CWPP EVALUATION
CWPPs are intended to reduce the risk of wildfire for a community and the surrounding environment.
However, over time, communities change and expand, vegetation grows back, and forests and wildlands evolve. As such, the risk of wildfire to communities is constantly changing. The plans and methods to reduce risk must be dynamic to keep pace with the changing environment. An evaluation of the CWPP will gather information and identify whether the plans and strategies are on course to meet the desired outcomes or if modifications are needed to meet expectations. Figure 7.1 identifies four general steps that can be used to evaluate the CWPP.
TIMELINE FOR UPDATING THE CWPP AND UNIT PLAN
The HFRA allows for maximum flexibility in the CWPP planning process, permitting the Core Team to determine the time frame for updating the CWPP. Historically, the Core Team has provided prompt updates to the CWPP to ensure that the most up-to-date information and data for wildfire planning within the county are available for planning purposes. To ensure that this CWPP continues to stay relevant across Butte County, the Core Team members are encouraged to continue frequent updates to review the project list, discuss project successes, and strategize regarding project implementation funding. CAL FIRE Butte Unit will lead the facilitation and oversight of the comprehensive update of the CWPP, ensuring it incorporates up-to-date wildfire risk factors, reflects the latest fire hazards, considers community input, and identifies best practices in fire mitigation and emergency response.
Since this plan also serves as a Unit Fire Plan, the CAL FIRE Butte Unit will conduct annual updates.
These updates will include annual accomplishment reporting (Appendix K), minor revisions (noted on the second page of this document), and updates to relevant statistics and priorities. 304
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Figure 7.1. Four-step CWPP evaluation process.
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CHAPTER 8 – QUANTITATIVE
WILDFIRE RISK ASSESSMENT
PURPOSE
The completion of a Quantitative Wildfire Risk Assessment (QWRA) provides land use managers, fire officials, and planners with critical information to develop targeted strategies for reducing wildfire threats.
This assessment not only guides planning efforts but also supports outreach and education initiatives to engage community members in minimizing fire-related risks. For this community wildfire protection plan (CWPP) update, areas of high wildfire hazard and risk are identified using the QWRA process through the modeling of fire behavior, burn probability, and fire intensity, along with evaluating the exposure and susceptibility of structures, critical infrastructure, and highly valued resources and assets (HVRAs).
Stakeholder and expert input further guides the QWRA process, ensuring recommended fuel treatments are prioritized according to wildfire risk. For further details on fuels treatments, refer to Chapter 6 (Risk Reduction Recommendations) and Appendix I (Fuel Treatment Activities).
The QWRA provides a community- and landscape-level overview of wildfire risk and is not recommended for use at smaller scales (such as for a property-level analysis). It is also not recommended for use in determining insurance rates or policies. This QWRA is a model, and as such has inherent biases, missing data, and other shortcomings, though every effort has been made to include the best available data and use the most robust scientific processes. Also note that just because an area is shown as high or low risk does not mean that that area will be burned or not burned in a wildfire—a low-risk area can still be affected by wildfire under certain conditions. This QWRA is also not intended for use during active wildfire events, but rather only as a tool for pre-fire planning. It is not recommended that this QWRA be used for any other purpose than what is stated here.
In addition to the desktop QWRA, this CWPP also leverages a field wildfire hazard and risk assessment, completed in October 2024, which is discussed below and in Appendix C.
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FIELD-BASED COMMUNITY HAZARD ASSESSMENTS
Community Hazard Assessments were conducted in October 2024 using the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Wildland Fire Risk and Hazard Severity Form 1144 (see Appendix C). This form is based on the NFPA Standard for Reducing Structure Ignition Hazards from Wildland Fire 2013 Edition.
The purpose of the Community Hazard Assessment and subsequent ratings is to identify fire hazard and risks and prioritize areas requiring mitigation and more detailed planning. These assessments should not be seen as tactical pre-suppression or triage plans. The Community Hazard Assessment helps to drive the recommendations for mitigation of structural ignitability, community preparedness, and public education.
Each area was rated based on conditions within the community and immediately surrounding structures, including access, adjacent vegetation (fuels), defensible space, adjacent topography, roof and building characteristics, available fire protection, and placement of utilities. Each score was given a corresponding adjective rating of low, moderate, high, or extreme (Table 8.1).
It is imperative to note that these assessments demonstrated a challenge with private bridges oftentimes serving as the sole access points to several properties. These bridges are often constructed without permits, lack regular maintenance, and have unknown load capacities, posing significant challenges for emergency response and evacuation. This concern is particularly relevant in isolated areas of the county, such as Butte Creek Canyon and Berry Creek, where access limitations further exacerbate wildfire risks.
Example of aboveground utility with hazardous
vegetation observed during field-based assessments.
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Table 8.1. Field-Based Community Hazard Assessment Summaries Community Name Total Risk Score Hazard Rating
Bangor/Rackerby 114 Extreme
Berry Creek 114 Extreme
Big Bend 122 Extreme
Biggs/Gridley 67 Moderate
Butte Creek Canyon 112 Extreme
Butte Meadows 102 High
Butte Valley 89 High
Chico 93 High
Clipper Mills 95 High
Cohasset 118 Extreme
Concow 110 High
East Oroville 101 High
Feather Falls 119 Extreme
Forbestown 105 High
Forest Ranch 105 High
Honcut 77 High
Hurleton 123 Extreme
Jonesville 115 Extreme
Magalia/Paradise Pines/De Sabla 105 High
Nelson/Richvale 76 High
Nord 82 High
North Chico 84 High
Oroville 89 High
Palermo 97 High
Paradise 86 High
Pentz 90 High
Richardson Springs 111 High
Robinson Mill 117 Extreme
Southwest Chico/Durham 52 Moderate
Stirling City 102 High
Swedes 114 Extreme
Table Mountain/Cherokee 128 Extreme
Thermalito 77 High
Yankee Hill 119 Extreme
Note: More detailed information is provided in Appendix C. 308
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COMMUNITIES AT RISK DESIGNATION
The National Fire Plan allocates funding to reduce wildfire risks to communities, with an initial list of highrisk communities within the WUI published in the Federal Register in 2001, designated through collaboration between states and federal agencies. Briefly after its inception, states took over the responsibility for updates. For California, the State Forester (CAL FIRE Director) manages the list, and it is important to note that California's unique WUI situation has resulted in an extension of the list beyond communities adjacent to federal lands (CAL FIRE 2024i). Table 8.2 outlines Butte County's communities listed as high-risk.
Table 8.2. Communities at Risk within Butte County
Community Name Year
Bangor 2001
Berry Creek 2001
Butte Creek 2001
Butte Meadows 2001
Butte Valley 2013
Cherokee 2013
Chico 2001
Clipper Mills 2013
Cohasset 2001
Concow 2001
Durham 2001
Feather Falls 2001
Forbestown 2010
Forest Ranch 2001
Honcut 2013
Hurleton 2001
Community Name Year
Inskip 2001
Jonesville 2001
Kelly Ridge 2013
Magalia 2001
Oroville 2001
Oroville East 2001
Palermo 2001
Paradise 2001
Paradise Pines - De Sabla 2013
Pentz Butte 2001
Robinson Mills 2001
South Oroville 2001
Stirling City 2001
Thermalito 2001
Yankee Hill 2013
Source: CAL FIRE (n.d.)
EXISTING HAZARDS INFORMATION
CALIFORNIA FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES
In accordance with PRC 4202, CAL FIRE maintains Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) data for the entire state. The FHSZs rely on advanced scientific data and are determined by considering key factors such as vegetation, topography, and weather (CAL FIRE 2024g). There are three classes of fire hazard severity ratings within FHSZs: moderate, high, and very high (California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research [Cal OPR] 2022a). These zones represent hazards across the landscape, with "hazard" defined by physical conditions that indicate the likelihood and expected fire behavior over a 30- to 50-year period, 309
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excluding mitigation measures such as home hardening, recent wildfires, or fuel reduction efforts. It is important to note that hazard levels do not directly indicate the potential damage a fire may cause.
Figure 8.1 shows the SRA FHSZs for Butte County based on data available at the time of plan development. Many areas within the county are classified as having high or very high FHSZs, with the eastern and northern portions of the county having considerably higher proportions of very high hazard areas. In fact, there are 17,126 structures in SRA high or very high FHSZs. The LRA FHSZs are currently being updated, thus the structure count in very high FHSZs will be updated once the LRA FHSZs are finalized and adopted. Additionally, many urban centers such as Chico, Paradise, and Oroville are bordered by or in proximity to SRA very high hazard landscapes.
CAL FIRE reviewed and updated FHSZs for State Responsibility Areas (SRAs) in 2023 and approved the final SRA FHSZ maps to be effective April 1, 2024. The most up-to-date FHSZ maps and an interactive viewer can be found on CAL FIRE’s website at: https://osfm.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/community-wildfirepreparedness-and-mitigation/fire-hazard-severity-zones.
This CWPP is designed to focus on areas within the county with the highest wildfire risk (as evaluated in the “Quantitative Wildfire Risk Assessment” section below); it is therefore important to note that FHSZs evaluate wildfire “hazard” and not “risk.” As defined by CAL FIRE:
“Hazard” is based on the 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 wildfire, or fuel reduction efforts. “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 (CAL FIRE 2023a, 2023b).
Thus, while FHSZs help guide the community fire planning and mitigation process by assessing hazards, this CWPP enhances the “hazard only approach” by considering the hazard and risk dynamic across the county.
CAL FIRE released the updated draft LRA FHSZs for Butte County in February 2025. The LRA FHSZs are in draft format until they are formally adopted by each local jurisdiction, which may take up to 120 days plus additional time for finalization by the State Board of Forestry. The draft LRA FHSZ web map can be accessed at:
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/6a9cb66bb1824cd98756812af41292a0. 310
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Figure 8.1. CAL FIRE’s FHSZs in the SRA within Butte County. 312
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Note: This page serves as a placeholder for the Unincorporated Butte County LRA FHSZ map. This map will be included in a future annual CWPP update once the final adopted version is available. The most up to date FHSZ maps and an interactive viewer can be found on CAL FIRE’s website at: https://osfm.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/community-wildfire-preparedness-and-mitigation/fire-hazard-severity-zones.
Figure 8.2. 2025 LRA Fire Hazard Severity Zones in unincorporated Butte County. 313
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Note: This page serves as a placeholder for the City of Chico LRA FHSZ map. This map will be included in a future annual CWPP update once the final adopted version is available. The most up to date FHSZ maps and an interactive viewer can be found on CAL FIRE’s website at:
https://osfm.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/community-wildfire-preparedness-and-mitigation/fire-hazard-severity-zones.
Figure 8.3. 2025 LRA Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the City of Chico. 314
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Note: This page serves as a placeholder for the City of Oroville LRA FHSZ map. This map will be included in a future annual CWPP update once the final adopted version is available. The most up to date FHSZ maps and an interactive viewer can be found on CAL FIRE’s website at:
https://osfm.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/community-wildfire-preparedness-and-mitigation/fire-hazard-severity-zones.
Figure 8.4. 2025 LRA Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the City of Oroville. 315
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Note: This page serves as a placeholder for the Town of Paradise LRA FHSZ map. This map will be included in a future annual CWPP update once the final adopted version is available. The most up to date FHSZ maps and an interactive viewer can be found on CAL FIRE’s website at:
https://osfm.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/community-wildfire-preparedness-and-mitigation/fire-hazard-severity-zones.
Figure 8.5. 2025 LRA Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the Town of Paradise. 316
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ASSESSING HAZARDS VS. RISK
SWCA's QWRA evaluates key factors such as flame length (intensity), burn probability, buildings, and highly valued resources and assets (HVRAs). Flame length is modeled by analyzing vegetation type, density, and condition; topography, including slope, aspect, and elevation; and meteorological conditions like wind, temperature, and humidity. Burn probability is generated by running thousands of simulations, considering ignition locations, fire size, weather patterns, fuel types, and topography. These flame length and burn probability outputs represent hazards, while buildings and HVRAs represent susceptible values.
This QWRA categorizes the landscape into four risk levels: low, moderate, high, and very high.
In comparison, CAL FIRE's FHSZs reflect vegetation, topography, and weather patterns to indicate burn likelihood and potential fire behavior, ranging from moderate to very high hazard levels. Updated FHSZs incorporate land use changes, recent fire history, new wind data, and local climate information (CAL FIRE 2024i).
The primary distinction between SWCA's QWRA and CAL FIRE’s FHSZs is that FHSZs assess hazard only, while SWCA’s QWRA accounts for both hazard and the likelihood of resulting damage (risk).
Regulatory background regarding the development and updates of FHSZs are summarized in Appendix A.
QUANTITATIVE WILDFIRE RISK ASSESSMENT
FRAMEWORK
The QWRA is a specialized tool for evaluating the risk that wildland fires pose to communities within the county. Risk is defined as a combination of hazard and vulnerability (Figure 8.6). For the purposes of this document, risk is conceptualized using four key factors within the QWRA Framework (Scott et al. 2013):
• Burn Probability: The likelihood of a 30-square-meter pixel burning within a specified time period.
• Intensity: The rate of energy release during combustion, which can be measured by flame length—a direct indicator of fire intensity.
• Exposure: The proximity of HVRAs to hazards within the landscape, such as homes located in the WUI.
• Susceptibility: The degree to which an HVRA is likely to be damaged by wildfire. 318
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Figure 8.6. QWRA Framework.
Derived from Scott et al. 2013.
PROCESS OVERVIEW
Flame length (intensity) and burn probability were assessed using established models including FARSITE, FlamMap, BehavePlus, and FireFamily Plus, integrated within the Interagency Fuel Treatment Decision Support System (IFTDSS) and ArcGIS Desktop Spatial Analyst tools. The QWRA data were sourced primarily from LANDFIRE and supplemented by additional datasets (LANDFIRE 2023).
SWCA generated a landscape file for the county in IFTDSS, with Core Team input guiding the refinement of fuel models, response functions, and relative importance values, resulting in tailored fire behavior outputs and risk scoring. The datasets (flame lengths, building footprints, HVRAs, and burn probability) were processed and reclassified in ArcGIS Pro. The raster calculator in ArcGIS Pro then produced the conditional Net Value Change (cNVC) and expected Net Value Change (eNVC) risk outputs, with the eNVC serving as the final risk layer in the QWRA. The cNVC evaluates wildfire impacts to values assuming a fire has occurred (i.e., it assumes 100% probability), whereas the eNVC evaluates the likelihood of impacts to values based on fire probability (IFTDSS n.d.a).
DATA COLLECTION
The spatial data required for this QWRA are summarized in Table 8.3. It’s important to note that burn probability considers factors such as landscape characteristics (e.g., topography and fuels), weather conditions (e.g., humidity and wind), and historical ignition patterns. Similarly, flame length calculations incorporate fuels, topography, and weather conditions.
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Table 8.3. Spatial Data Inputs for the QWRA
Inputs Source Type/Subtype
Burn Probability IFTDSS, LANDFIRE Hazard/Probability
Flame Length IFTDSS, LANDFIRE Hazard/Intensity
Critical Infrastructure HVRAs Butte County and Homeland Infrastructure Foundation-Level Data (HIFLD) Vulnerability/Exposure
Building Footprint HVRAs Microsoft Vulnerability/Exposure Identification of Hazards and Vulnerability
Hazards
Burn Probability
Figure 8.7 illustrates the likelihood of a specific location on the landscape burning, which is represented as burn probability. Burn probability takes into account several factors, including fire size, frequency, rate of spread, and weather conditions (IFTDSS n.d.b). Burn probability is modeled as low in the eastern and western portions of the county, with higher ratings in the central area.
Recent large fires, such as the 2020 North Complex and the 2021 Dixie Fire, have significantly influenced burn probability in Butte County’s higher elevations. Areas within these fire perimeters exhibit reduced burn probabilities in the model due to changes in fuel conditions; post-fire landscapes with less combustible material burn less readily under simulated peak fire season conditions compared to pre-fire conditions. If this analysis had been conducted prior to these major fires, burn probabilities in these areas would likely have been much higher. It should also be noted that low burn probability does not mean "no" probability. For example, a 20% burn probability means that one in five ignitions under very high fire danger conditions would reach and burn that location.
Flame Length
Figure 8.8 illustrates the flame length classifications for Butte County. Flame lengths are determined by fuels, weather, and topography. Flame length is a measure of the intensity of the hazard in the QWRA equation. Direct attack by hand lines is usually limited to flame lengths less than 4 feet. For flames between 4 and 8 feet, indirect suppression (dozers, engines, etc.) is the dominant tactic. In excess of 8 feet, control efforts will be extremely challenging.
Flame lengths vary across the county. Lower-elevation grass fuels typically produce shorter flame lengths and have the highest likelihood of successful suppression, while higher-elevation timber fuels are more susceptible to crown fires that can be challenging to control. Mid-elevation brush and timber fuels exhibit flame lengths and suppression potentials that fall between these extremes.
Directly related to flame length is fire intensity. Fire intensity was modeled for various critical infrastructure and natural resources in Butte County; these maps are shown in Figures B.1 through Figure B.5. They represent fire intensity adjacent to the railroads, small community water resources, and critical habitat areas.
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Figure 8.7. Burn probability in the Butte County CWPP planning area. 321
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Figure 8.8. Flame length in the Butte County CWPP planning area. 322
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Vulnerability
Response Functions
Response Functions (RFs) measure the susceptibility of highly valued resources and assets (HVRAs) to wildfire, indicating how fire affects these resources based on intensity (IFTDSS n.d.c). Defined by experts, RFs assign a value change ranging from -100 to +100, where -100 represents significant loss and +100 denotes substantial benefit. The RFs assigned to each HVRA are based on flame length classes, which represent different levels of fire intensity. Generally, the longer the flame length, the higher the intensity and the flame’s impact to structures and HVRAs.
HIGHLY VALUED RESOURCES AND ASSETS (HVRAs)
Infrastructure
The infrastructure dataset (Figure 8.9) for the QWRA was developed through a comprehensive process that combined data from critical infrastructure inventories, community assessments, public outreach efforts, and Core Team input. This dataset was further supplemented with HVRA data acquired from the Homeland Infrastructure Foundation-Level Data (HIFLD). The identified infrastructure HVRAs include structures, power lines, transmission lines, substations, power plants, pipelines, communication towers, and communication sites. These data are essential to the QWRA, as they indicate key locations on the landscape where values that support the community are present.
Critical infrastructure was buffered by 30 meters to address areas classified as 'unburnable' around these assets. Frequently, a nonburnable space exists between HVRAs and adjacent fuels; adding this buffer effectively classifies the HVRAs adjacent to fuels as 'burnable' features. Though the fire spread models do not simulate structure burning (‘urban’ fuels show as ‘unburnable’) this allows the risk to be projected into the most threatened developments on the edge of the WUI.
