsibilities.
Under Senate Bill 63 (Stern, 2021), Government Code Section 51178 was amended to include Moderate and High zones in addition to Very High zones within LRAs. The OSFM initiated its regulatory update of the SRA FHSZ maps in December 2022. Final SRA maps were adopted on January 31, 2024, and became effective on April 1, 2024. The last update to LRA FHSZ maps occurred in 2009. On March 24, 2025, the OSFM released recommended LRA FHSZ maps for the City of San Marcos.
Pursuant to Government Code Section 51179(b)(3), the City may not decrease the level of fire hazard severity zones identified by the State Fire Marshal in its FHSZ designations, but may elect to increase hazard severity classifications. At this time, the City of San Marcos Fire Department is not proposing any increases or additions to the classifications recommended by the OSFM.
Implications for Planning and Development
FHSZ designations are used to determine applicability of California’s defensible space regulations (Public Resources Code Section 4291), enforce wildland-urban interface (WUI) building code requirements, inform real estate disclosures for properties located within designated zones, and guide land use and general plan policy development by local jurisdictions. These updated maps ensure that the City of San Marcos can better align its fire protection planning with evolving wildfire science and state-mandated standards.
Environmental Review
Not Applicable
Fiscal Impact
The adoption of the updated FHSZ maps, as recommended by the Office of the State Fire Marshal, is not expected to result in direct fiscal impacts to the City of San Marcos. The designation of fire hazard zones does not impose any immediate financial obligations on the City, as the City is not proposing to increase or expand upon the hazard classifications provided by the State.
However, there may be indirect fiscal implications over time, which could include:
• Increased demand for public education and outreach to ensure residents and property owners understand the implications of being located within designated zones.
• Additional planning and building review considerations for development applications in affected areas, which may require staff time to ensure compliance with WUI building standards and defensible space requirements.
• Potential for higher infrastructure costs in newly designated hazard areas, should future development necessitate upgraded fire protection measures or access routes.
• Grant opportunities: Inclusion in updated FHSZ designations may improve eligibility for state or federal funding related to fire prevention, fuel reduction and hazard mitigation programs.
Attachment(s)
Ordinance
City of San Marcos 2025 Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map
Prepared by: Kenneth Kim, Deputy Fire Marshal
Submitted by: Heather Todd, Fire/EMS Administrative Services Manager
Reviewed by: Dan Barron, Fire Chief
Approved by: Michelle Bender, City Manager