Belmont Fire
Hazard Severity
Zone Maps (LRA)
and
Ordinance Updates
• Carisa Workman – Fire Marshal
• 5/13/25
• San Mateo Consolidated Fire
Department
What are Fire Hazard
Severity Zones?
• The Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps are
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 such as fire history,
existing and potential fuel (natural vegetation),
predicted flame length, blowing embers, terrain,
and typical fire weather for the area.
• There are three levels of hazard in the State
Responsibility Areas: • Moderate • High • Very high
•Moderate •High •Very High
Why we Need to
Adopt the Maps
• New legislation, Senate Bill 63 (Stern, 2021), now
requires the adoption of all three Fire Hazard
Severity Zone classes in the Local Responsibility
Area.
• Previously only Very High Fire Hazard Severity
Zones were required for adoption in Local
Responsibility Areas.
• Government Code Sections 51178 and 51179
•Moderate •High •Very High
California LRA Map
Rollout Plan
Why we Needed to
Update the Ordinance?
• Previous ordinance language stated High and
Very High Fire Zones.
• Previous ordinance language did not allow for
Moderate Zones.
• New ordinance language gives us the authority to
continue to reduce risk in our Wildland/Urban
Interface (WUI) areas by including moderate
zones as identified by the new LRA maps.
•Moderate •High •Very High
SMC Fire Code Amendments
• LOCAL AGENCY FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE.
• Property within a Local Responsibility Area (LRA) served by the San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department that has been designated by the Office of the State Fire Marshal and/or the San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department as a Moderate, High, or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.
• SECTION 4905.3.1 LOCAL AGENCY MODERATE FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE REQUIREMENTS. • 4905.3.1 Local Agency Moderate fire hazard severity zone requirements. Buildings constructed in local Agency Moderate Fire Hazard Severity Zones shall comply with section 4905.2.
• SECTION 4907.1 GENERAL. AMENDED
• 4907.1 General. Defensible space will be maintained around all buildings and structures in State Responsibility Areas (SRA) as required in Public Resources Code 4290 and “SRA Fire Safe Regulations” California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2, Section 1270.
• Buildings and structures within the Local Responsibility Area (LRA) shall maintain defensible space as outlined in Government code sections 51175 through 51189 in moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones as designated by the Office of the State Fire Marshal and as confirmed or modified by the San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department.
State Response Area (SRA)
Local Response Area (LRA)
• SRA requirements N/A
• LRA requirements
• SMCFD recommends
following more restrictive
requirements for all
designated fire hazard
zones.
• Chapter 7A
• Defensible Space
Chapter 7A [SFM]
Materials and Construction Methods for Exterior Wildfire Exposure California Building Code 2022
Ignition Resistant
Construction Roofing Vents
Exterior Windows,
Skylights and Doors Decking
Accessory
Dwellings and
Miscellaneous
Structures
Hazard
Is based on 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 wildfires, or fuel
reduction.
Risk
Is the 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 building
construction
Hazard Vs. Risk
What is
Defensible Space?
• Buffer zone between structures
and surrounding wildland areas
• Key to slowing or stopping fire
spread and protecting homes
from embers, flames, or heat
• Gives firefighters a safe area to
defend property
• This is key to keeping your family
and home safe from the
damaging effects caused by fires
Creating Defensible Space
SMCFD Services:
Proactive Wildland/Urban Interface
(WUI) property inspections
Work with neighboring cities to
ensure open space is managed
Investigate fire hazards concerns
What residents should do:
Create and maintain a
defensible space
Remove dead or dying
vegetation
Consider home hardening
Resources
Who do you call if you have a wildland/vegetation concern? SMCFD Community Risk Reduction - 650-522-7940
FHSZ LRA Maps:
SMC Fire website – www.smcfire.org - local hazard zone maps Office of State Fire Marshal: You can search by address to find your current designation on the web at: osfm.fire.ca.gov/FHSZ To find the current FHSZ designation for a property, visit FHSZ Map Viewer (ca.gov).
Helpful links: FHSZ Website: osfm.fire.ca.gov/FHSZ FHSZ Map Viewer:
FHSZ Map Viewer (ca.gov)
Contacts for FHSZ for Public Questions: (916) 633-7655 [email protected] Additional Information can be found online:
Fire Safe San Mateo - https://www.firesafesanmateo.org/ - local information on planting and fire wise vegetation CalFire - https://www.fire.ca.gov/dspace - defensible space guidelines Ready for Wildfire- www.readyforwildfire.org
California Department of Insurance Information: Department of Insurance hotline at 1-800-927-4357 or visit their website at http://www.insurance.ca.gov/External Link.