Buildings
The Microsoft Building Footprints (Figure 8.10) dataset was used to identify the locations and extents of structures, including residences and businesses, across the planning area. This dataset, created using artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms applied to high-resolution satellite imagery, provides detailed polygonal representations of buildings (ArcGIS Online 2022). Incorporating these data into the QWRA allows for accurate mapping of structures across the landscape and helps assess the exposure of built environments to wildfire risks.
Since the model typically classifies the immediate areas around buildings as 'unburnable,' building footprints were buffered by 0.25 mile to ensure this area is treated as 'burnable' in the analysis. 323
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Figure 8.9. Butte County CWPP planning area QWRA input – HVRA: infrastructure. 324
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Figure 8.10. Butte County CWPP planning area QWRA input – building footprints. 325
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RISK MODELING AND SCORING
Landscape Fire Behavior
Landscape fire behavior modeling was executed in IFTDSS (FlamMap) using the Automatic 97th Percentile Landscape Fire Behavior (Auto 97th) parameters (IFTDSS n.d.d). The Auto 97th setting models fire behavior under very high fire weather conditions. Auto 97th uses data from nearby remote automated weather stations (RAWS) to determine conditions for fuel moisture and wind speed and direction.
Weighting and Relative Importance
To develop a quantitative risk product (Wildfire Risk to Structures and Infrastructure) the HVRAs must be weighted with a relative importance value (Scott et al. 2013). The HVRAs were broken into two categories and weighted as shown in Figure 8.11.
Figure 8.11. Relative importance of collaboratively selected HVRAs for the Butte County CWPP planning area.
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VALIDATION AND CALIBRATION
LANDFIRE is a national remote sensing project that provides land managers with a data source for all inputs needed for fire behavior models (fuels, topography, and canopy characteristics). The database is managed by the USFS and the U.S. Department of the Interior and is widely used throughout the United States for land management planning. More information can be obtained from http://www.landfire.gov.
The fire modeling for the Wildfire Risk to Assets products used the LANDFIRE 2023 layers (released in May 2024 and updated through the end of 2023). Because 2024 fires had not yet been incorporated into the standard data, edits were made to incorporate the Park, Thompson, Junes, and Apache Fire perimeters. Within the burn perimeters, grass, grass-shrub, shrub, timber litter, and timber understory layers were modified to reflect slower future rates of spreads and shorter flame lengths in the 2024 fire footprints. Calibrations made in LANDFIRE to recent local fires such as the 2020 Dixie and 2021 North Complex were used for the 2024 burn perimeters. It takes several years to understand how post-fire regeneration will respond. The burn area calibrations were made to represent likely fire activity in the various fuel types within the burn areas for a 3- to 5-year period. They will likely overestimate spread for 2025 and could underestimate spread beyond 2029. Rerunning the risk analysis on LANDFIRE 2029, and any time after major fires or fuel changes, is recommended.
QWRA RESULTS
The QWRA map (Figure 8.12) highlights high and very high wildfire risk in the central portion of the county, where wildland fuels overlap infrastructure and buildings. Areas with elevated risk typically have both a high density of structures (buildings and residences) and fuels. It’s important to note that this QWRA assesses wildfire risks specifically to structures and HVRAs; therefore, areas without these assets show no data. This focus aligns with the CWPP’s objective of prioritizing communities and the critical infrastructure that supports them, though other values may also hold significance. 327
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Figure 8.12. Wildfire risk to structures and infrastructure in the Butte County CWPP planning area. 328
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ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS
°F Degrees Fahrenheit
ATSDR Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
BAER Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation
BCCER Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve
BCCG Butte County Collaborative Group
BCFSC Butte County Fire Safe Council
BCRCD Butte County Resource Conservation District
BEC Butte Environmental Council
BIA Bureau of Indian Affairs
BLM Bureau of Land Management
CAAB Chico Air Attack Base
CAL FIRE California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection California SJT California Silver Jackets Team
Cal OES California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Cal OPR California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CDFW California Department of Fish and Wildlife
CEQA California Environmental Quality Act
Cohesive Strategy National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy County Butte County
CWPP Community Wildfire Protection Plan
DWR California Department of Water Resources
ECC Emergency Command Center
EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Esri Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc.
FAC Fire-Adapted Community
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency
FHSZ Fire Hazard Severity Zone
FRA Federal Responsibility Area
FRAP CAL FIRE's Fire and Resource Assessment Program
FSC Fire Safe Council
FTER Fuels Treatment Effectiveness Report
GIS Geographic Information System
HFRA Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003
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HVRAs Highly Valued Resources and Assets
IFTDSS Interagency Fuel Treatment Decision Support System LRA Local Responsibility Area
MMAA Master Mutual Aid Agreement
NEPA National Environmental Policy Act
NFPA National Fire Protection Association
NIFC National Interagency Fire Center
NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NRCS Natural Resources Conservation Service
NWCG National Wildfire Coordinating Group
PBA Prescribed Burn Association
PRC Public Resources Code
QWRA Quantitative Wildfire Risk Assessment
RAWS Remote Automated Weather Station
RCD Resource Conservation District
SRA State Responsibility Area
SVI Social Vulnerability Index
SWCA SWCA Environmental Consultants
TEK Traditional Ecological Knowledge
UC ANR University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture
USFS U.S. Forest Service
USFWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
VHFHSZs Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones
VMP Vegetation Management Program
WUI Wildland-Urban Interface
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GLOSSARY
Aspect: Cardinal direction toward which a slope faces in relation to the sun (NWCG 2021a).
Active Crown Fire: A crown fire in which the entire fuel complex is involved in flame, but the crowning phase remains dependent on heat released from surface fuel for continued spread. An active crown fire presents a solid wall of flame from the surface through the canopy fuel layers. Flames appear to emanate from the canopy as a whole rather than from individual trees within the canopy. Active crown fire is one of several types of crown fire and is contrasted with passive crown fires, which are less vigorous types of crown fire that do not emit continuous, solid flames from the canopy (SWCA).
Available Canopy Fuel: The mass of canopy fuel per unit area consumed in a crown fire. There is no postfrontal combustion in canopy fuels, so only fine canopy fuels are consumed. We assume that only the foliage and a small fraction of the branch wood is available (Wooten 2021).
Available Fuel: The total mass of ground, surface and canopy fuel per unit area available fuel consumed by a fire, including fuels consumed in postfrontal combustion of duff, organic soils, and large woody fuels (Wooten 2021).
Backfiring: Intentionally setting fire to fuels inside a control line to contain a fire (Wooten 2021).
Biochar: A type of charcoal created from burning woody debris, often sourced from management activities like thinning, harvesting, or fuels reduction. Biochar is used as a soil amendment to enhance soil health and productivity, while also offering climate change and pollution mitigation benefits (USFS 2022b) Biomass: Organic material. Also refers to the weight of organic material (e.g., biomass roots, branches, needles, and leaves) within a given ecosystem (Wooten 2021).
Burn Severity: A qualitative assessment of the heat pulse directed toward the ground during a fire. Burn severity relates to soil heating, large fuel and duff consumption, consumption of the litter and organic layer beneath trees and isolated shrubs, and mortality of buried plant parts (SWCA).
Canopy: The more or less continuous cover of branches and foliage formed collectively by adjacent trees and other woody species in a forest stand. Where significant height differences occur between trees within a stand, formation of a multiple canopy (multi-layered) condition can result (SWCA).
Chain: Unit of measure in land survey, equal to 66 feet (20 m) (80 chains equal 1 mile). Commonly used to report fire perimeters and other fireline distances. Popular in fire management because of its convenience in calculating acreage (example: 10 square chains equal 1 acre) (New Mexico Future Farmers of America 2010).
Climate adaptation: Adaptation is an adjustment in natural or human systems to a new or changing environment. Adaptation to climate change refers to adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities (CA GOPR 2020).
Climate Change: A change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods (Cal OPR 2020).
Community Assessment: An analysis designed to identify factors that increase the potential and/or severity of undesirable fire outcomes in WUI communities (SWCA). 331
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Communities at Risk: Defined by the HFRA as “Wildland-Urban Interface Communities within the vicinity of federal lands that are at high risk from wildfire.” • CAL FIRE expanded on this definition for California including all communities (regardless of distance from federal lands) for which a significant threat to human life or property exists as a result of a wildland fire event. California uses the following three factors to determine at risk communities: 1) high fuel hazard, 2) probability of a fire, and 3) proximity of intermingled wildland fuels and urban environments that are near fire threats (Cal OPR 2020).
Community Emergency Response Team: The Community Emergency Response Team program educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. The team offers a consistent, nationwide approach to volunteer training and is an organization that professional responders can rely on during disaster situations, allowing them to focus on more complex tasks (Ready 2021).
Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP): A planning document that seeks to reduce the threat to life and property from wildfire by identifying and mitigating wildfire hazards to communities and infrastructure located in the WUI. Developed from the HFRA, a CWPP addresses issues such as wildfire response, hazard mitigation, community preparedness, or structure protection (SWCA).
Contain: A tactical point at which a fire's spread is stopped by and within specific contain features, constructed or natural; also, the result of stopping a fire's spread so that no further spread is expected under foreseeable conditions. For reporting purposes, the time and date of containment. This term no longer has a strategic meaning in federal wildland fire policy (Wooten 2021).
Control: To construct fireline or use natural features to surround a fire and any control spot fires therefrom and reduce its burning potential to a point that it no longer threatens further spread or resource damage under foreseeable conditions. For reporting purposes, the time and date of control. This term no longer has a strategic meaning in federal wildland fire policy (Wooten 2021).
Cover Type: The type of vegetation (or lack of it) growing on an area, based on cover type minimum and maximum percent cover of the dominant species, species group or non-living land cover (such as water, rock, etc.). The cover type defines both a qualitative aspect (the dominant cover type) as well as a quantitative aspect (the abundance of the predominant features of that cover type) (Wooten 2021).
Creeping Fire: A low-intensity fire with a negligible rate of spread (Wooten 2021).
Cross Staffed: Personnel who are not assigned as the primary responding resource on a daily basis.
Instead, these resources are staffed by the crew of another apparatus at the same station. The crew members switch between apparatus as the nature of emergency activity dictates, ensuring flexibility and optimal response to varying emergency situations (direct communication, CAL FIRE, 2025).
Crown Fire: A fire that advances at great speed from crown to crown in tree canopies, often well in advance of the fire on the ground (National Geographic 2021).
Cultural Fire: Cultural fire refers to the Indigenous practice of intentionally setting controlled burns to achieve specific ecological and cultural outcomes. For thousands of years Native American, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian communities have used fire as a tool to promote biodiversity, manage landscapes for resources, support wildlife habitat, and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires. Cultural fire practices are deeply rooted in Indigenous philosophies, enhancing the productivity and health of ecosystems while sustaining cultural traditions and values (National Park Service 2024). 332
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Defensible Space: An area around a structure where fuels and vegetation are modified, cleared, or reduced to slow the spread of wildfire toward or from a structure. The design and distance of the defensible space is based on fuels, topography, and the design/materials used in the construction of the structure (SWCA).
• In California, PRC Section 4291, “defensible space” refers to a 100-foot perimeter around a structure in which vegetation (fuels) must be maintained in order to reduce the likelihood of ignition. This space may extend beyond property lines, or 100 feet as required by State law as well as local ordinances, rules, and regulations (Cal OPR 2020).
Duff: The layer of decomposing organic materials lying below the litter layer of freshly fallen twigs, needles, and leaves and immediately above the mineral soil (SWCA).
Ecosystem: An interacting natural system including all the component organisms together with the abiotic environment and processes affecting them (SWCA).
Environmental Conditions: That part of the fire environment that undergoes short-term changes:
weather, which is most commonly manifest as windspeed, and dead fuel moisture content (Wooten 2021).
Escape Route: A preplanned and understood route firefighters take to move to a safety zone or other reduced-risk area. When escape routes deviate from a defined physical path, they should be clearly marked (flagged) (SWCA).
Evacuation: The temporary movement of people and their possessions from locations threatened by wildfire (SWCA).
Federal Responsibility Area (FRA): A term specific to California, designating areas where the federal government is responsible for fire response efforts. These areas include lands under federal ownership (Cal OPR 2020).
Fire-Adapted Community: A fire-adapted community collaborates to identify its wildfire risk and works collectively on actionable steps to reduce its risk of loss. This work protects property and increases the safety of firefighters and residents (U.S. Fire Administration 2021b).
Fire Behavior: The manner in which fuel ignites, flame develops, and fire spread and exhibits other related phenomena as determined by the interaction of fuels, weather, and topography (Fire Research and Management Exchange System 2021).
Fire Break: Areas where vegetation and organic matter are removed down to mineral soil (SWCA).
Fire Environment: The characteristics of a site that influence fire behavior. In fire modeling the fire environment is described by surface and canopy fuel characteristics, windspeed and direction, relative humidity, and slope steepness (Wooten 2021).
Fire Frequency: A broad measure of the rate of fire occurrence in a particular area. For historical analyses, fire frequency is often expressed using the fire return interval calculation. For modern-era analyses, where data on timing and size of fires are recorded, fire frequency is often best expressed using fire rotation (SWCA).
Fire Hazard: Fire hazard is the potential fire behavior or fire intensity in an area, given the type(s) of fuel present – including both the natural and built environment – and their combustibility (Cal OPR 2020).
Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ): Fire Hazard Severity Zones are defined based on vegetation, topography, and weather (temperature, humidity, and wind), and represents the likelihood of an area 333
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burning over a 30- to 50-year time period without considering modifications such as fuel reduction efforts.
In California, CAL FIRE maintains FHSZ data for the entire state. There are three classes of fire hazard severity ratings within FHSZs: Moderate, High, and Very High (Cal OPR 2020).
Fire History: The chronological record of the occurrence of fire in an ecosystem or at a specific site. The fire history of an area may inform planners and residents about the level of wildfire hazard in that area (SWCA).
Fire Intensity: A general term relating to the heat energy released in a fire (SWCA).
Fireline Intensity: Amount of heat release per unit time per unit length of fire front. Numerically, the product of the heat of combustion, quantity of fuel consumed per unit area in the fire front, and the rate of spread of a fire, expressed in kilowatts per minute (SWCA). This expression is commonly used to describe the power of wildland fires, but it does not necessarily follow that the severity, defined as the vegetation mortality, will be correspondingly high (Wooten 2021).
Fire Prevention: Activities such as public education, community outreach, planning, building code enforcement, engineering (construction standards), and reduction of fuel hazards that is intended to reduce the incidence of unwanted human-caused wildfires and the risks they pose to life, property, or resources (Cal OPR 2020).
Fire Regime: A measure of the general pattern of fire frequency and severity typical to a particular area or type of landscape: The regime can include other metrics of the fire, including seasonality and typical fire size, as well as a measure of the pattern of variability in characteristics (SWCA).
Fire Regime Condition Class: Condition classes are a function of the degree of fire regime condition class departure from historical fire regimes resulting in alterations of key ecosystem components such as composition structural stage, stand age, and canopy closure (Wooten 2021).
Fire Return Interval: Number of years (interval) between two successive fires in a designated area (SWCA).
Fire Severity: A qualitative measure of the immediate effects of fire on the fire severity ecosystem.
It relates to the extent of mortality and survival of plant and animal life both aboveground and belowground and to loss of organic matter. It is determined by heat released aboveground and belowground. Fire Severity is dependent on intensity and residence dependent of the burn. For trees, severity is often measured as percentage of basal area removed. An intense fire may not necessarily be severe (Wooten 2021).
Fire Risk: “Risk” takes into account the intensity and likelihood of a fire event to occur as well as the chance, whether high or low, that a hazard such as a wildfire will cause harm. Fire risk can be determined by identifying the susceptibility of a value or asset to the potential direct or indirect impacts of wildfire hazard events (Cal OPR 2020).
Flammability: The relative ease with which fuels ignite and burn regardless of the quantity of the fuels (SWCA).
Flame Length: The length of flames in the propagating fire front measured along the slant of the flame from the midpoint of its base to its tip. It is mathematically related to fireline intensity and tree crown scorch height (Wooten 2021).
Forest Fire: Uncontrolled burning of a woodland area (National Geographic 2021). 334
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Fuel Break: A natural or manmade change in fuel characteristics which affects fire behavior so that fires burning into them can be more readily controlled (NWCG 2021b).
Fuel Complex: The combination of ground, surface, and canopy fuel strata (Wooten 2021).
Fuel Condition: Relative flammability of fuel as determined by fuel type and environmental conditions (SWCA).
Fuel Continuity: A qualitative description of the distribution of fuel both horizontally and vertically.
Continuous fuels readily support fire spread. The larger the fuel discontinuity, the greater the fire intensity required for fire spread (Wooten 2021).
Fuel Loading: The volume of fuel in a given area generally expressed in tons per acre (SWCA). Dead woody fuel loadings are commonly described for small material in diameter classes of 0 to 0.25, 0.25 to 1, and 1 to 3 inches and for large material greater than 3 inches (Wooten 2021).
Fuel Management/Fuel Reduction: Manipulation or removal of fuels to reduce the likelihood of ignition and to reduce potential damage in case of a wildfire. Fuel reduction methods include prescribed fire, mechanical treatments (mowing, chipping), herbicides, biomass removal (thinning or harvesting of trees, harvesting of pine straw), and grazing. Fuel management techniques may sometimes be combined for greater effect (SWCA). More information about fuel management and fuel reduction can be found in Appendix G.
Fuel Model: A set of surface fuel bed characteristics (load and surface-area-to-fuel model volume-ratio by size class, heat content, and depth) organized for input to a fire model (Wooten 2021).
Fuel Modification: The manipulation or removal of fuels (i.e., combustible biomass such as wood, leaves, grass, or other vegetation) to reduce the likelihood of igniting and to reduce fire intensity. Fuel modification activities may include lopping, chipping, crushing, piling, and burning, including prescribed burning. These activities may be performed using mechanical treatments or by hand crews. Herbicides and prescribed herbivory (grazing) may also be used in some cases. Fuel modification may also sometimes be referred to as “vegetation treatment” (Cal OPR 2020).
Fuel Moisture Content: This is expressed as a percent or fraction of oven dry fuel moisture content weight of fuel. It is the most important fuel property controlling flammability. In living plants, it is physiologically bound. Its daily fluctuations vary considerably by species but are usually above 80% to 100%. As plants mature, moisture content decreases. When herbaceous plants cure, their moisture content responds as dead fuel moisture content, which fluctuates according to changes in temperature, humidity, and precipitation (Wooten 2021).
Fuel Treatment: The manipulation or removal of fuels to minimize the probability of ignition and/or to reduce potential damage and resistance to fire suppression activities (NWCG 2021c). Synonymous with fuel modification.
Grazing: There are two types of grazing: 1) traditional grazing, and 2) targeted grazing. Traditional grazing refers to cattle that are managed in extensive pastures to produce meat. Targeted grazing involves having livestock graze at a specific density for a given period of time for the purpose of managing vegetation. Even though both kinds of grazing manage fuel loading in both rangelands and forested lands, targeted grazing is different in that its sole purpose is to manage fuels. Targeted grazing is done by a variety of livestock species such as sheep, goats, or cows (University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources [UC ANR] 2019).
