Jon Fugitt
Deputy Chief, Administration | Fire Marshal
Adoption of Fire Hazard Severity ZonesPROPOSED AMENDEMENTS TO FMC CHAPTER 13.19 2025 FHSZ FOR LOCAL RESPONSIBILITY AREAS
Fire Hazard Severity Zones
Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) Maps are developed by Cal Fire Required by CA Government Code §51175 - 51189
Current maps were adopted by the City of Fullerton in 2011 Assists local governments identify areas of elevated hazard potential and apply appropriate mitigation standards
Fire Hazard Severity Zones
Based on CAL FIRE’s best available fire science and advanced modeling techniques 🔭 Uses detailed local data for Fullerton (vegetation, terrain, weather) 🗻 Evaluates likelihood of area burning & potential fire behavior 🔥 Key Improvement: Better analysis of ember travel – how embers spread fire into neighborhoods (crucial for our hillsides/WUI) 🎇 Result: A more accurate, long-term view of wildfire hazard potential
What Determines Hazard Level?
A comprehensive assessment looking at multiple factors affecting fire spread from wildlands into developed areas:
Fuel: Vegetation type, density, and fire history🌿
Spread Conditions: Terrain (slopes), local weather (wind), wildland proximity 🏞️ Ignition Risk: Potential for intense flames and blowing embers 💨 Identifies long-term levels of fire hazard based on geospatial fire model:
Moderate
High
Very High
Changes to Fullerton’s FHSZ
Addition of "Moderate" and "High" zones to Local Responsibility Areas (LRA) – previously only "Very High" required under state law Fullerton’s "Very High" zone increased by 28% (1,186 to 1,516 acres) New Zone Areas:
426 acres categorized as "Moderate" 🟠
419 acres categorized as "High" 🔴
Largest expansions: West & East Coyote Hills (WUI areas) 🌄
Comparison: 2011 vs 2025
2025 FHSZ
Expanded Fireworks Restrictions
Current Restrictions: Fireworks limited to Very High zones 🚫 Updated Restrictions: Ordinance extends sale/discharge restrictions to all designated FHSZ areas (Moderate, High, and Very High) 📋 Goal: Reduce wildfire ignition risk, especially during peak season 🎯 This does not affect City-permitted, professional public fireworks displays 🎆
Impact on Property Owners - Mitigation
Building Codes (Chapter 7A) 🧱
For new builds/major renovations:
Ignition-resistant materials
Ember-proof vents
Multi-pane windows
Defensible Space / Home Hardening (Very High Zone) 🚧
AB 38: Requires inspection documentation for home sales.
AB 3074: Requires Ember-Resistant Zone (0-5 ft from structure) - details pending state adoption by Dec 2025.
Summary of Property Requirements
Requirement Category
Moderate
High
Very High
Map Adoption & Fireworks Restriction
✔
✔
✔
Fire-Resistant Building Standards(New/Major Remodel)
✔
✔
Natural Hazard Disclosure (NHDS)
✔
Ember-Resistant Zone (Zone 0)
✔
Defensible Space Requirements (100 feet)
and Documentation
✔
FHSZ Maps and Homeowner Insurance
These maps are unlikely to affect insurance rates or eligibility (according to CA Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara) ❌ Insurers have always used their own risk models (not just hazard maps) 🧮 Fire Station proximity + Fire Department resources 🚒
Property characteristics and construction materials 🏡
Claims history 💵
Improving Fullerton’s ISO rating (currently Class 3) may have a greater impact on insurance than FHSZ 💼
Communication and Outreach Efforts
Coordinated messaging (Fire Dept. & other City Depts) 📣 Updated City Fire Hazard Mitigation Webpage 💻
CityOfFullerton.com/Government/Departments/Fire/Prevention/Fire-Hazard-Mitigation New FHSZ maps posted 🗺️
Public comment form 📝
Email: [email protected] 📧
Direct mail notification sent to approximately 4,000 affected property owners 💌 Aggregated public comments attached to Council report 📜
Fiscal Impact
Immediate: No direct cost to the City for adoption (beyond minimal expenses for public outreach) 💵 Future: Increased demand on Fire Prevention resources (inspections, enforcement) in expanded zones ⛑️ Staff will evaluate and report back on resource needs 🔁
Fire Hazard Severity Zones
Adoption Timeline
Maps were released on March 24, 2025📅
Posted for public comment within 30 days 🗳️
Maps must be adopted as published by Cal Fire within 120 days of being released: July 22, 2025 🕔 Options for City Council
Adopted maps cannot be less restrictive than what is published by Cal Fire, but Council may designate additional areas
Proposed Motion
Introduce Ordinance No. XXXX for first reading by title only and waive further reading of the ordinance.
ORDINANCE NO. XXXX - AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FULLERTON, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING FULLERTON MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 13.19 TO INCORPORATE THE 2025 FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES FOR LOCAL RESPONSIBILITY AREAS, AS RECOMMENDED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION AND PURSUANT TO CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 51178
Questions?
16 Fire Hazard Severity Zones
What is updated in the new maps?
Updated burn probabilities for wildland areas
Updated fire environment footprints (urban/developed)
Updated vegetation density for urban areas
Inclusion of slope in the urban zoning model
Localized fire weather used in both wildland and urban models New firebrand production and transport model using discrete local wind vector distributions
Fire Hazard Severity Zones
Requirements
Minimum size of 20 acres for isolated islands of vegetation embedded in non-wildland.
Based on distance to wildland and hazard level of adjacent wildland Ember production based on vegetation type and fire weather Ember transport based on wind speed/direction observed under the most extreme fire weather at a given location Width of moderate, high and very high bands in urban are based on ember load, urban tree cover and slope
Fire Hazard Severity Zones
What is the map for?
Building standards for new construction in the Wildland-Urban Interface (California Building Code Chapter 7A) Property development standards such as road widths, water supply and signage (Fire Safe Regulations) Defensible Space Requirements (Government Code 51182)
Natural hazard real estate disclosure (AB38)
Fire Hazard Severity Zones