July 22, 2026
The Honorable Sheila F. Hanson
Presiding Judge
Superior Court of California, County of Orange
700 Civic Center Drive West
Santa Ana, California 92701
Re: City of Fullerton Response to the 2025-2026 Orange County Grand Jury Report, “Wildfires Hit Home” Dear Judge Hanson:
Pursuant to California Penal Code sections 933 and 933.05, the City of Fullerton respectfully submits this response to the 2025-2026 Orange County Grand Jury report titled “Wildfires Hit Home,” which was filed on May 19, 2026. The report requests that the City respond to Findings F1 through F6 and to Recommendations R2 and R4. The Fullerton City Council reviewed and approved this response at its regular meeting of July 21, 2026.
The City appreciates the Grand Jury’s attention to wildfire risk and its consequences for Orange County residents. Fullerton operates its own municipal fire department, and parts of northern Fullerton, most notably the West and East Coyote Hills, lie within the wildland-urban interface. On May 6, 2025, the City Council adopted the updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps issued by the Office of the State Fire Marshal, which expanded the area of the city designated as a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone from approximately 1,186 acres to approximately 1,516 acres. The City shares the Grand Jury’s view that home hardening, defensible space, and sustained community outreach are essential to reducing both wildfire risk and the insurance burden that residents carry.
RESPONSES TO FINDINGS
As required by Penal Code section 933.05(a), the City responds to each finding as follows. Each finding is restated in italics as it appears in the report.
Finding F1: More frequent and severe wildfires driven by increasingly hotter, drier, and windier conditions in the Orange County wildland-urban interface are escalating impacts on financial and non-financial resources. Among the financial costs are dramatic increases in homeowners’ insurance premiums, nonrenewals, and inabilities to obtain insurance.
Response: The City agrees with the finding.
Finding F2: Actions that address conditions in the home ignition zone to significantly reduce ignition potential can prevent a community wildland-urban interface fire disaster or suburban conflagration.
Response: The City agrees with the finding.
Finding F3: Expanded engagement with the community to raise awareness and provide support regarding home hardening and defensible space will increase effectiveness of wildfire risk mitigation and insurance risk reduction efforts.
Response: The City agrees with the finding.
Finding F4: Achievement of community-level and property-level wildfire risk mitigation designations (such as Firewise USA Site, Fire Risk Reduction Community or Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety certification) lessens wildfire risk and helps reduce insurance premium costs.
Response: The City agrees with the finding.
Finding F5: All county residents should be made aware that Safer from Wildfire regulation requires insurers to provide discounts to homeowners and communities that implement home hardening and defensible space measures regardless of whether a property is located within a Fire Hazard Severity Zone.
Response: The City agrees with the finding.
Finding F6: AB888, California Safe Homes Grant Program, provides financial assistance to eligible homeowners, cities, counties, and special districts for home hardening and defensible space measures. Applying for and using these grant funds will reduce wildfire losses and improve insurability and resilience of vulnerable communities.
Response: The City agrees with the finding.
RESPONSES TO RECOMMENDATIONS
As required by Penal Code section 933.05(b), the City responds to each recommendation directed to it as follows. Each recommendation is restated in italics as it appears in the report.
Recommendation R2: By December 31, 2026, cities and fire service agencies, including Orange County Fire Authority should commit to participation in a county-wide annual wildfire prevention fair planned by the Orange County Board of Supervisors to showcase wildfire prevention outreach programs. [F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6] Response: The recommendation has been implemented. By approving this response, the City commits to participating in the countywide annual wildfire prevention fair planned by the Orange County Board of Supervisors pursuant to Recommendation R1. The Fullerton Fire Department will showcase its wildfire prevention and community outreach programs at the first annual fair once the County schedules it, which the Grand Jury contemplates occurring no later than December 31, 2027.
Recommendation R4: By December 31, 2026, to ensure city residents are engaged and aware of wildfire risk reduction resources, OCFA member and non-member cities should provide information, develop their own outreach program, and establish a direct contact person(s) for their residents. This is in addition to whatever referrals or references made to OCFA outreach programs. [F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6] Response: The recommendation has not yet been implemented, but will be implemented by December 31, 2026. The Fullerton Fire Department already provides wildfire risk-reduction information directly to residents. Each year, the Department mails postcards addressing weed abatement, home hardening, and general fire-safe practices to approximately 4,000 homes in the city’s High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, as identified through GIS analysis. The Department also maintains wildfire preparedness resources on the City’s website. By December 31, 2026, the City will formalize these activities as its wildfire outreach program and designate and publicize a direct point of contact for residents seeking wildfire risk-reduction information.
The City of Fullerton thanks the members of the 2025-2026 Orange County Grand Jury for their service and for the report’s thorough treatment of wildfire and insurance risk. Questions regarding this response may be directed to the Office of the City Manager at (714) 738-6310.
Sincerely,
______________________________
Fred Jung
Mayor
City of Fullerton
cc: Orange County Grand Jury
700 Civic Center Drive West
Santa Ana, CA 92701
THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY
312 East Commonwealth Avenue, Fullerton, California 92832-2017 (714) 738-6500 | [email protected] | fullertonfire.org
THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY
312 East Commonwealth Avenue, Fullerton, California 92832-2017 (714) 738-6500 | [email protected] | fullertonfire.org
CITY OF FULLERTON
City Council