Ground Fire (subsurface): Fire that burns organic matter in the soil, or humus; usually does not appear at the surface (National Geographic 2021).
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Ground Fuels (subsurface): Fuels that lie beneath surface fuels, such as organic soils, duff, decomposing litter, buried logs, roots, and the below-surface portion of stumps (Wooten 2021).
Hazard: A “hazard” can be defined generally as an event that could cause harm or damage to human health, safety, or property (Cal OPR 2020).
Hazardous Areas: Those wildland areas where the combination of vegetation, topography, weather, and the threat of fire to life and property create difficult and dangerous problems (SWCA).
Hazardous Fuels: A fuel complex defined by type, arrangement, volume, condition, and location that poses a threat of ignition and resistance to fire suppression (NWCG 2021d).
Hazardous Fuels Reduction: Any strategy that reduces the amount of flammable material in a fireprone ecosystem. Two common strategies are mechanical thinning and prescribed burning (Wooten 2021).
Hazard Reduction: Any treatment that reduces the threat of ignition and spread of fire (SWCA).
Highly Valued Resources and Assets: Landscape features that are influenced positively and/or negatively by fire. Resources are naturally occurring, while assets are human-made (IFTDSS 2021).
Ignition: The action of setting something on fire or starting to burn (SWCA).
Incident: An occurrence or event, either natural or person-caused, which requires an emergency response to prevent loss of life or damage to property or natural resources (Wooten 2021).
Influence Zone: An area that, with respect to wildland and urban fire, has a set of conditions that facilitate the opportunity for fire to burn from wildland fuels to the home and or structure ignition zone (NWCG 2021e).
Initial Attack: The actions taken by the first resources to arrive at a wildfire to protect lives and property, and prevent further extension of the fire (SWCA).
Invasive Species: An introduced, nonnative organism (disease, parasite, plant, or animal) that begins to spread or expand its range from the site of its original introduction and that has the potential to cause harm to the environment, the economy, or to human health (U.S. Geological Survey 2021).
Ladder Fuels: Fuels that provide vertical continuity allowing fire to carry from surface fuels into the crowns of trees or shrubs with relative ease (SWCA).
Litter: Recently fallen plant material that is only partially decomposed and is still discernible (SWCA).
Local Responsibility Area (LRA): A term specific to California, designating areas where the local government is responsible for wildfire protection. The LRA includes incorporated cities, cultivated agricultural lands, and portions of the desert. LRA fire protection is typically provided by city fire departments, fire protection districts, counties, and by CAL FIRE under contract to local government (Cal OPR 2020).
Manual Treatments: Felling and piling of fuels done by hand. The volume of material generated from a manual fuel treatment is typically too small to warrant a biomass sale therefore collected material is disposed of by burning or chipping. The work can be performed by either a single individual or a large, organized crew with powered equipment (UC ANR 2021a).
Mechanized Treatments: Mechanical treatments pulverize large continuous patches of fuel to reduce the volume and continuity of material. Mechanical treatments can be applied as either mastication or 336
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chipping treatments. Both treatments shred woody material, but mastication leaves residue on-site while chipping collects the particles for transportation off site. Similar to manual treatments, mechanical treatments can target specific areas and vegetation while excluding areas of concern. In addition, mechanical treatment is easily scalable to large areas (>30 acres) with little added cost (UC ANR 2021b).
Mitigation: Action that moderates the severity of a fire hazard or risk (SWCA).
Mutual Aid: Assistance in firefighting or investigation by fire agencies, irrespective of jurisdictional boundaries (NWCG 2021f).
Native Revegetation: The process of replanting and rebuilding the soil of disturbed land (e.g., burned) with native plant species (USDA 2005).
Native Species: A species that evolved naturally in the habitat, ecosystem, or region as determined by climate, soil, and biotic factors (USDA 2005).
National Cohesive Strategy: The National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy is a strategic push to work collaboratively among all stakeholders and across all landscapes, using best science, to make meaningful progress toward three goals:
• Resilient Landscapes
• Fire-Adapted Communities
• Safe and Effective Wildfire Response
Vision: To safely and effectively extinguish fire when needed; use fire where allowable; manage our natural resources; and as a nation, to live with wildland fire (Forests and Rangelands 2021).
Overstory: That portion of the trees in a forest which forms the upper or uppermost layer (SWCA).
Passive Crown Fire: A type of crown fire in which the crowns of individual trees or small groups of trees burn, but solid flaming in the canopy cannot be maintained except for short periods. Passive crown fire encompasses a wide range of crown fire behavior, from occasional torching of isolated trees to nearly active crown fire. Passive crown fire is also called torching or candling. A fire in the crowns of the trees in which trees or groups of trees torch, ignited by the passing front of the fire. The torching trees reinforce the spread rate, but these fires are not basically different from surface (SWCA).
Prescribed Burning: Any fire ignited by management actions under specific, predetermined conditions to meet specific objectives related to hazardous fuels or habitat improvement. Usually, a written, approved prescribed fire plan must exist, and environmental and other requirements must be met, prior to ignition (USFS 2021a).
Prescribed Herbivory: Prescribed herbivory for hazardous fuel reduction is the intentional use of domestic livestock to remove, rearrange, or convert vegetation on wildlands to reduce the costs and losses associated with wildfires and to enhance the condition of forests, rangelands, and watersheds.
The types of domestic livestock considered include sheep, goats, and cattle.
Rate of Spread: The relative activity of a fire in extending its horizontal dimensions. It is expressed as rate of increase of the total perimeter of the fire, as rate of forward spread of the fire front, or as rate of increase in area, depending on the intended use of the information. Usually, it is expressed in chains or acres per hour for a specific period in the fire's history (NWCG 2021g).
Resilience: Resilience is the capacity of any entity – an individual, a community, an organization, or a natural system – to prepare for disruptions, to recover from shocks and stresses, and to adapt and grow from a disruptive experience (Cal OPR 2020).
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Response: Movement of an individual firefighting resource from its assigned standby location to another location or to an incident in reaction to dispatch orders or to a reported alarm (SWCA).
Safety Element: One of the seven mandatory elements of a local general plan (a county plan that forms the foundation for future development), the safety element must identify hazards and hazard abatement provisions to guide local decisions related to zoning, subdivisions, and entitlement permits. The element should contain general hazard and risk reduction strategies and policies supporting hazard mitigation measures (Cal OPR 2020).
Slash: Debris left after logging, pruning, thinning, or brush cutting. Slash includes logs, chips, bark, branches, stumps, and broken trees or brush that may be fuel for a wildfire (SWCA).
Slope Percent: The ratio between the amount of vertical rise of a slope and horizontal distance expressed as a percentage. One hundred feet of rise to 100 feet of horizontal distance equals 100 percent (NWCG 2021h).
Suppression: The most aggressive fire protection strategy, it leads to the total extinguishment of a fire (SWCA).
Surface Fire: Fire that typically burns only surface litter and undergrowth (National Geographic 2021).
Surface Fuel: Fuels lying on or near the surface of the ground, consisting of leaf and needle litter, dead branch material, downed logs, bark, tree cones, and low stature living plants (SWCA).
Structural Ignitability: The susceptibility of a structure (such as homes or fences) to catch fire (SWCA).
Topography: The arrangement of the natural and artificial physical features of an area (SWCA).
Total Fuel Load: The mass of fuel per unit area that could possibly be consumed in a hypothetical fire of the highest intensity in the driest fuels (Wooten 2021).
Tree Crown: The primary and secondary branches growing out from the main stem, together with twigs and foliage (SWCA).
Understory: Low-growing vegetation (herbaceous, brush or reproduction) growing under a stand of trees. Also, that portion of trees in a forest stand below the overstory (SWCA).
Understory Fire: A fire burning in the understory, more intense than a surface fire with flame lengths of 1 to 3 m (Wooten 2021).
Values and Assets at Risk: The elements of a community or natural area considered valuable by an individual or community that could be negatively impacted by a wildfire or wildfire operations. These values can vary by community and can include public and private assets (natural and manmade) – such as homes, specific structures, water supply, power grids, natural and cultural resources, community infrastructure-- as well as other economic, environmental, and social values (Cal OPR 2020).
Vulnerable Community: Vulnerable communities experience heightened risk and increased sensitivity to natural hazard and climate change impacts and have less capacity and fewer resources to cope with, adapt to, or recover from the impacts of natural hazards and increasingly severe hazard events because of climate change. These disproportionate effects are caused by physical (built and environmental), social, political, and/ or economic factor(s), which are exacerbated by climate impacts. These factors include, but are not limited to, race, class, sexual orientation and identification, national origin, and income inequality (Cal OPR 2020).
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Wildfire: A “wildfire” can be generally defined as any unplanned fire in a “wildland” area or in the WUI (Cal OPR 2020).
Wildfire Exposure: During fire suppression activities, an exposure is any area/property that is threatened by the initial fire, but in National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) a reportable exposure is any fire that is caused by another fire, i.e., a fire resulting from another fire outside that building, structure, or vehicle, or a fire that extends to an outside property from a building, structure, or vehicle (U.S. Fire Administration 2020).
Wildfire Influence Zone: A wildland area with susceptible vegetation up to 1.5 miles from the interface or intermix WUI (Cal OPR 2020).
Wildland: Those unincorporated areas covered wholly or in part by trees, brush, grass, or other flammable vegetation (Cal OPR 2020).
Wildland Fire: Fire that occurs in the wildland as the result of an unplanned ignition (Cal OPR 2020).
Wildland Fuels (aka fuels): Fuel is the material that is burning. It can be any kind of combustible material, especially petroleum-based products, and wildland fuels. For wildland fire, it is usually live or dead plant material, but can also include artificial materials such as houses, sheds, fences, pipelines, and trash piles. In terms of vegetation, there are six wildland fuel types (Fuel Type: An identifiable association of fuel elements of distinctive species, form, size, arrangement, or other characteristics that will cause a predictable rate of spread or resistance to control under specified weather conditions.) The six wildland fuel types are (NWCG 2021i):
• Grass
• Shrub
• Grass-Shrub
• Timber Litter
• Timber-Understory
• Slash-Blowdown
Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI): The WUI is the zone of transition between unoccupied land and human development. It is the line, area, or zone where structures and other human development meet or intermingle with undeveloped wildland or vegetative fuels (U.S. Fire Administration 2021a). In the absence of a CWPP, Section 101 (16) of the Healthy Foresters Restoration Act defines the WUI as “(I) an area extending ½ mile from the boundary of an at-risk community; (II) an area within 1 ½ miles of the boundary of an at-risk community, including any land that (1) has a sustained steep slope that creates the potential for wildfire behavior endangering the at-risk community; (2) has a geographic feature that aids in creating an effective fire break, such as a road or ridge top; or (3) is in condition class 3, as documented by the Secretary in the project-specific environmental analysis; (III) an area that is adjacent to an evacuation route for an at-risk community that the Secretary determines, in cooperation with the atrisk community, requires hazardous fuels reduction to provide safer evacuation from the at-risk community.” A CWPP offers the opportunity to establish a localized definition and boundary for the WUI (USFS 2021a, 2021b).
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______. 2024a. Prescribed Burn Association. Available at: https://www.bcrcd.org/prescribed-burnassociation. Accessed November 2024. ______. 2024b. Small Forest Landowner Assistance Program (SFLAP). Available at:
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______. 2024c. Kicking Out Invasive Weeds. Available at: https://www.bcrcd.org/kicking-out-invasiveweeds. Accessed November 2024. 342
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______. 2024d. Projects. Available at https://www.bcrcd.org/projects. Accessed November 2024. ______. n.d. Butte County Resource Conservation District. Available at: https://www.bcrcd.org/. Accessed December 2024.
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______. 2023. Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program. Available at:
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______. 2024b. Post-Fire Resources. Available at: https://www.conservation.ca.gov/cgs/bwg/resources.
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———. 2018b. 2018 Incident Archive. Available at: https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2018. Accessed March 2025.
———. 2018c. California’s Forests and Rangelands: 2017 Assessment. Available at: https://34c031f8- c9fd-4018-8c5a-4159cdff6b0d-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/calfire-website/what-wedo/fire-resource-assessment-program---frap/assessment/forest-and-range-2017-assessment.pdf.
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———. 2019a. Community Wildfire Prevention & Mitigation Report. Available at:
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———. 2022b. Top 20 Largest California Wildfires. Available at: https://34c031f8-c9fd-4018-8c5a4159cdff6b0d-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/calfire-website/our-impact/firestatistics/featureditems/top20_acres.pdf?rev=be2a6ff85932475e99d70fa9458dca79&hash=A355A978818640DFA CE7993C432ABF81. Accessed April 2023.
———. 2022c. Vegetation Management Program. Available at: https://www.fire.ca.gov/what-wedo/natural-resource-management/vegetation-management-program. Accessed April 2023. ———. 2022d. Defensible Space. Available at:
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———. 2024a. Statistics. Available at: https://www.fire.ca.gov/our-impact/statistics. Accessed October 2024.
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———. 2024c. Defensible Space. Available at: https://www.fire.ca.gov/dspace. Accessed November 2024.
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———. 2025b. Statistics. Available at: https://www.fire.ca.gov/our-impact/statistics. Accessed March 2025.
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California Department of Water Resources (CA DWR). 2023. Lake Oroville community update. Available at: https://water.ca.gov/News/Blog/2023/Dec-23/Lake-Oroville-Update-12-8-2023. Accessed September 2024.
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———.2022b. Wildland Urban Interface Planning Guide. Available at:
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———. 2022. Public Resources Code 4291. Available at:
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———. 2024. Indigenous Fire Practices Shape our Land. Available at:
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APPENDIX A:
Planning and Policy Background
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PLANNING PROCESS
The Society of American Foresters, in collaboration with the National Association of Counties and the National Association of State Foresters, developed a guide entitled Preparing a Community Wildfire Protection Plan: A Handbook for Wildland-Urban Interface Communities (Society of American Foresters 2004) to provide communities with a clear process in developing a community wildfire protection plan (CWPP). While this guide is now dated, the eight steps for developing a CWPP are still relevant and have been followed in preparing the Butte County CWPP:
Step One: Convene Decision-Makers. Form a Core Team made up of representatives from the appropriate local governments, local fire authorities, and state agencies responsible for forest management.
Step Two: Involve Federal Agencies. Identify and engage local federal representatives and contact and involve other land management agencies as appropriate.
Step Three: Engage Interested Parties. Contact and encourage active involvement in plan development from a broad range of interested organizations and stakeholders.
Step Four: Establish a Community Base Map. Work with partners to establish a base map(s) defining the community’s wildland-urban interface (WUI) and showing inhabited areas at risk, wildland areas that contain critical human infrastructure, and wildland areas at risk for large-scale fire disturbance.
Step Five: Develop a Community Risk-Hazard Assessment. Work with partners to develop a community Risk-Hazard Assessment that considers fuel hazards; risk of wildfire occurrence; homes, businesses, and essential infrastructure at risk; other values at risk; and local preparedness capability. Rate the level of risk for each factor and incorporate this information into the base map as appropriate.
Step Six: Establish Community Priorities and Recommendations. Use the base map and Community Risk-Hazard Assessment to facilitate a collaborative community discussion that leads to the identification of local priorities for treating fuels, reducing structural ignitability and other issues of interest, such as improving fire response capability. Clearly indicate whether priority projects are directly related to the protection of communities and essential infrastructure or to reducing wildfire risks to other community values.
Step Seven: Develop an Action Plan and Assessment Strategy. Consider developing a detailed implementation strategy to accompany the CWPP as well as a monitoring plan that will ensure its long-term success.
Step Eight: Finalize Community Wildfire Protection Plan. Finalize the CWPP and communicate the results to community and key partners.
In 2024, CAL FIRE published the California CWPP Toolkit, which provides important guidance and resources for developing CWPPs in California, including an overview of California CWPP requirements (CAL FIRE 2024h). The Toolkit was used to ensure that this CWPP meets specific considerations required by CAL FIRE: https://osfm.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/community-wildfire-preparedness-andmitigation/california-cwpp-toolkit. 358
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FIRE MANAGEMENT POLICY
The responsibility for fire prevention and protection lies with a combination of property owners, state, county, and municipal governments. Property owners are expected to comply with applicable state statutes and local regulations. These efforts should be coordinated with federal agencies and the private sector to ensure a comprehensive approach to fire management. The current federal fire policy prioritizes the protection of 1) life, 2) property, and 3) natural resources. These priorities often limit flexibility in the decision-making process, especially when a wildland fire occurs within the wildland-urban interface (WUI).
LEGISLATIVE DIRECTION
Local Direction
Fire management policy within Butte County emphasizes a comprehensive approach to reducing wildfire risk and improving fire prevention measures. This strategy includes locally tailored policies and statewide legislation, focusing on enforcing fire protection standards, supporting vegetation management, enforcing weed abatement programs, and ensuring that all properties and development projects address wildland fire risks, particularly in areas identified by CAL FIRE or the local jurisdiction as being at increased risk.
One local ordinance that demonstrates Butte County’s fire management approach includes Chapter 38A of the Butte County Code of Ordinances, titled "Fire Prevention and Protection," which mandates property owners maintain defensible space and manage hazardous vegetation to prevent the rapid spread of fire.
This chapter builds off the state-level Public Resources Code 4291 and outlines administrative procedures for addressing fire hazards. The overall goal of Chapter 38A is voluntary compliance. Often, non-compliant properties can be referred to a local organization, such as the Fire Safe Council or Resources Conservation District, that can provide additional guidance and support in achieving compliance. For those parcels that remain out of compliance, Chapter 38A provides for issuing legal notices, enforcing compliance through abatement hearings, forced abatement of hazardous properties, and civil penalties. There are also provisions for Butte County to abate urgent fire hazards without formal hearings when immediate threats to public safety exist (Butte County 2024b).
Butte County’s Building Code Ordinance (Ordinance No. 4172) adopts the 2019 California Building Standards Code (Title 24) and other relevant codes to establish minimum construction standards, promote fire safety, and ensure compliance with state requirements.
In response to recent devastating wildfires, Butte County has enacted two key chapters in its Code of Ordinances to support recovery efforts. Chapter 53 - Camp Fire Recovery, enacted as an urgency ordinance, addresses the aftermath of the 2018 Camp Fire by relaxing zoning and building restrictions to alleviate the housing shortage for displaced residents, permitting temporary housing solutions such as RVs, modular homes, and tiny houses. Similarly, Chapter 54 - North Complex Fire Recovery, implemented after the 2020 North Complex Fire, mandates the removal of hazardous structural debris and trees to ensure public safety and facilitate rebuilding efforts, providing property owners with options to participate in state-managed cleanup programs or choose private removal under county supervision.
