FIRE HAZARD
SEVERITY ZONES &
BRUSH
CLEARANCE
City Council
May 20, 2025
1 FIRE
DEPARTMENT
OVERVIEW
• Introduction
• Timeline
• Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ)
• Legal Authority
• Burbank’s Map
• Brush Clearance Program
• City-Owned Property
• More Information
2 INTRODUCTION
Wildland fires are an integral part of the
Southern California ecosystem.
Devastation from wildland fires can be
viewed as a fire problem, urban sprawl
problem, fire management problem, or
financial problem.
3 TIMELINE
4 The City of Burbank is required by state law to adopt by ordinance the changes to the FHSZ maps within 120 days of release by the Office of the State Fire Marshal.
March 24, 2025 New Maps Released to Local Jurisdictions Early April 2025 New Maps posted by Burbank Fire Department for public viewing and mailers sent to properties in the VHFHSZ
April 24, 2025 Community Meeting
April 28, 2025 Board of Building and Fire Code Appeals
May 8, 2025 Presentation to Burbank Association of Realtors May 20, 2025 City Council Study Session & Introduction of Ordinance June 3, 2025 Adoption of Ordinance
July 1, 2025 Brush Inspections Begin in the VHFHSZ
LEGAL AUTHORITY
• California Department of Forestry & Fire
Protection (Cal Fire)
• Burbank Fire Department (BFD)
Cal Fire is required by law to designate Fire Hazard
Severity Zones (FHSZ).
By law, Burbank Fire cannot reduce the zones.
6 BURBANK’S FHSZ MAP
2011 2025
7 8
CHANGES TO BURBANK’S
FHSZ MAP
2011 2025
Severity Zones Very High
Very High
High
Moderate
VHFHSZ Privately -
Owned Properties Approximately 2,833 Approximately 3,080 Required Enforcement
VHFHSZ annual inspections
Assembly Bill 38 (AB 38)
for real estate sales in the
VHFHSZ
VHFHSZ annual inspections
AB 38 for real estate sales
in the VHFHSZ and HFHSZ
BURBANK BRUSH
CLEARANCE
Inspections begin July 1 st
Clearance 0 - 100 Feet
• Remove dead trees
• Maintain all weeds and other vegetation
• Native shrubs
• Vertical clearance
Clearance 100 – 200 Feet
• Fuel Modification Zone
9 CITY-OWNED
PROPERTY
• Third-party contractor overseen by
Burbank Fire
• Brush clearance conducted between
May and August with zone deadlines
10 MORE INFORMATION
10 CAL FIRE Website
Interactive FHSZ Map
Brush Clearance Program
11 QUESTIONS?
12 Jim Moye, Fire Marshal
[email protected]
(818) 238 -3381