Chapter 56 – Park and Thompson Fire Recovery outlined mandatory requirements for debris and hazard tree removal, interim housing provisions, and enforcement measures to address the public health and safety risks caused by the Park Fire and Thompson Fire disasters (Butte County 2024b).
The passage of Measure H in Butte County’s 2024 General Election signifies the securing of essential public services and community resources for regional public safety entities. This measure, which 359
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implements a 1% sales tax, is expected to generate $44,000,000 annually toward maintaining emergency 911 response times; preparing for and recovering from wildfires and natural disasters; protecting abused and neglected children; addressing homelessness and mental health challenges; retaining and attracting qualified firefighters, EMTs, and sheriff's deputies; preventing thefts and property crimes; and supporting library services. The tax will be applied to both incorporated and unincorporated areas of the county and includes strict accountability measures such as public spending disclosures and annual audits (Butte County 2024c).
State Direction
The 2021 California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan recognizes that California faces continued and urgent threats from catastrophic wildfire. The purpose of this plan is to provide a foundation for supporting healthy, resilient, fire-adapted forests. The plan is organized into four overarching goals with sub-goals and their correlated action items. Some of the goals/strategies specific to wildfire include:
• Increase fuel breaks: Reduce the risk of wildfire and slow fire spread within the wildland-urban interface (WUI).
• Protect wildfire-prone homes and neighborhoods: Expand and extend defensible space programs.
• Improve utility-related wildfire risk: Ensure electrical corporations are compliant with wildfire regulations.
• Create fire-safe roadways: Ensuring emergency evacuation routes that can function as a fuel break.
Like the 2014 National Strategy, the 2018 Strategic Fire Plan for California, California’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan, CAL FIRE’s 2024 California CWPP Toolkit, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 all mandate community-based planning efforts with full stakeholder participation, coordination, project identification, prioritization, funding review, and multiagency cooperation. In compliance with Title 1 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act, a community wildfire protection plan must be mutually agreed upon by the local government, local fire departments, and the state agency responsible for forest management. See Figure A.1 for an overview of California’s wildfire regulatory environment.
California Proposition 4, which passed in California’s 2024 General Election, authorizes the state to sell a $10 billion bond for natural resources and climate activities. Of this amount, $1.95 billion is specifically allocated for wildfire prevention and extreme heat mitigation. This funding will support activities such as thinning overgrown forests, clearing vegetation near residential areas, and helping homeowners make their properties more resistant to wildfire damage. The measure prioritizes projects that benefit disadvantaged communities and mandates annual audits. The bond will be repaid from the State General Fund, with an estimated annual cost of $400 million over 40 years. This initiative is expected to significantly enhance California's wildfire management by providing substantial resources for prevention and mitigation efforts, potentially reducing the severity and impact of future wildfires (California Secretary of State 2024).
An overview of California CWPP requirements is included as part of the California CWPP Toolkit published by CAL FIRE. To access the Toolkit, visit: https://osfm.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/communitywildfire-preparedness-and-mitigation/california-cwpp-toolkit. 360
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Figure A.1. California’s wildfire regulatory framework. Source: Cal OPR (2022a) California Bills and Regulations
Assembly Bill 38 (2019): Assembly Bill 38 creates a financial support program for wildfire mitigation, focusing on home hardening, retrofitting, and defensible space improvements in high-risk wildfire areas (Cal OPR 2022a). The bill also requires a disclosure of the defensible space status by the seller whenever improved property is sold anywhere in the High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZs) in both the State Responsibility Area (SRA) and Local Responsibility Area (LRA). This requirement does not apply to unimproved parcels (direct communication, CAL FIRE, 2025).
Assembly Bill 179 (2022): In September 2022, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 179, allocating $1.3 billion over 2 years to enhance wildfire resilience and forest health across California (California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force [CA WFRTF] 2024).
Assembly Bill 1550 (2016): Assembly Bill 1550 requires state agencies to prioritize investments in disadvantaged communities facing environmental and economic challenges (California Environmental Protection Agency 2022).
Assembly Bill 1823 (2019): This bill requires the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to establish a “Fire Risk Reduction Community” list by July 1, 2022, for local agencies in high fire risk areas (Cal OPR 2022a).
Evacuation Planning Requirements: Assembly Bill 747 (2019), Assembly Bill 1409 (2020), and Senate Bill 99 (2019) require local agencies to assess evacuation routes and identify communities with fewer than two routes (Cal OPR 2022a).
Public Resource Code (PRC) 4290: Establishes minimum wildfire protection standards for building, construction, and development in the SRA, effective since 1991 (California Legislative Information 2019b). Additionally, PRC 4290 grants the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection authority to adopt fire safety regulations in the SRA and very high FHSZs (Cal OPR 2022a). 361
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PRC 4291: Mandates defensible space around structures in the SRA or very high FHSZs, including clearing vegetation and debris near homes. An update in January 2021 added an ember-resistant zone requirement within 5 feet of structures, commonly referred to as “Zone 0” (California Legislative Information 2022; Cal OPR 2022a). In February 2025, in response to the Los Angeles Fires, Governor Newsom signed an executive order to direct the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to accelerate its work to adopt Zone 0 regulations.
PRC 4292–4296: These sections set vegetation management standards around overhead power lines to prevent fires (Cal OPR 2022a).
Senate Bill 246 (2015): Senate Bill 246 established the Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program (ICARP), responsible for coordinating responses to climate change impacts across California (Cal OPR 2022a).
Senate Bill 379 (2015): Senate Bill 379 requires all California general plans to address climate change adaptation and resilience in the safety element (Cal OPR 2022a).
Senate Bill 535 (2012): Senate Bill 535 allocates funds from California Climate Investments to benefit communities identified as “Disadvantaged Communities” (DACs), based on pollution burden and federal land status (California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment 2023).
Senate Bill 901 (2018): Senate Bill 901 updated the California Emergency Services Act, allowing the governor, with the advice of the Office of Emergency Services, to divide the state into mutual aid regions for wildfire response coordination (Cal OPR 2022a).
Senate Bill 1035 (2018): Senate Bill 1035 mandates that local agencies update the climate adaptation section of their general plan every 8 years, incorporating new information on fire hazards, climate resilience, and adaptation strategies (Cal OPR 2022a).
Senate Bill 1241 (2012): Senate Bill 1241 mandates that cities and counties in the SRA or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZs) include wildfire hazard strategies in their safety elements (Cal OPR 2022a).
2022 Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZs) Update: In 2023, CAL FIRE updated the FHSZs within the SRA, considering factors like vegetation, wind, and fire history. The 2023 FHSZ update for the SRA became effective April 1, 2024. FHSZs in the LRA are currently in the update process, with final maps expected in spring 2025 (CAL FIRE 2024g).
California Proposition 4: Proposition 4 authorizes a $10 billion bond with $1.5 billion dedicated to forest health and wildfire prevention. This funding is crucial for reducing wildfire risks by supporting forest thinning, vegetation clearing, and home hardening. These measures aim to decrease the severity of wildfires, protect communities, and potentially save state and local governments significant costs in disaster response and recovery (California Legislative Analyst Office 2024).
Federal Direction
The National Fire Plan was established after the 2000 fire season to foster collaboration between state, federal, and tribal agencies, ensuring preparedness for severe wildland fires. It was followed by a 2001 report, and was updated in 2002 and 2006, which emphasized restoring fire-adapted ecosystems, reducing hazardous fuels, and improving fire prevention. The 2006 update introduced a landscape-level vision for restoration, continued improvements in collaboration, and the importance of using fire as a 362
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management tool. Annual reports track progress in community fire prevention efforts (Forests and Rangelands 2006).
In 2003, the Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA) was enacted to expedite hazardous fuels reduction on federal lands, encouraging collaboration between agencies and communities. Revised in 2009, it introduced new funding provisions and refocused on wildfire mitigation. A key feature of the HFRA is the development of community wildfire protection plans, which allow communities to define their wildlandurban interface (WUI) and prioritize treatment areas for funding and hazard reduction projects (H.R. 4233 - Healthy Forest Restoration Amendmen
ts Act of 2009).
In 2023, the Wildfire Leadership Council updated the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy through an Addendum Update. This update highlighted new emphasis areas, including climate change, workforce capacity, community resilience, and environmental justice. The updated strategy also outlined management options and addressed challenges faced by the 2014 framework (Forests and Rangelands 2023).
PLANNING EFFORTS
LOCAL
2024 Butte County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP): This comprehensive hazard mitigation plan identifies the primary risks faced by Butte County, including wildfires, floods, and earthquakes. Mitigation goals are aligned with Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA’s) guidelines to ensure eligibility for federal disaster assistance and grant funding (Butte County 2024a). The LHMP contains more than 20 annexes for jurisdictions, special districts, and nonprofits and can be found here:
https://www.buttecounty.net/808/Local-Hazard-Mitigation-Plan. 2025 CAL FIRE Butte Unit Fire Danger Operating Plan (FDOP): The CAL FIRE Butte Unit FDOP serves as a critical framework for managing wildfire risks, providing standardized procedures for assessing, communicating, and responding to fire danger levels. It uses local data, weather forecasts, and historical fire behavior to understand the magnitude of local fire danger, guiding decisions on staffing, resource allocation, and public advisories. By outlining clear protocols for various fire danger levels, the FDOP helps fire management agencies implement measures to prevent and mitigate wildfires, protect communities, and coordinate effectively among multiple agencies.
Butte County Community Health Assessment: The 2023 Community Health Assessment, updated in 2024 and led by the Butte County Department of Public Health, provides a comprehensive overview of health and social factors impacting county residents. It also underscores the county’s efforts to address the lingering effects of disasters such as wildfires and the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the need for targeted public health initiatives to improve the overall well-being of the population (Butte County 2024c). 2021 Butte County Climate Action Plan: The Butte County Climate Action Plan aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for the impacts of climate change, including the increased threat of wildfires. This document serves as a guide for aligning wildfire prevention with broader environmental goals, such as enhancing carbon sequestration through forest management and improving air quality (Butte County 2021).
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Upper Ridge Community Plan: The Upper Ridge Community Plan focuses on the recovery and redevelopment of the communities affected by the Camp Fire, including strategies for reducing wildfire risks in the wildland-urban interface. The plan includes recommendations for land use, infrastructure improvements, and community resilience, aiming to rebuild in a way that mitigates future fire risks while fostering economic and social recovery (Butte County 2022).
California Department of Water Resources Oroville Facilities Fuel Load Management Plan (FLMP):
The Oroville Facilities FLMP was developed by the California Department of Water Resources and outlines strategies to manage and reduce wildfire risks within the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission project boundary. The plan focuses on reducing fuel loads through various treatments like prescribed burns, thinning, grazing, and herbicide application (California Department of Water Resources 2023).
Butte County CWPP/CAL FIRE Butte Unit Fire Plan: The Butte County CWPP and the CAL FIRE Butte Unit Fire Plan are a single, integrated document that serves as both the countywide CWPP and Unit Fire Plan for Butte County. This plan identifies and prioritizes pre- and post-fire management strategies in collaboration with federal, state, city, town, and county agencies, as well as tribal entities, private companies, nonprofits, and other non-governmental organizations. It provides a comprehensive framework for wildfire prevention, preparedness, and response by addressing the unique wildfire hazards of the local region while aligning with CAL FIRE’s statewide goals. The 2025 CWPP/Fire Plan is a complete rewrite of the 2020 document that was last revised in May 2024. The plan ensures coordinated, localized strategies and tactics to effectively manage wildfire risks and enhance community safety (CAL FIRE 2024i).
All-At-Once Evacuation Plan: The Town of Paradise All-At-Once Evacuation Plan was developed based on findings from the Camp Fire After Action Review and Corrective Action reports. The plan is designed to move traffic off the ridge and onto Highway 99 without interruption. The plan includes the Town of Paradise Public Works, Butte County Public Works, the City of Chico, the California Highway Patrol (CHP), and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).
Butte County Emergency Evacuation Report: In 2021, Butte County received a grant from the California Department of Housing and Community Development to enhance emergency evacuation planning. Partnering with a transportation consulting firm in 2022, the County conducted traffic pattern analyses and evacuation modeling scenarios to develop an Emergency Evacuation Report and detailed evacuation maps for unincorporated communities. Completed in 2025, these resources were informed by community input gathered through public meetings and provide critical guidance for safe evacuations (Butte County 2025).
2022 Butte Forested Watersheds Plan: The Butte Forested Watersheds Plan aims to create a resilience framework for Butte County’s forested watersheds, focusing on health and sustainability amidst wildfire risks and climate change. Key objectives include fire adaptation through reduced fuel loads, promoting biodiversity, ensuring climate resilience, maintaining water quality, and managing herbivory. The plan emphasizes a shift from project-based to programmatic management, collaboration with local tribes, and community-based fire management. Additionally, it seeks to develop biomass capacity to use forest thinning byproducts and reduce wildfire risks. Access the plan at:
https://www.bcrcd.org/files/dcf88caf7/Butte+Forested+Watersheds+Plan+Final+Revised+2-18-22.pdf.
City of Chico Vegetative Fuels Management Plan (VFMP): The City of Chico's 2021 VFMP provides a comprehensive framework for managing over 6,400 acres of parks, greenways, and open spaces to reduce wildfire risk while improving ecological health and community values. The plan outlines specific goals and objectives, focusing on minimizing fire hazards, protecting native biodiversity, enhancing 364
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wildlife habitat, and maintaining ecosystem services like water quality. It prioritizes key projects but also authorizes vegetation management across all City-owned lands (City of Chico 2021).
STATE
Strategic Fire Plan for California: The 2018 Strategic Fire Plan for California is a comprehensive document developed by CAL FIRE and the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection. It aims to enhance the state’s ability to manage and mitigate wildfire risks through a combination of fire prevention, suppression activities, and natural resource management (CAL FIRE 2018a).
Key Focus Areas
• Fire Prevention and Suppression: The plan emphasizes activities to protect lives, property, and ecosystem services.
• Natural Resource Management: Maintaining the state’s forests as a resilient carbon sink is crucial.
• Community Engagement and Education: Increasing public awareness and education on fire prevention and safety is a significant component.
Goals and Objectives
The 2018 Strategic Fire Plan for California outlines eight primary goals, supported by 66 specific objectives. These goals include identifying and evaluating wildland fire hazards, integrating land use planning, enhancing collaborative community fire protection planning, increasing fire prevention awareness, integrating fire and fuels management practices with landowner/land manager priorities across jurisdictions, determining the adequate level of fire suppression and fire planning resources, and implementing post-fire assessment programs (CAL FIRE 2018a).
California State Hazard Mitigation Plan: The 2023 California State Hazard Mitigation Plan outlines California’s strategy to reduce the impacts of disasters through a multi-sector and community-wide approach to risk reduction (Cal OES 2023).
Fire Hazard Planning Technical Advisory: In 2022, the California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (Cal OPR) updated the Fire Hazard Planning Technical Advisory. The goal of the guide is to provide a framework for planners and decision-makers in addressing hazards, increasing resilience, and reducing risks associated with fire (Cal OPR 2022a).
Wildland-Urban Interface Planning Guide: In 2022, in accordance with the requirements of Assembly Bill 75, the California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (Cal OPR), together with the Community Wildfire Planning Center and CAL FIRE, created the wildland-urban interface (WUI) planning guide. The guide serves as a supplement to the Fire Hazard Planning Technical Advisory. The regulation section of the guide provides required and recommended codes for resilient WUI planning as well as rationale for how these measures promote a fire-safe community (Cal OPR 2022b).
California’s Forests and Rangelands: 2017 Assessment: In 2018, CAL FIRE published California’s Forests and Rangelands: 2017 Assessment. CAL FIRE’s Fire and Resource Assessment Program evaluates California’s forests and rangelands and analyzes their condition to establish management and regulatory guidelines (CAL FIRE 2018c).
Community Wildfire Prevention & Mitigation Report: In 2019, CAL FIRE published the Community Wildfire Prevention & Mitigation Report in response to Executive Order N-05-19, which directs CAL FIRE 365
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and other state agencies to recommend administrative, regulatory, and policy changes to prevent and mitigate wildfires (CAL FIRE 2019a).
California’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan: In 2021, the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force (CA WFRTF) developed California’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan.
The purpose of the plan was to sustain economic strength of the forests, improve forest health and resilience, and increase the level of fire safety within communities (CA WFRTF 2021).
Vegetation Management Program: In addition to the 2018 Strategic Fire Plan for California, CAL FIRE operates a Vegetation Management Program (VMP) that focuses on addressing resource management and wildfire fuel hazards within State Responsibility Area (SRA) lands. The VMP utilizes cost-sharing methodology, prescribed fire, and mechanical fuels treatments to address wildland fuel hazards on SRA lands. Landowners can apply for participation in the VMP program and once approved as a VMP project, CAL FIRE assumes liability for conducting treatments (CAL FIRE 2022c).
California Vegetation Treatment Program: The State of California operates the California Vegetation Treatment Program (CalVTP). This program was developed by the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to create healthy fire regimes, reduce hazardous vegetation that increases wildfire risk, and reduce risk within communities (California Department of Conservation 2024a).
PUBLIC LAND MANAGEMENT
LAND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
Forest managers in the region are addressing land management objectives through the use of prescribed fire, mechanical, and manual treatments to promote more resilient forest lands. Private, state, and federal lands are interspersed, creating a matrix of land ownership, which is often a hurdle to implementation of landscape-level treatments. By working with private landowners, forest managers are enhancing landscape-scale efforts to create more resilient forest communities.
Local Land
At a broad level, the guiding principles for management of public local lands are established in the Butte County General Plan 2040 (Butte County 2023).
Butte County’s parks and recreational facilities are managed by five municipalities and five large, independent special districts. The five key recreation and park districts are Chico Area, Durham, Feather River, Paradise, and Richvale Recreation and Park Districts (Butte County 2023). Notably, the Gridley and Biggs areas are not served by a special park district. Instead, the Cities of Gridley and Biggs provide recreation facilities. Additionally, the City of Chico owns and manages Bidwell Park, one of the largest city-owned parks in the United States.
State Land
California and the federal government currently are in a shared stewardship agreement for California forests and rangelands. This agreement sets goals for fuels treatment, forest management, and watershed health (California Governor 2020). More information on this shared stewardship agreement can be found under the Stewardship Agreements subsection of this appendix. 366
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Priority Landscapes
Priority landscapes, as defined by the California Fire and Resource Assessment Program, are areas where ecosystems, infrastructure, or economic assets face high risks from wildfires, pests, or climate change. Ranked by asset value and threat severity, high-priority landscapes, particularly in the WUI, demand immediate action to mitigate wildfire risks through strategies like forest thinning and defensible space.
For more information on the Fire and Resource Assessment Program, visit the following webpage:
https://www.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/fire-resource-assessment-program/.
California Department of Parks and Recreation
The California Department of Parks and Recreation (commonly referred to as California State Parks) is the largest state park system in the United States, spanning approximately 1.4 million acres across 279 park units. The system is divided into 21 districts, each responsible for the upkeep and management of their respective regions (California State Parks 2024a). Butte County falls under the Northern Buttes District.
The primary objectives of land management within California State Parks include preserving biological diversity, protecting cultural resources, providing recreational opportunities, and offering educational programs. In response to the state’s wildfire risks, the parks have implemented various mitigation strategies such as fuel reduction, prescribed burns, and the creation of firebreaks (California State Parks 2024b).
Lake Oroville State Recreation Area
Lake Oroville State Recreation Area is a scenic destination in Butte County, managed by California State Parks and the California Department of Water Resources. The area spans approximately 15,500 acres of lake surface with 167 miles of shoreline. The park’s goals include water conservation, flood control, recreation, and environmental protection. In July 2024, parts of the park were affected by the Thompson Fire, leading to temporary closures of some trails (California State Parks 2024c).
The Lake Oroville State Recreation Area includes the Thermalito North and South Forebays.
The 300-acre North Forebay offers a day-use area with manicured turf, diverse shade trees—including European sycamore, olive, valley oak, and zelkova—a sandy swimming beach, picnic sites with ramadas, and a fishing pier. The South Forebay features a parking area, a four-lane boat ramp, picnic tables, and a sandy beach. Though it lacks shade and drinking water, it remains a popular spot for power boating and fishing.
Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation Area
Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA) is located about 2 miles west of Oroville in Butte County. This 220-acre area is characterized by its unique topography that was formed when clay was mined from the area during construction of the nearby Oroville Dam. This area provides recreational opportunities for a wide range of Off Highway Vehicles, including motorcycles, 4x4s, and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) (California State Parks 2024d; direct communication, CAL FIRE, 2025). 367
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Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park
Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park, located near Chico, spans more than 355 acres of picturesque riparian habitat along the Sacramento River and Big Chico Creek. The park is characterized by its lush oak woodlands, cottonwood trees, and scenic river landscapes (California State Parks 2024e).
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) manages well over 1 million acres of fish and wildlife habitat across 749 properties throughout California. These properties serve as habitat for a great diversity of fish, wildlife, and plant species and include varied habitats from major ecosystems in the state (CDFW 2023). In 2021, the CDFW initiated the largest wildfire protection and resiliency endeavor in its history, with a focus to improve wildfire protection and resiliency in most of its ecological reserves, wildlife areas, and surrounding communities. Methods employed by the CDFW to accomplish its wildfire resiliency goals include the installation of fire breaks, brush removal, vegetation thinning, livestock grazing, and prescribed burns (CDFW 2021b).
CDFW-managed lands in Butte County are listed below:
• Butte Creek Canyon Ecological Reserve
• Butte Creek House Ecological Reserve
• Coon Hollow Wildlife Area
• Feather River Fish Hatchery
• Gray Lodge Wildlife Area
• North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve
• Oroville Wildlife Area
• Upper Butte Basin Wildlife Area
California Department of Water Resources
The California Department of Water Resources (DWR), a key agency in managing the state's water resources, oversees approximately 1,200 miles of levees and 700 miles of canals. The DWR system is divided into several regions, each responsible for the maintenance and management of their respective areas. Butte County falls under the Northern Region.
The primary objectives of water management within the DWR include ensuring water supply reliability, protecting water quality, providing flood protection, and supporting ecosystem health.
Oroville Facilities
The Oroville facilities, designated as FERC Project No. 2100 (P-2100), are situated along the Feather River in Butte County. Key components include Oroville Dam and Reservoir, Edward Hyatt Powerplant, Thermalito facilities, Feather River Fish Hatchery, and various recreational and conservation areas.
The hydroelectric system has a licensed capacity of approximately 762 megawatts, generating an average of 2.2 billion kilowatt-hours annually.
Federal Land
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) manages over 150 million acres across more than 560 national wildlife refuges as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System, dedicated to conserving fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats (USFWS n.d.a). In Butte County, the two USFWS-managed areas are the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge and the Steve Thompson North Central Valley Wildlife 368
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Management Area. The USFWS manages a total of 4,004 acres of land in the Butte County planning area.
A key part of the USFWS mission is its fire management program, which employs 498 professionals who manage prescribed fires to reduce combustible materials and prevent large wildfires. These prescribed burns, which treat about 342,845 acres annually nationwide, promote native vegetation and improve wildlife habitats (USFWS n.d.b). In addition, the fire management team responds to wildfires, protecting natural resources and human communities. The USFWS collaborates with other agencies to conduct prescribed burns and manage wildfire risks (USFWS n.d.b).
Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) oversees the largest fire program in the U.S. Department of the Interior, managing over 245 million acres of public lands, primarily in the western United States and Alaska. The BLM’s Redding Field Office manages 13,814 acres in Butte County as part of the Northern California District, mostly in the northwestern portion of the county. The BLM Fire Program prioritizes public safety through fire suppression, preparedness, fuels management, community assistance, and education (BLM n.d.a).
In California, the BLM faces challenges from diverse landscapes, increasing wildland development, unpredictable weather, and tree mortality from drought and bark beetles. The BLM California Fire Management Program protects people, property, and resources across over 2,000 communities at risk.
BLM California collaborates with federal, state, and local agencies through a cooperative fire protection agreement that coordinates statewide fire suppression efforts (BLM n.d.b).
U.S. Forest Service
The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) manages 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands, focusing on public safety, ecosystem health, and resource protection. For over 100 years, the USFS has employed a comprehensive fire management approach that includes fire suppression, prescribed burning, and community protection, guided by the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy (USFS n.d.a).
In California, the USFS faces significant challenges due to diverse ecosystems and frequent wildfires.
The USFS California Fire Management Program, part of the Pacific Southwest Region (Region 5), protects people and resources across 18 national forests, covering 20 million acres. The USFS collaborates with federal, state, and local agencies, participating in the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force and utilizing strategies such as fuel breaks, fuel load reduction, and prescribed burns to manage fire risk and promote ecosystem health (USFS n.d.b).
In Butte County, parts of two national forests—Plumas National Forest (1,146,000 total acres, and 141,915 acres in the planning area) and Lassen National Forest (1,200,000 total acres, and 55,480 acres in the planning area)—are located in the eastern and northeastern portions of the county, respectively.
These portions fall under two ranger districts: the Almanor Ranger District (Lassen National Forest) and the Feather River Ranger District (Plumas National Forest).
Bureau of Indian Affairs
The Bureau of Indian Affairs manages fire through its Division of Wildland Fire Management. The goal of this program is to protect lives, property, and resources while restoring and maintaining healthy ecosystems and promoting Indian self-determination. The Division provides wildland fire protection for 369
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federally recognized tribes and individual Indians through collaboration with other agencies where applicable under Public Law 93-638 (Bureau of Indian Affairs 2024).
Services provided by the Division of Wildland Fire Management include, but are not limited to, ecosystem improvements, wildland firefighter and safety training, fuels management, prescribed fire, and postwildfire recovery. The Bureau of Indian Affairs oversees 637 acres in the southern portion of Butte County.
Stewardship Agreements
Land stewardship agreements are vital for the sustainable management and preservation of our natural resources. These agreements foster collaborative efforts between various stakeholders, including government agencies, tribal nations, nonprofit organizations, and private landowners, to ensure that land is managed in a way that balances ecological health, cultural values, and community needs. By pooling resources and expertise, stewardship agreements enable the implementation of comprehensive land management practices that address critical issues such as wildfire prevention, habitat restoration, and water quality protection.
In 2020, California and the federal government signed an agreement of the shared stewardship for California forests and rangelands. The agreement sets many goals for the state of California and the federal government to accomplish together (California Governor 2020). These goals include treating at least 1 million acres of California lands per year to reduce the risk of wildfires, developing a 20-year cooperative forest management plan, which will outline projects and priorities, encouraging and increasing the use of sustainable land management practices such as prescribed fire, increase the forest management workforce and in turn increase the pace and scale of forest management, and prioritizing forest health benefits such as carbon sequestration and healthy watersheds. Funding for this agreement is provided from the Great American Outdoors Act (California Governor 2020). You can find the stewardship agreement here: https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/8.12.20-CA-SharedStewardship-MOU.pdf In a landmark collaboration, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Mooretown Rancheria have signed a co-stewardship agreement to manage over 1,300 acres of public and tribal lands near Lake Oroville in Butte County. This agreement, the first of its kind between BLM California and a federally recognized tribe, aims to enhance natural and cultural resource protection by integrating tribal management practices with federal land management. The Mooretown Rancheria, with its robust forestry department, has been actively managing forested lands to protect against wildfires and improve ecosystem resilience. This partnership, stemming from a 2021 Secretarial Order, underscores the commitment to protect the treaty, religious, subsistence, and cultural interests of federally recognized tribes (BLM 2023).
Further, the Northern California Regional Land Trust and the Butte County Collaborative Group (BCCG) are working together on wildfire preparedness and recovery, emphasizing community involvement and the use of advanced planning tools to mitigate wildfire risks and enhance land stewardship (Northern California Regional Land Trust 2024).
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APPENDIX B:
Mapping
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Figure B.1. Fire intensity levels across critical habitat areas in the Butte County CWPP planning area.
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Figure B.2. Fire intensity levels around railroads in the Butte County CWPP planning area. 375
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Figure B.3. Rate of wildfire spread potential in the Butte County CWPP planning area, measured in chains per hour.
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Figure B.4. Fire intensity levels across the Butte County CWPP planning area, indicating areas where wildfires are likely to burn with greater severity. 377
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Figure B.5. Estimated fireline intensity across the Butte County CWPP planning area, measured in British thermal units (BTU) per foot per second, showing areas likely to experience severe fire behavior.
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Figure B.6. Burn probability and integrated hazard levels across the Butte County CWPP planning area, categorizing areas based on their likelihood of burning and potential hazard level. 379
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Figure B.7. Density of historical fire occurrences (2000–2024) in the Butte County CWPP planning area, with areas shaded by frequency.
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Figure B.8. Fire station service areas in the Butte County CWPP planning area, illustrating response times of 5, 10, and 15 minutes from each station.
Note: This analysis does not differentiate between Local, State, and Federal Responsibility Areas, nor does it account for cooperative agreements. It is limited to areas accessible by road within a maximum 15-minute drive time from a fire station. 381
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Figure B.9. Division of fire responsibility areas in the Butte County CWPP planning area, indicating federal, state, and local jurisdictions.
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Figure B.10. Direct protection areas for fire response within the Butte County CWPP planning area.
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Figure B.11. Designated emergency travel routes within the Butte County CWPP planning area. 384
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Figure B.12. Water resources, including hydrants, dams, streams, and waterbodies, within the Butte County CWPP planning area.
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Figure B.13. Critical infrastructure related to energy and communication in the Butte County CWPP planning area, including power plants, substations, pipelines, transmission lines, and communication sites.
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Figure B.14. Key transportation routes and water resources in the Butte County CWPP planning area, including highways, bridges, railroads, dams, and community water systems. 387
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Figure B.15. Areas in the Butte County CWPP planning area eligible for treatment under the California Vegetation Treatment Program, which focuses on reducing wildfire risk through vegetation management practices.
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Figure B.16. Potential operational delineations (PODs) in the Butte County CWPP planning area, which help define areas where fire control efforts could be prioritized, providing strategic locations for containment and management operations.
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Figure B.17. Distribution of educational facilities in the Butte County CWPP planning area. 390
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Figure B.18. Locations of health care facilities in the Butte County CWPP planning area. 391
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Figure B.19. Key socioeconomic infrastructure in the Butte County CWPP planning area, including wastewater treatment plants, mobile home parks, and mines. 392
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Figure B.20. Public safety resources within the Butte County CWPP planning area, including fire stations, EMS stations, law enforcement facilities, emergency operation centers, and radio sites. 393
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Figure B.21. Priority populations within the Butte County CWPP planning area, as determined by the California Environmental Protection Agency.
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Figure B.22. Estimate of persons aged 17 and younger in the Butte County CWPP planning area.
Source: CDC (2022)
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Figure B.23. Estimate of persons aged 65 and older in the Butte County CWPP planning area.
Source: CDC (2022)
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Figure B.24. Estimate of the civilian noninstitutionalized population with a disability in the Butte County CWPP planning area.
Source: CDC (2022)
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Figure B.25. Estimate of persons (age 5+) who speak English "less than well" in the Butte County CWPP planning area.
Source: CDC (2022)
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Figure B.26. Estimate of minority populations in the Butte County CWPP planning area.
Source: CDC (2022)
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Figure B.27. Estimate of mobile homes in the Butte County CWPP planning area.
Source: CDC (2022)
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Figure B.28. Estimate of households with no vehicle available in the Butte County CWPP planning area.
Source: CDC (2022)
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Figure B.29. Estimate of persons below 150% of the poverty line in the Butte County CWPP planning area.
Source: CDC (2022)
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APPENDIX C:
Field Assessments for Community Wildfire
Protection Plan Community Polygons
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CONTENTS
CWPP Field Assessments...................................................................................................................... C-1 Battalion 1................................................................................................................................................ C-7 Big Bend ............................................................................................................................................... C-7 Concow................................................................................................................................................. C-8 Magalia/Paradise Pines/De Sabla........................................................................................................ C-9 Pentz................................................................................................................................................... C-10 Stirling City.......................................................................................................................................... C-11 Yankee Hill.......................................................................................................................................... C-12 Battalion 2.............................................................................................................................................. C-13 Butte Meadows ................................................................................................................................... C-13 Cohasset............................................................................................................................................. C-14 Forest Ranch ...................................................................................................................................... C-15 Jonesville ............................................................................................................................................ C-16 Battalion 4.............................................................................................................................................. C-17 Butte Creek Canyon ........................................................................................................................... C-17 Butte Valley......................................................................................................................................... C-18 Chico................................................................................................................................................... C-19 Nord .................................................................................................................................................... C-20 North Chico......................................................................................................................................... C-21 Richardson Springs ............................................................................................................................ C-22 Southwest Chico/Durham................................................................................................................... C-23 Battalion 5.............................................................................................................................................. C-24 Bangor/Rackerby ................................................................................................................................ C-24 Berry Creek......................................................................................................................................... C-25 Clipper Mills ........................................................................................................................................ C-26 Feather Falls....................................................................................................................................... C-27 Forbestown ......................................................................................................................................... C-28 Hurleton .............................................................................................................................................. C-29 Robinson Mill ...................................................................................................................................... C-30 Swedes ............................................................................................................................................... C-31 Battalion 6.............................................................................................................................................. C-32 East Oroville ....................................................................................................................................... C-32 Palermo .............................................................................................................................................. C-33 Table Mountain/Cherokee .................................................................................................................. C-34 Thermalito........................................................................................................................................... C-35 Battalion 7.............................................................................................................................................. C-36 Biggs/Gridley ...................................................................................................................................... C-36 Honcut................................................................................................................................................. C-37 Nelson/Richvale.................................................................................................................................. C-38 Battalion 8.............................................................................................................................................. C-39 Paradise.............................................................................................................................................. C-39 Battalion 9.............................................................................................................................................. C-40 Oroville................................................................................................................................................ C-40 1144 National Fire Protection Association Assessment Form......................................................... C-41 406
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CWPP FIELD ASSESSMENTS
This appendix provides a summary of the data gathered in each community (Figures C.1–C.5) during onthe-ground assessments. The creation of these community polygons was based on the CWPP planning area cities and towns as well as the Battalion boundaries. The intent of these community polygons is to break the larger CWPP planning area into smaller regions to provide more focused information.
The community assessment summaries below capture average conditions within each community boundary; therefore, the provided ratings (e.g., moderate, extreme, etc.) may not universally apply to every parcel within the community. It's important to note that these ratings reflect the collective evaluation of the community as an entity and may be used to guide strategies for informed mitigation actions.
Community assessments were completed using adapted methodology described by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Code 1144: Standard for Reducing Structure Ignition Hazard for Wildland Fire (https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/nfpa-1144-standard-development/1144).
The assessment rates categories numerically to determine a composite risk rating ranging from low to extreme. Assessed categories include means of access, topography, fuels, roof and construction materials, response resources, and utility locations. Assessors examine these conditions across the entire community and score the community based on the most common conditions. Individual properties may have components that rate above or below these generalized assessment scores. The score is calculated by trained SWCA staff using a field assessment form hosted on ArcGIS Survey123; the form is available at the end of this appendix. The NFPA 1144 field assessments were completed in October 2024 by trained SWCA staff with assistance from CAL FIRE.
Each line of the form is filled with a number evaluation with lower numbers indicating a lower risk factor for that category. To make these assessments more approachable and easier to comprehend, each risk level score was assigned a color to demonstrate risk ranging from low to high as described below:
• A green score corresponds with low risk.
• A yellow score corresponds to a moderate risk.
• An orange score corresponds to a high risk.
• A red score indicates extreme risk
Using this method, residents and preparedness planners can quickly identify each community’s main risk factors and opportunities for resilience improvements.
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Figure C.1. Butte County CWPP community polygon delineations. 409
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Figure C.2. Community boundaries in the northwestern portion of the planning area. 410
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Figure C.3. Community boundaries in the northeastern portion of the planning area. 411
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Figure C.4. Community boundaries in the southwestern portion of the planning area. 412
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Figure C.5. Community boundaries in the southeastern portion of the planning area. 413
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BATTALION 1
BIG BEND
Big Bend
Risk Variable Assessed Condition Risk Rating
Means of Access
Entrance/Exit 1 road in and out Extreme
Road Width >20 feet <24 feet Moderate
Road Conditions Surfaced road, grade >5% Moderate
Fire Truck Access <300 feet with no turnaround High
Street Signs Not present Extreme
Vegetation (Fuel Model)
Predominate Vegetation Timber-Understory (TU) High
Defensible Space <30 feet around structure Extreme
Topography within 300 feet of Structures
Slope 21% to 30% High
Topographic Features Rating 5 Extreme
History of High Fire Occurrence Rating 5 Extreme
Severe Fire Weather Potential Rating 5 Extreme
Separation of Adjacent Structures
Rating 2 Moderate
Roofing Assembly
Roofing Class A - metal roof, clay/concrete tiles,
slate, asphalt shingles Low
Building Construction
Siding Materials Combustible (wood or vinyl) Extreme
Deck and Fencing Combustible deck and fence Extreme
Building Setback <30 feet to slope Extreme
Available Fire Protection
Water Sources No Extreme
Water Source Type N/A Extreme
Water Source Score 10 Extreme
Organized Response Station <5 miles from community Low
Placement of Gas and Electric Utilities
Utilities Placement Both aboveground Extreme
Community Hazard Rating 122 Extreme
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CONCOW
Concow
Risk Variable Assessed Condition Risk Rating
Means of Access
Entrance/Exit 1 road in and out Extreme
Road Width >20 feet <24 feet Moderate
Road Conditions Non-surfaced road, grade >5% High
Fire Truck Access >300 feet with no turnaround Extreme
Street Signs Present – reflective Low
Vegetation (Fuel Model)
Predominate Vegetation Timber-Understory (TU) High
Defensible Space <30 feet around structure Extreme
Topography within 300 feet of Structures
Slope 21% to 30% High
Topographic Features Rating 5 Extreme
History of High Fire Occurrence Rating 5 Extreme
Severe Fire Weather Potential Rating 5 Extreme
Separation of Adjacent Structures
Rating 3 Moderate
Roofing Assembly
Roofing Class A - metal roof, clay/concrete tiles,
slate, asphalt shingles Low
Building Construction
Siding Materials Combustible (wood or vinyl) Extreme
Deck and Fencing Combustible deck and fence Extreme
Building Setback <30 feet to slope Extreme
Available Fire Protection
Water Sources No Extreme
Water Source Type N/A Extreme
Water Source Score 10 Extreme
Organized Response Station <5 miles from community Low
Placement of Gas and Electric Utilities
Utilities Placement Both aboveground Extreme
Community Hazard Rating 110 High
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MAGALIA/PARADISE PINES/DE SABLA
Magalia/Paradise Pines/De Sabla
Risk Variable Assessed Condition Risk Rating
Means of Access
Entrance/Exit 2 or more roads in and out Low
Road Width >20 feet <24 feet Moderate
Road Conditions Surfaced road, grade >5% High
Fire Truck Access <300 feet with no turnaround High
Street Signs Present – non-reflective Moderate
Vegetation (Fuel Model)
Predominate Vegetation Timber-Understory (TU) High
Defensible Space <30 feet around structure Extreme
Topography within 300 feet of Structures
Slope 10% to 20% Moderate
Topographic Features Rating 4 High
History of High Fire Occurrence Rating 5 Extreme
Severe Fire Weather Potential Rating 5 Extreme
Separation of Adjacent Structures
Rating 3 Moderate
Roofing Assembly
Roofing Class A - metal roof, clay/concrete tiles,
slate, asphalt shingles Low
Building Construction
Siding Materials Combustible (wood or vinyl) Extreme
Deck and Fencing Combustible deck and fence Extreme
Building Setback <30 feet to slope Extreme
Available Fire Protection
Water Sources Yes Low
Water Source Type Hydrant Low
Water Source Score 1 Low
Organized Response Station <5 miles from community Low
Placement of Gas and Electric Utilities
Utilities Placement Both aboveground Extreme
Community Hazard Rating 105 High
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PENTZ
Pentz
Risk Variable Assessed Condition Risk Rating
Means of Access
Entrance/Exit 2 or more roads in and out Low
Road Width >20 feet <24 feet Moderate
Road Conditions Surfaced road, grade >5% Moderate
Fire Truck Access <300 feet with no turnaround High
Street Signs Present – reflective Low
Vegetation (Fuel Model)
Predominate Vegetation Timber-Understory (TU) High
Defensible Space >30 feet <70 feet around structure High Topography within 300 feet of Structures
Slope 21 to 30% High
Topographic Features Rating 4 High
History of High Fire Occurrence Rating 5 Extreme
Severe Fire Weather Potential Rating 5 Extreme
Separation of Adjacent Structures
Rating 4 High
Roofing Assembly
Roofing Class A - metal roof, clay/concrete tiles,
slate, asphalt shingles Low
Building Construction
Siding Materials Combustible (wood or vinyl) Extreme
Deck and Fencing Combustible deck and fence Extreme
Building Setback <30 feet to slope Extreme
Available Fire Protection
Water Sources Yes Low
Water Source Type Hydrant Low
Water Source Score 1 Low
Organized Response Station <5 miles from community Low
Placement of Gas and Electric Utilities
Utilities Placement One above, one below Moderate
Community Hazard Rating 90 High
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STIRLING CITY
Stirling City
Risk Variable Assessed Condition Risk Rating
Means of Access
Entrance/Exit 2 or more roads in and out Low
Road Width >20 feet <24 feet Moderate
Road Conditions Non-surfaced road, grade >5% High
Fire Truck Access <300 feet with no turnaround Moderate Street Signs Present – non-reflective Moderate
Vegetation (Fuel Model)
Predominate Vegetation Timber-Understory (TU) High
Defensible Space <30 feet around structure Extreme
Topography within 300 feet of Structures
Slope 10% to 20% Moderate
Topographic Features Rating 5 Extreme
History of High Fire Occurrence Rating 5 Extreme
Severe Fire Weather Potential Rating 5 Extreme
Separation of Adjacent Structures
Rating 3 Moderate
Roofing Assembly
Roofing Class A - metal roof, clay/concrete tiles,
slate, asphalt shingles Low
Building Construction
Siding Materials Combustible (wood or vinyl) Moderate
Deck and Fencing Combustible deck and fence Extreme
Building Setback >30 feet to slope Low
Available Fire Protection
Water Sources Yes Low
Water Source Type Hydrant Low
Water Source Score 1 Low
Organized Response 1 Low
Placement of Gas and Electric Utilities
Utilities Placement Both aboveground Extreme
Community Hazard Rating 102 High
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YANKEE HILL
Yankee Hill
Risk Variable Assessed Condition Risk Rating
Means of Access
Entrance/Exit 2 or more roads in and out score Low
Road Width >20 feet <24 feet Moderate
Road Conditions Non-surfaced road, grade >5% High
Fire Truck Access >300 feet with no turnaround Extreme
Street Signs Present – non-reflective Moderate
Vegetation (Fuel Model)
Predominate Vegetation Timber-Understory (TU) High
Defensible Space <30 feet around structure Extreme
Topography within 300 feet of Structures
Slope 21% to 30% High
Topographic Features Rating 5 Extreme
History of High Fire Occurrence Rating 4 High
Severe Fire Weather Potential Rating 5 Extreme
Separation of Adjacent Structures
Rating 3 Moderate
Roofing Assembly
Roofing Class A - metal roof, clay/concrete tiles,
slate, asphalt shingles Low
Building Construction
Siding Materials Combustible (wood or vinyl) Extreme
Deck and Fencing Combustible deck and fence Extreme
Building Setback <30 feet to slope Extreme
Available Fire Protection
Water Sources No Extreme
Water Source Type N/A Extreme
Water Source Score 10 Extreme
Organized Response Station <5 miles from community Low
Placement of Gas and Electric Utilities
Utilities Placement One above, one below Moderate
Community Hazard Rating 119 Extreme
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BATTALION 2
BUTTE MEADOWS
Butte Meadows
Risk Variable Assessed Condition Risk Rating
Means of Access
Entrance/Exit 2 or more roads in and out score Low
Road Width >20 feet <24 feet Moderate
Road Conditions Surfaced road, grade >5% Moderate
Fire Truck Access <300 feet with no turnaround High
Street Signs Present – reflective Low
Vegetation (Fuel Model)
Predominate Vegetation Timber-Understory (TU) High
Defensible Space <30 feet around structure Extreme
Topography within 300 feet of Structures
Slope 10% to 20% Moderate
Topographic Features 3 Moderate
History of High Fire Occurrence 5 Extreme
Severe Fire Weather Potential 5 Extreme
Separation of Adjacent Structures 3 Moderate
Roofing Assembly
Roofing Class A - metal roof, clay/concrete tiles,
slate, asphalt shingles Low
Building Construction
Siding Materials Combustible (wood or vinyl) Extreme
Deck and Fencing Combustible deck and fence Extreme
Building Setback >30 feet to slope Low
Available Fire Protection
Water Sources No Extreme
Water Source Type N/A Extreme
Water Source Score 10 Extreme
Organized Response Station <5 miles from community Low
Placement of Gas and Electric Utilities
Utilities Placement Both aboveground Extreme
Community Hazard Rating 102 High
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COHASSET
Cohasset
Risk Variable Assessed Condition Risk Rating
Means of Access
Entrance/Exit 1 road in and out Extreme
Road Width >20 feet <24 feet Moderate
Road Conditions Non-surfaced road, grade >5% High
Fire Truck Access >300 feet with no turnaround Extreme
Street Signs Present – non-reflective Moderate
Vegetation (Fuel Model)
Predominate Vegetation Timber-Understory (TU) High
Defensible Space <30 around structure Extreme
Topography within 300 feet of Structures
Slope 10% to 20% Moderate
Topographic Features Rating 5 Extreme
History of High Fire Occurrence Rating 5 Extreme
Severe Fire Weather Potential Rating 3 Moderate
Separation of Adjacent Structures
Rating 1 Low
Roofing Assembly
Roofing Class A - metal roof, clay/concrete tiles,
slate, asphalt shingles Low
Building Construction
Siding Materials Combustible (wood or vinyl) Moderate
Deck and Fencing Combustible deck and fence Extreme
Building Setback >30 feet to slope Low
Available Fire Protection
Water Sources No Extreme
Water Source Type N/A Extreme
Water Source Score 10 Extreme
Organized Response Station <5 miles from community Low
Placement of Gas and Electric Utilities
Utilities Placement Both aboveground Extreme
Community Hazard Rating 118 Extreme
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FOREST RANCH
Forest Ranch
Risk Variable Assessed Condition Risk Rating
Means of Access
Entrance/Exit 2 or more roads in and out score Low
Road Width <20 feet Extreme
Road Conditions Non-surfaced road, grade >5% High
Fire Truck Access <300 feet with no turnaround High
Street Signs Present – reflective Low
Vegetation (Fuel Model)
Predominate Vegetation Timber-Understory (TU) High
Defensible Space >30 feet <70 feet around structure High Topography within 300 feet of Structures
Slope 21% to 30% High
Topographic Features 5 Extreme
History of High Fire Occurrence 4 High
Severe Fire Weather Potential 5 Extreme
Separation of Adjacent Structures 3 Moderate
Roofing Assembly
Roofing Class A - metal roof, clay/concrete tiles,
slate, asphalt shingles Low
Building Construction
Siding Materials Combustible (wood or vinyl) Extreme
Deck and Fencing Combustible deck and fence Extreme
Building Setback <30 feet to slope Extreme
Available Fire Protection
Water Sources No Extreme
Water Source Type N/A Extreme
Water Source Score 10 Extreme
Organized Response Station <5 miles from community Low
Placement of Gas and Electric Utilities
Utilities Placement Both aboveground Extreme
Community Hazard Rating 105 High
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JONESVILLE
Jonesville
Risk Variable Assessed Condition Risk Rating
Means of Access
Entrance/Exit 1 road in and out Extreme
Road Width <20 feet Extreme
Road Conditions Surfaced road, grade >5% Moderate
Fire Truck Access <300 feet with no turnaround High
Street Signs Present – reflective Low
Vegetation (Fuel Model)
Predominate Vegetation Timber-Understory (TU) High
Defensible Space <30 feet around structure Extreme
Topography within 300 feet of Structures
Slope 31% to 40% High
Topographic Features 4 High
History of High Fire Occurrence 5 Extreme
Severe Fire Weather Potential 5 Extreme
Separation of Adjacent Structures 3 Moderate
Roofing Assembly
Roofing Class A - metal roof, clay/concrete tiles,
slate, asphalt shingles Low
Building Construction
Siding Materials Combustible (wood or vinyl) Extreme
Deck and Fencing Combustible deck and fence Extreme
Building Setback <30 feet to slope Extreme
Available Fire Protection
Water Sources No Extreme
Water Source Type N/A Extreme
Water Source Score 10 Extreme
Organized Response Station <5 miles from community Low
Placement of Gas and Electric Utilities
Utilities Placement Both aboveground Extreme
Community Hazard Rating 115 Extreme
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BATTALION 4
BUTTE CREEK CANYON
Butte Creek Canyon
Risk Variable Assessed Condition Risk Rating
Means of Access
Entrance/Exit 1 road in and out Extreme
Road Width <20 feet Extreme
Road Conditions Surfaced road, grade >5% Moderate
Fire Truck Access <300 feet with no turnaround High
Street Signs Present – non-reflective Moderate
Vegetation (Fuel Model)
Predominate Vegetation Timber-Understory (TU) High
Defensible Space >30 feet <70 feet around structure High Topography within 300 feet of Structures
Slope 31% to 40% High
Topographic Features 5 Extreme
History of High Fire Occurrence 5 Extreme
Severe Fire Weather Potential 5 Extreme
Separation of Adjacent Structures 2 Moderate
Roofing Assembly
Roofing Class A - metal roof, clay/concrete tiles,
slate, asphalt shingles Low
Building Construction
Siding Materials Combustible (wood or vinyl) Extreme
Deck and Fencing Combustible deck and fence Extreme
Building Setback <30 feet to slope Extreme
Available Fire Protection
Water Sources No Extreme
Water Source Type N/A Extreme
Water Source Score 10 Extreme
Organized Response Station <5 miles from community Extreme Placement of Gas and Electric Utilities
Utilities Placement Both aboveground Extreme
Community Hazard Rating 112 Extreme
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BUTTE VALLEY
Butte Valley
Risk Variable Assessed Condition Risk Rating
Means of Access
Entrance/Exit 2 or more roads in and out Low
Road Width >20 feet <24 feet Moderate
Road Conditions Surfaced road, grade >5% Moderate
Fire Truck Access <300 feet with no turnaround High
Street Signs Present – reflective Low
Vegetation (Fuel Model)
Predominate Vegetation Timber-Understory (TU) High
Defensible Space <30 feet around structure Extreme
Topography within 300 feet of Structures
Slope 10% to 20% Moderate
Topographic Features Rating 4 High
History of High Fire Occurrence Rating 5 Extreme
Severe Fire Weather Potential Rating 5 Extreme
Separation of Adjacent Structures
Rating 3 Moderate
Roofing Assembly
Roofing Class A - metal roof, clay/concrete tiles,
slate, asphalt shingles Low
Building Construction
Siding Materials Combustible (wood or vinyl) Extreme
Deck and Fencing Combustible deck and fence Extreme
Building Setback <30 feet to slope Extreme
Available Fire Protection
Water Sources Yes Low
Water Source Type Hydrant Low
Water Source Score 1 Low
Organized Response Station <5 miles from community Low
Placement of Gas and Electric Utilities
Utilities Placement Both aboveground Extreme
Community Hazard Rating 89 High
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CHICO
Chico
Risk Variable Assessed Condition Risk Rating
Means of Access
Entrance/Exit 2 or more roads in and out score Low
Road Width >24 feet Low
Road Conditions Surfaced road, grade <5% Low
Fire Truck Access <300 feet with no turnaround High
Street Signs Present – reflective Low
Vegetation (Fuel Model)
Predominate Vegetation Timber-Understory (TU) High
Defensible Space <30 feet around structure Extreme
Topography within 300 feet of Structures
Slope <9% Low
Topographic Features Rating 2 Moderate
History of High Fire Occurrence Rating 2 Moderate
Severe Fire Weather Potential Rating 3 Moderate
Separation of Adjacent Structures
Rating 5 Extreme
Roofing Assembly
Roofing Class B - pressure treated composite
shakes and shingles Moderate
Building Construction
Siding Materials Combustible (wood or vinyl) Extreme
Deck and Fencing Combustible deck and fence Extreme
Building Setback <30 feet to slope Extreme
Available Fire Protection
Water Sources Yes Low
Water Source Type Hydrant Low
Water Source Score 1 Low
Organized Response Station <5 miles from community Low
Placement of Gas and Electric Utilities
Utilities Placement One above, one below Moderate
Community Hazard Rating 93 High
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NORD
Nord
Risk Variable Assessed Condition Risk Rating
Means of Access
Entrance/Exit 2 or more roads in and out score Low
Road Width >20 feet <24 feet Moderate
Road Conditions Non-surfaced road, grade <5% Moderate
Fire Truck Access <300 feet with no turnaround High
Street Signs Present – non-reflective Moderate
Vegetation (Fuel Model)
Predominate Vegetation Shrub (SH) High
Defensible Space <30 feet around structure Extreme
Topography within 300 feet of Structures
Slope <9% Low
Topographic Features Rating 1 Low
History of High Fire Occurrence Rating 2 Moderate
Severe Fire Weather Potential Rating 2 Moderate
Separation of Adjacent Structures
Rating 1 Low
Roofing Assembly
Roofing Class A - metal roof, clay/concrete tiles,
slate, asphalt shingles Low
Building Construction
Siding Materials Combustible (wood or vinyl) Extreme
Deck and Fencing Combustible deck and fence Extreme
Building Setback >30 feet to slope Low
Available Fire Protection
Water Sources Yes Moderate
Water Source Type Other: Irrigation Moderate
Water Source Score 3 Moderate
Organized Response Station <5 miles from community Low
Placement of Gas and Electric Utilities
Utilities Placement One above, one below Moderate
Community Hazard Rating 82 High
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NORTH CHICO
North Chico
Risk Variable Assessed Condition Risk Rating
Means of Access
Entrance/Exit 2 or more roads in and out Low
Road Width >24 feet Moderate
Road Conditions Surfaced road, grade >5% High
Fire Truck Access <300 feet with no turnaround Extreme
Street Signs Present – reflective Low
Vegetation (Fuel Model)
Predominate Vegetation Timber-Understory (TU) High
Defensible Space <30 feet around structure Extreme
Topography within 300 feet of Structures
Slope <9% Low
Topographic Features Rating 1 Low
History of High Fire Occurrence Rating 1 Low
Severe Fire Weather Potential Rating 2 Moderate
Separation of Adjacent Structures
Rating 4 High
Roofing Assembly
Roofing Class A - metal roof, clay/concrete tiles,
slate, asphalt shingles Low
Building Construction
Siding Materials Combustible (wood or vinyl) Extreme
Deck and Fencing Combustible deck and fence Extreme
Building Setback >30 feet to slope Low
Available Fire Protection
Water Sources Yes Low
Water Source Type Hydrant Low
Water Source Score 1 Low
Organized Response Station <5 miles from community Low
Placement of Gas and Electric Utilities
Utilities Placement One above, one below Moderate
Community Hazard Rating 84 High
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RICHARDSON SPRINGS
Richardson Springs
Risk Variable Assessed Condition Risk Rating
Means of Access
Entrance/Exit 1 road in and out Extreme
Road Width >20 feet <24 feet Moderate
Road Conditions Non-surfaced road, grade <5% Moderate
Fire Truck Access >300 feet with no turnaround Extreme
Street Signs Present – reflective Low
Vegetation (Fuel Model)
Predominate Vegetation Timber-Understory (TU) High
Defensible Space <30 feet around structure Extreme
Topography within 300 feet of Structures
Slope <9% Low
Topographic Features Rating 3 Moderate
History of High Fire Occurrence Rating 5 Extreme
Severe Fire Weather Potential Rating 3 Moderate
Separation of Adjacent Structures
Rating 2 Moderate
Roofing Assembly
Roofing Class A - metal roof, clay/concrete tiles,
slate, asphalt shingles Low
Building Construction
Siding Materials Combustible (wood or vinyl) Extreme
Deck and Fencing Combustible deck and fence Extreme
Building Setback >30 feet to slope Low
Available Fire Protection
Water Sources No Extreme
Water Source Type N/A Extreme
Water Source Score 10 Extreme
Organized Response Station >5 miles from community Extreme Placement of Gas and Electric Utilities
Utilities Placement Both aboveground Extreme
Community Hazard Rating 111 High
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SOUTHWEST CHICO/DURHAM
Southwest Chico/Durham
Risk Variable Assessed Condition Risk Rating
Means of Access
Entrance/Exit 2 or more roads in and out score Low
Road Width >20 feet <24 feet Moderate
Road Conditions Surfaced road, grade <5% Low
Fire Truck Access <300 feet with no turnaround Moderate Street Signs Present – reflective Low
Vegetation (Fuel Model)
Predominate Vegetation Grass (GR) Low
Defensible Space <30 feet around structure Extreme
Topography within 300 feet of Structures
Slope <9% Low
Topographic Features Rating 1 Low
History of High Fire Occurrence Rating 2 Low
Severe Fire Weather Potential Rating 3 Moderate
Separation of Adjacent Structures
Rating 2 Low
Roofing Assembly
Roofing Class A - metal roof, clay/concrete tiles,
slate, asphalt shingles Low
Building Construction
Siding Materials Combustible (wood or vinyl) Extreme
Deck and Fencing Combustible deck and fence Extreme
Building Setback >30 feet to slope Low
Available Fire Protection
Water Sources Yes Moderate
Water Source Type Water tank Moderate
Water Source Score 3 Moderate
Organized Response Station <5 miles from community Low
Placement of Gas and Electric Utilities
Utilities Placement One above, one below Moderate
Community Hazard Rating 52 Moderate
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BATTALION 5
BANGOR/RACKERBY
Bangor/Rackerby
Risk Variable Assessed Condition Risk Rating
Means of Access
Entrance/Exit 2 or more roads in and out Low
Road Width <20 feet Moderate
Road Conditions Surfaced road, grade >5% Moderate
Fire Truck Access <300 feet with no turnaround High
Street Signs Present – non-reflective Moderate
Vegetation (Fuel Model)
Predominate Vegetation Timber-Understory (TU) High
Defensible Space <30 feet around structure Extreme
Topography within 300 feet of Structures
Slope 10% to 20% Moderate
Topographic Features Rating 4 High
History of High Fire Occurrence Rating 5 Extreme
Severe Fire Weather Potential Rating 5 Extreme
Separation of Adjacent Structures
Rating 3 Moderate
Roofing Assembly
Roofing Class A - metal roof, clay/concrete tiles,
slate, asphalt shingles Low
Building Construction
Siding Materials Combustible (wood or vinyl) Extreme
Deck and Fencing Combustible deck and fence Extreme
Building Setback >30 feet to slope Low
Available Fire Protection
Water Sources No Extreme
Water Source Type N/A Extreme
Water Source Score 10 Extreme
Organized Response Station >5 miles from community Extreme Placement of Gas and Electric Utilities
Utilities Placement Both aboveground Extreme
Community Hazard Rating 114 Extreme
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BERRY CREEK
Berry Creek
Risk Variable Assessed Condition Risk Rating
Means of Access
Entrance/Exit 2 or more roads in and out Low
Road Width >20 feet <24 feet Moderate
Road Conditions Surfaced road, grade >5% Moderate
Fire Truck Access <300 feet with no turnaround High
Street Signs Present – non-reflective Moderate
Vegetation (Fuel Model)
Predominate Vegetation Timber-Understory (TU) Score High Defensible Space <30 feet around structure Extreme
Topography within 300 feet of Structures
Slope 31% to 40% High
Topographic Features 5 Extreme
History of High Fire Occurrence 5 Extreme
Severe Fire Weather Potential 5 Extreme
Separation of Adjacent Structures 3 Moderate
Roofing Assembly
Roofing Class A - metal roof, clay/concrete tiles,
slate, asphalt shingles Low
Building Construction
Siding Materials Combustible (wood or vinyl) Extreme
Deck and Fencing Combustible deck and fence Extreme
Building Setback <30 feet to slope Extreme
Available Fire Protection
Water Sources No Extreme
Water Source Type N/A Extreme
Water Source Score 10 Extreme
Organized Response Station <5 miles from community Low
Placement of Gas and Electric Utilities
Utilities Placement Both aboveground Extreme
Community Hazard Rating 114 Extreme
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CLIPPER MILLS
Clipper Mills
Risk Variable Assessed Condition Risk Rating
Means of Access
Entrance/Exit 2 or more roads in and out score Low
Road Width >20 feet <24 feet Moderate
Road Conditions Surfaced road, grade >5% Moderate
Fire Truck Access <300 feet with no turnaround High
Street Signs Present – reflective Low
Vegetation (Fuel Model)
Predominate Vegetation Timber-Understory (TU) High
Defensible Space <30 feet around structure Extreme
Topography within 300 feet of Structures
Slope 10% to 20% Moderate
Topographic Features 4 High
History of High Fire Occurrence 5 Extreme
Severe Fire Weather Potential 5 Extreme
Separation of Adjacent Structures 4 High
Roofing Assembly
Roofing Class A - metal roof, clay/concrete tiles,
slate, asphalt shingles Low
Building Construction
Siding Materials Combustible (wood or vinyl) Extreme
Deck and Fencing No deck or fence/noncombustible Low
Building Setback <30 feet to slope Extreme
Available Fire Protection
Water Sources Yes Low
Water Source Type Hydrant Low
Water Source Score 1 Low
Organized Response Station <5 miles from community Low
Placement of Gas and Electric Utilities
Utilities Placement Both aboveground Extreme
Community Hazard Rating 95 High
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FEATHER FALLS
Feather Falls
Risk Variable Assessed Condition Risk Rating
Means of Access
Entrance/Exit 1 road in and out Extreme
Road Width >20 feet <24 feet Moderate
Road Conditions Non-surfaced road, grade <5% Moderate
Fire Truck Access >300 feet with no turnaround Extreme
Street Signs Present – non-reflective Moderate
Vegetation (Fuel Model)
Predominate Vegetation Timber-Understory (TU) High
Defensible Space <30 feet around structure Extreme
Topography within 300 feet of Structures
Slope 10% to 20% Moderate
Topographic Features Rating 5 Extreme
History of High Fire Occurrence Rating 5 Extreme
Severe Fire Weather Potential Rating 5 Extreme
Separation of Adjacent Structures
Rating 3 Moderate
Roofing Assembly
Roofing Class B - pressure treated composite
shakes and shingles Moderate
Building Construction
Siding Materials Combustible (wood or vinyl) Extreme
Deck and Fencing Combustible deck and fence Extreme
Building Setback <30 feet to slope Extreme
Available Fire Protection
Water Sources Yes Moderate
Water Source Type Water tank Moderate
Water Source Score 3 Moderate
Organized Response Station <5 miles from community Low
Placement of Gas and Electric Utilities
Utilities Placement Both aboveground Extreme
Community Hazard Rating 119 Extreme
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FORBESTOWN
Forbestown
Risk Variable Assessed Condition Risk Rating
Means of Access
Entrance/Exit 2 or more roads in and out Low
Road Width <20 feet Moderate
Road Conditions Surfaced road, grade >5% Moderate
Fire Truck Access <300 feet with no turnaround High
Street Signs Present – reflective Low
Vegetation (Fuel Model)
Predominate Vegetation Timber-Understory (TU) High
Defensible Space <30 feet around structure Extreme
Topography within 300 feet of Structures
Slope 21% to 30% High
Topographic Features Rating 5 Extreme
History of High Fire Occurrence Rating 5 Extreme
Severe Fire Weather Potential Rating 5 Extreme
Separation of Adjacent Structures
Rating 4 High
Roofing Assembly
Roofing Class A - metal roof, clay/concrete tiles,
slate, asphalt shingles Low
Building Construction
Siding Materials Combustible (wood or vinyl) Extreme
Deck and Fencing No deck or fence/non-combustible Low
Building Setback <30 feet to slope Extreme
Available Fire Protection
Water Sources Yes Low
Water Source Type Hydrant Low
Water Source Score 1 Low
Organized Response Station <5 miles from community Low
Placement of Gas and Electric Utilities
Utilities Placement Both aboveground Extreme
Community Hazard Rating 105 High
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HURLETON
Hurleton
Risk Variable Assessed Condition Risk Rating
Means of Access
Entrance/Exit 1 road in and out Extreme
Road Width <20 feet Extreme
Road Conditions Surfaced road, grade >5% Moderate
Fire Truck Access <300 feet with no turnaround High
Street Signs Present – reflective Low
Vegetation (Fuel Model)
Predominate Vegetation Timber-Understory (TU) High
Defensible Space <30 feet around structure Extreme
Topography within 300 feet of Structures
Slope 31% to 40% High
Topographic Features Rating 5 Extreme
History of High Fire Occurrence Rating 5 Extreme
Severe Fire Weather Potential Rating 5 Extreme
Separation of Adjacent Structures
Rating 3 Moderate
Roofing Assembly
Roofing Class A - metal roof, clay/concrete tiles,
slate, asphalt shingles Low
Building Construction
Siding Materials Combustible (wood or vinyl) Extreme
Deck and Fencing Combustible deck and fence Extreme
Building Setback <30 feet to slope Extreme
Available Fire Protection
Water Sources No Extreme
Water Source Type N/A Extreme
Water Source Score 10 Extreme
Organized Response Station <5 miles from community Low
Placement of Gas and Electric Utilities
Utilities Placement Both aboveground Extreme
Community Hazard Rating 123 Extreme
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ROBINSON MILL
Robinson Mill
Risk Variable Assessed Condition Risk Rating
Means of Access
Entrance/Exit 2 or more roads in and out Low
Road Width >20 feet <24 feet Moderate
Road Conditions Non-surfaced road, grade >5% High
Fire Truck Access >300 feet with no turnaround Extreme
Street Signs Present – non-reflective Moderate
Vegetation (Fuel Model)
Predominate Vegetation Timber-Understory (TU) High
Defensible Space <30 feet around structure Extreme
Topography within 300 feet of Structures
Slope 21% to 30% Moderate
Topographic Features Rating 4 High
History of High Fire Occurrence Rating 3 Moderate
Severe Fire Weather Potential Rating 5 Extreme
Separation of Adjacent Structures
Rating 2 Moderate
Roofing Assembly
Roofing Class A - metal roof, clay/concrete tiles,
slate, asphalt shingles Low
Building Construction
Siding Materials Combustible (wood or vinyl) Extreme
Deck and Fencing Combustible deck and fence Extreme
Building Setback <30 feet to slope Extreme
Available Fire Protection
Water Sources No Extreme
Water Source Type N/A Extreme
Water Source Score 10 Extreme
Organized Response Station <5 miles from community Low
Placement of Gas and Electric Utilities
Utilities Placement Both aboveground Extreme
Community Hazard Rating 117 Extreme
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SWEDES
Swedes
Risk Variable Assessed Condition Risk Rating
Means of Access
Entrance/Exit 2 or more roads in and out Low
Road Width >20 feet <24 feet Moderate
Road Conditions Surfaced road, grade >5% Moderate
Fire Truck Access <300 feet with turnaround High
Street Signs Present – reflective Low
Vegetation (Fuel Model)
Predominate Vegetation Timber-Understory (TU) High
Defensible Space <30 feet around structure Extreme
Topography within 300 feet of Structures
Slope 21% to 30% High
Topographic Features 4 Extreme
History of High Fire Occurrence 5 Extreme
Severe Fire Weather Potential 5 Extreme
Separation of Adjacent Structures 2 Moderate
Roofing Assembly
Roofing Class A - metal roof, clay/concrete tiles,
slate, asphalt shingles Low
Building Construction
Siding Materials Combustible (wood or vinyl) Extreme
Deck and Fencing Combustible deck and fence Extreme
Building Setback <30 feet to slope Extreme
Available Fire Protection
Water Sources No Extreme
Water Source Type N/A Extreme
Water Source Score 10 Extreme
Organized Response Station <5 miles from community Low
Placement of Gas and Electric Utilities
Utilities Placement Both aboveground Extreme
Community Hazard Rating 114 Extreme
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BATTALION 6
EAST OROVILLE
East Oroville
Risk Variable Assessed Condition Risk Rating
Means of Access
Entrance/Exit 2 or more roads in and out Low
Road Width >20 feet <24 feet Moderate
Road Conditions Surfaced road, grade <5% Low
Fire Truck Access <300 feet with no turnaround High
Street Signs Present – reflective Low
Vegetation (Fuel Model)
Predominate Vegetation Timber-Understory (TU) High
Defensible Space <30 feet around structure Extreme
Topography within 300 feet of Structures
Slope 21% to 30% High
Topographic Features Rating 4 High
History of High Fire Occurrence Rating 4 High
Severe Fire Weather Potential Rating 5 Extreme
Separation of Adjacent Structures
Rating 4 High
Roofing Assembly
Roofing Class A - metal roof, clay/concrete tiles,
slate, asphalt shingles Low
Building Construction
Siding Materials Combustible (wood or vinyl) Extreme
Deck and Fencing Combustible deck and fence Extreme
Building Setback <30 feet to slope Extreme
Available Fire Protection
Water Sources Yes Low
Water Source Type Hydrant Low
Water Source Score 1 Low
Organized Response Station <5 miles from community Low
Placement of Gas and Electric Utilities
Utilities Placement One above, one below Moderate
Community Hazard Rating 101 High
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PALERMO
Palermo
Risk Variable Assessed Condition Risk Rating
Means of Access
Entrance/Exit 2 or more roads in and out Low
Road Width >20 feet <24 feet Moderate
Road Conditions Surfaced road, grade <5% Low
Fire Truck Access <300 feet with no turnaround High
Street Signs Present – reflective Low
Vegetation (Fuel Model)
Predominate Vegetation Timber-Understory (TU) High
Defensible Space <30 feet around structure Extreme
Topography within 300 feet of Structures
Slope 10% to 20% Moderate
Topographic Features Rating 3 Moderate
History of High Fire Occurrence Rating 5 Extreme
Severe Fire Weather Potential Rating 5 Extreme
Separation of Adjacent Structures
Rating 4 High
Roofing Assembly
Roofing Class A - metal roof, clay/concrete tiles,
slate, asphalt shingles Low
Building Construction
Siding Materials Combustible (wood or vinyl) Extreme
Deck and Fencing Combustible deck and fence Extreme
Building Setback >30 feet to slope Low
Available Fire Protection
Water Sources Yes Low
Water Source Type Hydrant Low
Water Source Score 1 Low
Organized Response Station <5 miles from community Low
Placement of Gas and Electric Utilities
Utilities Placement Both aboveground Extreme
Community Hazard Rating 97 High
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TABLE MOUNTAIN/CHEROKEE
Table Mountain Cherokee
Risk Variable Assessed Condition Risk Rating
Means of Access
Entrance/Exit 1 road in and out Extreme
Road Width >20 feet <24 feet Moderate
Road Conditions Surfaced road, grade >5% Moderate
Fire Truck Access <300 feet with no turnaround High
Street Signs Present – non-reflective Moderate
Vegetation (Fuel Model)
Predominate Vegetation Timber-Understory (TU) High
Defensible Space <30 feet around structure Extreme
Topography within 300 feet of Structures
Slope 31% to 40% High
Topographic Features Rating 5 Extreme
History of High Fire Occurrence Rating 5 Extreme
Severe Fire Weather Potential Rating 5 Extreme
Separation of Adjacent Structures
Rating 3 Moderate
Roofing Assembly
Roofing Class A - metal roof, clay/concrete tiles,
slate, asphalt shingles Low
Building Construction
Siding Materials Combustible (wood or vinyl) Extreme
Deck and Fencing Combustible deck and fence Extreme
Building Setback <30 feet to slope Extreme
Available Fire Protection
Water Sources No Extreme
Water Source Type N/A Extreme
Water Source Score 10 Extreme
Organized Response Station <5 miles from community Low
Placement of Gas and Electric Utilities
Utilities Placement Both aboveground Extreme
Community Hazard Rating 128 Extreme
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THERMALITO
Thermalito
Risk Variable Assessed Condition Risk Rating
Means of Access
Entrance/Exit 2 or more roads in and out Low
Road Width >20 feet <24 feet Moderate
Road Conditions Surfaced road, grade >5% Moderate
Fire Truck Access <300 feet with no turnaround High
Street Signs Present – reflective Low
Vegetation (Fuel Model)
Predominate Vegetation Shrub (SH) High
Defensible Space <30 feet around structure Extreme
Topography within 300 feet of Structures
Slope <9% Low
Topographic Features Rating 1 Low
History of High Fire Occurrence Rating 2 Moderate
Severe Fire Weather Potential Rating 2 Moderate
Separation of Adjacent Structures
Rating 1 Low
Roofing Assembly
Roofing Class A - metal roof, clay/concrete tiles,
slate, asphalt shingles Low
Building Construction
Siding Materials Combustible (wood or vinyl) Extreme
Deck and Fencing Combustible deck and fence Extreme
Building Setback >30 feet to slope Low
Available Fire Protection
Water Sources Yes Low
Water Source Type Hydrant Low
Water Source Score 1 Low
Organized Response Station <5 miles from community Low
Placement of Gas and Electric Utilities
Utilities Placement One above, one below Moderate
Community Hazard Rating 77 High
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BATTALION 7
BIGGS/GRIDLEY
Biggs/Gridley
Risk Variable Assessed Condition Risk Rating
Means of Access
Entrance/Exit 2 or more roads in and out Low
Road Width >24 feet Low
Road Conditions Surfaced road, grade <5% Low
Fire Truck Access <300 feet with no turnaround High
Street Signs Present – reflective Low
Vegetation (Fuel Model)
Predominate Vegetation Grass (GR) Moderate
Defensible Space <30 feet around structure Extreme
Topography within 300 feet of Structures
Slope <9% Low
Topographic Features Rating 1 Low
History of High Fire Occurrence Rating 2 Moderate
Severe Fire Weather Potential Rating 2 Moderate
Separation of Adjacent Structures
Rating 4 High
Roofing Assembly
Roofing Class A - metal roof, clay/concrete tiles,
slate, asphalt shingles Low
Building Construction
Siding Materials Combustible (wood or vinyl) Extreme
Deck and Fencing Combustible deck and fence Extreme
Building Setback >30 feet to slope Low
Available Fire Protection
Water Sources Yes Low
Water Source Type Hydrant Low
Water Source Score 1 Low
Organized Response Station <5 miles from community Low
Placement of Gas and Electric Utilities
Utilities Placement One above, one below Moderate
Community Hazard Rating 67 Moderate
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HONCUT
Honcut
Risk Variable Assessed Condition Risk Rating
Means of Access
Entrance/Exit 2 or more roads in and out Low
Road Width >20 feet <24 feet Moderate
Road Conditions Surfaced road, grade <5% Low
Fire Truck Access <300 feet with no turnaround High
Street Signs Present – reflective Low
Vegetation (Fuel Model)
Predominate Vegetation Grass-Shrub (GS) Moderate
Defensible Space <30 feet around structure Extreme
Topography within 300 feet of Structures
Slope <9% Low
Topographic Features Rating 1 Low
History of High Fire Occurrence Rating 2 Moderate
Severe Fire Weather Potential Rating 2 Moderate
Separation of Adjacent Structures
Rating 1 Low
Roofing Assembly
Roofing Class A - metal roof, clay/concrete tiles,
slate, asphalt shingles Low
Building Construction
Siding Materials Combustible (wood or vinyl) Extreme
Deck and Fencing Combustible deck and fence Extreme
Building Setback >30 feet to slope Low
Available Fire Protection
Water Sources No Extreme
Water Source Type N/A Extreme
Water Source Score 10 Extreme
Organized Response 1 Low
Placement of Gas and Electric Utilities
Utilities Placement One above, one below Moderate
Community Hazard Rating 77 High
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NELSON/RICHVALE
Nelson/Richvale
Risk Variable Assessed Condition Risk Rating
Means of Access
Entrance/Exit 2 or more roads in and out Low
Road Width >20 feet <24 feet Moderate
Road Conditions Surfaced road, grade <5% Low
Fire Truck Access <300 feet with no turnaround High
Street Signs Present – reflective Low
Vegetation (Fuel Model)
Predominate Vegetation Grass (GR) Moderate
Defensible Space <30 feet around structure Extreme
Topography within 300 feet of Structures
Slope <9% Low
Topographic Features Rating 1 Low
History of High Fire Occurrence Rating 1 Low
Severe Fire Weather Potential Rating 2 Moderate
Separation of Adjacent Structures
Rating 3 Moderate
Roofing Assembly
Roofing Class A - metal roof, clay/concrete tiles,
slate, asphalt shingles Low
Building Construction
Siding Materials Combustible (wood or vinyl) Extreme
Deck and Fencing Combustible deck and fence Extreme
Building Setback >30 feet to slope Low
Available Fire Protection
Water Sources No Extreme
Water Source Type N/A Extreme
Water Source Score 10 Extreme
Organized Response Station <5 miles from community Low
Placement of Gas and Electric Utilities
Utilities Placement One above, one below Moderate
Community Hazard Rating 76 High
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BATTALION 8
PARADISE
Paradise
Risk Variable Assessed Condition Risk Rating
Means of Access
Entrance/Exit 2 or more roads in and out Low
Road Width >20 feet <24 feet Moderate
Road Conditions Surfaced road, grade >5% Moderate
Fire Truck Access <300 feet with no turnaround High
Street Signs Present – reflective Low
Vegetation (Fuel Model)
Predominate Vegetation Timber-Understory (TU) High
Defensible Space >30 feet <70 feet around structure High Topography within 300 feet of Structures
Slope 10% to 20% Moderate
Topographic Features Rating 4 High
History of High Fire Occurrence Rating 5 Extreme
Severe Fire Weather Potential Rating 5 Extreme
Separation of Adjacent Structures
Rating 3 Moderate
Roofing Assembly
Roofing Class A - metal roof, clay/concrete tiles,
slate, asphalt shingles Low
Building Construction
Siding Materials Combustible (wood or vinyl) Extreme
Deck and Fencing Combustible deck and fence Extreme
Building Setback <30 feet to slope Extreme
Available Fire Protection
Water Sources Yes
Water Source Type Hydrant Low
Water Source Score 1
Organized Response Station <5 miles from community Low
Placement of Gas and Electric Utilities
Utilities Placement One above, one below Moderate
Community Hazard Rating 86 High
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BATTALION 9
OROVILLE
Oroville
Risk Variable Assessed Condition Risk Rating
Means of Access
Entrance/Exit 2 or more roads in and out Low
Road Width >20 feet <24 feet Moderate
Road Conditions Surfaced road, grade >5% Moderate
Fire Truck Access <300 feet with no turnaround High
Street Signs Present – reflective Low
Vegetation (Fuel Model)
Predominate Vegetation Grass-Shrub (GS) Moderate
Defensible Space >30 ft <70 ft around structure High
Topography within 300 feet of Structures
Slope 21% to 30% High
Topographic Features Rating 3 Moderate
History of High Fire Occurrence Rating 2 Moderate
Severe Fire Weather Potential Rating 3 Moderate
Separation of Adjacent Structures
Rating 4 High
Roofing Assembly
Roofing Class A - metal roof, clay/concrete tiles,
slate, asphalt shingles Low
Building Construction
Siding Materials Combustible (wood or vinyl) Extreme
Deck and Fencing Combustible deck and fence Extreme
Building Setback <30 feet to slope Extreme
Available Fire Protection
Water Sources Yes Low
Water Source Type Hydrant Low
Water Source Score 1 Low
Organized Response Station <5 miles from community Low
Placement of Gas and Electric Utilities
Utilities Placement One above, one below Moderate
Community Hazard Rating 71 High
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1144 NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION
ASSESSMENT FORM
Table C.1. National Fire Protection Association Assessment Form SWCA – 1144 Assessment
Community Notes:
Surveyor
Survey Date/Time
Means of Access
Ingress and Egress
2 or more roads in and out score | 0
1 road in and out | 7
Road Width
>24 ft | 0
>20 ft <24 ft | 2
<20 ft | 4
Road Conditions
Surfaced road, grade <5% | 0
Surfaced road, grade >5% | 2
Non-surfaced road, grade <5% | 2
Non-surfaced road, grade >5% | 5
Other than all season | 7
Fire Access
<300 ft with turnaround | 0
>300 ft with turnaround | 2
<300 ft with no turnaround | 4
>300 ft with no turnaround | 5
Street Signs
Present – reflective | 0
Present – non-reflective | 2
Not present | 5
Notes:
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Vegetation (Fuel Models)
Predominant Vegetation
Primary Predominant Vegetation
Non-Burnable (NB) Score | 2
Grass (GR) Score | 5
Grass-Shrub (GS) Score | 10
Shrub (SH) Score | 15
Timber-Understory (TU) Score | 20
Timber-Litter (TL) Score | 25
Slash-Blow (TU) Score | 30
Notes:
Defensible Space
>100 ft around structure | 1
>70 ft <100 ft around structure | 3
>30 ft <70 ft around structure | 10
<30 ft around structure | 25
Topography Within 300 ft of Structures
Slope
<9% | 1
10% to 20% | 4
21% to 30% | 7
31% to 40% | 8
>41% | 10
Additional Rating Factors (rate all that apply)
Topographic features | 1-5
History of high fire occurrence | 1-5
Severe fire weather potential | 1-5
Separation of adjacent structures | 1-5
Notes:
Roofing Assembly
Roofing
Class A - metal roof, clay/concrete tiles, slate, asphalt shingles | 0 Class B - pressure treated composite shakes and shingles | 3 Class C - untreated wood shingle, plywood, particle board | 15 Unrated - Extremely poor roofing conditions | 25
Notes:
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Building Construction
Siding Materials (predominant)
Non-combustible (brick/concrete) | 5
Fire Resistive (stucco/adobe) | 10
Combustible (wood or vinyl) | 12
Deck and fencing (predominant)
No deck or fence/noncombustible | 0
Combustible deck and fence | 5
Building Set-Back
>30 ft to slope | 1
<30 ft to slope | 5
Notes:
Available Fire Protection
Water Sources
Water Source? | yes/no
Water Source Type | hydrant, water tank, other
Other Water Source
Water Source Score | Hydrant = 1 Water Tank = 3 No Source = 10 Organized Response
Station <5 mi from community | 1
Station >5 mi from community | 3
Notes:
Placement of Gas and Electric Utilities
Both underground | 0
One above, one below | 3
Both aboveground | 5
Highly Valued Resources and Assets Observations
Forest Health Observations
Land Use Observations
Misc Observations
Total
Hazard Rating Scale <40 Low 40 – 69 Moderate 70 – 111 High >112 Extreme 450
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APPENDIX D:
Project Outreach
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STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH
To convene an inclusive Core Team, SWCA, Butte County, Butte County Fire Safe Council, and CAL FIRE Butte Unit conducted extensive stakeholder outreach. This effort included engaging with the Butte County Collaborative Group (BCCG), a collection of organizations and community members focused on strengthening strategic partnerships for forest health, ecological restoration, and wildfire safety.
The collaboration involved emails, calls, video conferencing, and in-person meetings with personnel from local government, local tribes, private entities, fire organizations, and federal and state land managers.
While the general concept of the 2025 CWPP rewrite process had been discussed in brief at previous BCCG quarterly meetings, the first formal presentation of the CWPP rewrite planning process was presented to the BCCG membership at the January 8, 2024, quarterly meeting. A special CWPP planning meeting was held on March 5, 2024, that focused on preparing proposed fuel reduction project data for the May 2024 annual CWPP/Fire Plan review as well as kicking off the process of completely rebuilding the fuel reduction project list for the 2025 CWPP rewrite.
The 2025 CWPP rewrite components, status updates, and planning procedures were presented at the subsequent BCCG quarterly meetings on April 8, 2024, July 15, 2024 (formal presentation introducing SWCA to the BCCG membership), October 7, 2024 (in-person presentation to the BCCG by SWCA), and an additional status update on January 27, 2025, just ahead of the opening of the public review period.
In addition to attendance by the BCCG membership, each BCCG quarterly meeting is open to the public.
The 2025 CWPP rewrite was also discussed at the biweekly (every 2 weeks) Butte County Resource Conservation District’s (RCD’s) Countywide Mapping Meetings beginning in July 2024, with a focus on gathering and organizing the geospatial data connected to each of the fuel reduction projects that are listed in Appendix I.
In addition, the status of the CWPP rewrite project, as well as an invitation to participate in the public review period, was presented to the Paradise Chamber of Commerce on January 28, 2025, and the public review draft was presented to the Chico Chamber of Commerce’s Advocacy Committee on February 18, 2025.
Stakeholders and the public were invited to review the CWPP from February 7, 2025, to February 21, 2025.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
This section details the community engagement process and activities that SWCA Environmental Consultants, Butte County, Butte County Fire Safe Council, CAL FIRE Butte Unit, and other project partners implemented as part of the planning process.
Butte County community members were invited to participate in various public meetings for the 2025 Butte CWPP update process. Two community workshops were held in the fall of 2024: October 8, 2024, in Chico and October 9, 2024, in Oroville, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. These meetings provided an important opportunity for residents, local decision-makers, fire management experts, and other stakeholders to discuss strategies for reducing wildfire risks across the county. Designed as collaborative environments, the workshops allowed participants to ask questions, share insights, and offer feedback to help shape the CWPP update. Each workshop began with a brief presentation on the CWPP process, followed by open discussions and opportunities for public input in an open house format. 454
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Feedback, comments, and suggestions received from these community members during community events as well as from the community survey (hosted on the CWPP hub site) and CWPP public review period were synthesized and used to craft the project recommendations in Chapter 6.
The public review period was hosted from February 7 to February 21, 2025. During this time, two additional public meetings were held at the Oroville and Chico Libraries on February 11 and 12, 2025 respectively, providing residents an opportunity to ask questions and share feedback with Core Team members.
Table D.1 lists examples of public outreach events, materials, and releases that were used to provide information to the public and solicit community input.
Table D.1. Public Outreach Resources
Resource Description Location/Description Figure Number Date Butte County CWPP press release for
residential input Butte County News & Media D.1 and D.2 9/18/2024 Facebook post promoting the Butte
County public survey CAL FIRE/Butte County Facebook page D.3 9/18/2024 News release promoting public input
for the Butte County CWPP North State Public Radio Media D.4 9/19/2024 Butte County press release promoting
CWPP stakeholder workshop Butte County News & Media D.5 and D.6 10/02/2024 News article for CWPP stakeholder
workshop
Gridley Herald Media and Butte County
Fire Department news release D.7 10/03/2024
News article promoting Butte County
CWPP public survey Action News Now Media D.8 10/10/2024 Press Release from CAL FIRE/Butte
County Fire Department Butte County News & Media D.9 and D.10 2/6/2025 Facebook post from Butte County
Fire Safe Council promoting the
public review period
Butte County Fire Safe Council
Facebook D.11 2/7/2025
Public meeting at the Chico Library on February 12, 2025. 455
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Figure D.1. News release issued by the Butte County Fire Department, inviting residents to provide input for the 2025 CWPP update.
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Figure D.2. Contact and survey information page from the Butte County Fire Department news release that includes a QR code link to encourage resident participation in the planning process.
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Figure D.3. CAL FIRE/Butte County Facebook post promoting the Butte County CWPP public survey. The social media post encourages residents to share feedback via the survey link, ensuring community input in the CWPP update. 458
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Figure D.4. Radio segment announcement by North State Public Radio calling for community engagement in the Butte County CWPP.
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Figure D.5. Butte County Fire Department press release announcing upcoming CWPP stakeholder workshops for public feedback.
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Figure D.6. QR code page from the Butte County CWPP workshop announcement, providing a link to further information and contact details for residents interested in contributing to the CWPP update.
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Figure D.7. Gridley Herald article summarizing the upcoming CWPP stakeholder workshops in Butte County.
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Figure D.8. Action News Now article encouraging community feedback through the Butte County CWPP public survey.
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Figure D.9. CAL FIRE/Butte County Fire Department press release announcing upcoming CWPP public review period and final public meetings.
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Figure D.10. CAL FIRE/Butte County Fire Department press release announcing upcoming CWPP public review period and final public meetings, including meeting dates, times, and locations, as well as a QR code for accessing the CWPP hub site. 465
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Figure D.11. The Butte County Fire Safe Council’s Facebook post announcing the CWPP public review period and meetings. The CAL FIRE/Butte County Fire Department press release was included in the post.
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PUBLIC SURVEY RESULTS
The public survey was released on September 11, 2024, and was closed on February 21, 2025. A total of 128 responses were received. The results are detailed below.
1. What is your age?
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2. Please select the location of your PRIMARY residence. Note: the bar chart columns are offset from the community names due to their width.
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3. How long have you lived at this residence?
4. Do you rent or own your home?
5. Do you identify as a person with a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)? (If yes, go to question 6. If no, skip to question 7)
6. If you replied “yes” to Question 5, what sort of access and functional needs do you require? Please select all that apply.
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7. What is your level of familiarity or knowledge about wildfire?
8. Do you have knowledge about how the natural environment (changes in temperature, relative humidity, wind, drought, etc.) can influence fire behavior?
9. How many times have you evacuated from your residence because of wildfire or threat of wildfire in the last 10 years (evacuation warning or order)?
10. How concerned/worried are you about the risk of wildfire where you live and the threat wildfire poses to your primary residence?
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11. How would you describe your level of concern/worry regarding your safety from wildfires and the safety of your family, home, and assets now when compared to your level of concern prior to the Camp Fire, North Complex, and other recent wildfires?
12. What do you think your current insurance would cover in the event of a wildfire? Select all that apply.
13. Where do you get information about local wildfires? 471
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14. Are you registered for local emergency notifications?
15. Do you know how to sign up for local emergency notifications?
16. Where do you currently get most of your updates and information regarding evacuations or incidents?
“Watch Duty
App” “Facebook” “BCSO” “CAL FIRE BTU” “Code Red” “FM Alert” “Twitter” “GMRS radio
club” “Social Media” “Text alerts” “TV” “Local news” “Cell phone” “Websites” “Internet” “Town of
Paradise alerts” “Town siren” “Friends and neighbors” “Fire watch” “Email” “Radio”
17. Are you familiar with local evacuation routes?
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18. Do you have an updated evacuation plan for you/your family?
19. Do you have an emergency evacuation kit ready?
20. How likely are you to leave your home under an evacuation order (mandatory)?
21. How likely are you to leave your home under an evacuation warning (voluntary)? 473
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22. In your opinion, whose responsibility is fire preparedness and mitigation? Please rank by level of responsibility (the first being most responsible).
23. Please prioritize the values/assets to be protected in the immediate area around your residence (~1 mile). Please rank by level of importance (the first being most important).
24. What are the greatest concerns that you have about the risk from wildfire? Please rank these in order with the first being the greatest concern, 2nd being the next highest concern, etc.
Note: The bar chart on the right (in the three figures above) indicates how many times an option was selected as choice #1. Options toward the top (e.g., 1–4) were ranked as greatest concerns, while options toward the bottom (e.g., 5–8) were ranked as relatively lower concerns. 474
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25. Home hardening is the concept of implementing fire-resistant upgrades to your home. Are you familiar with “home hardening” concepts and how they pertain to residential property (i.e., the physical structure itself, including mesh vents, siding, roof types, eves, windows, chimneys, fences, etc.)?
26. Are you interested in implementing “home hardening” on your own residential property?
27. Which of the following home hardening activities have you completed? Select all that apply. 475
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28. Defensible space is the 100 feet between your property and the surrounding area. Which of the following defensible space activities have you completed? Select all that apply.
Note: some of the bar chart columns are slightly offset from the response selections due to their width.
29. Are there any obstacles preventing you from implementing defensible space and home hardening measures on your home? Select all that apply. 476
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30. What do you think are the most effective ways for residents and the community to become more aware of wildfire risks and hazards? (Select all that apply)
31. Do community officials or members of your community discuss wildfire risk in any of the following settings or platforms? (Select all that apply)
32. Do you think your community could do better to prepare for and prevent wildfires? 477
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33. If you answered yes above, how do you think your community could do better to prepare for and prevent wildfires? Note: public responses were taken verbatim from the survey form.
Comments containing personally identifiable information have been redacted (as indicated by [redacted]).
“I don't think it's practically for people like me and my family to live in such a high fire risk place, but it's not up to me.
I am trying to get more benefits and hope to move someday. Maybe a public program that have people funds to move to safer areas would be the most cost effective long term, but I really don't know, and many people, like my family, would be resistant to that.”
“Implement stiffer fines in a more timely manner for non-compliant properties” “Take advantage of doing work in past burn scars. Prioritize the black before it all grows back.” “in person assessments, help with the work, funding for the work, waste management vendors actually offering yard waste services free or reduced price we have no options in our WUI, community yard waste drop off sites vs. dump runs, community pile burning or chipping where drop offs could be made to a central location and burned or chipped by professionals vs. coordinating for household chipping i.e. every second Sat. of each month at the Community Center”
“The City of Chico becoming more involved & working with BCFSC & other agencies” “more prescribed fire in Bidwell Park. land management in the park is on the right track but super underfunded. we need a bigger budget so we can implement the existing plans.” “The city whoever is responsible the county. Needs to go out and clean along the roadsides and empty fields for sure.
The other thing would be to notify property owners if they're out of requirements requirements for safety” “Consistency of residents education and action; we have many great property examples but also many bad example of land 'let go'. “
“Moore prescribed Fire. Make it mandatory for every single property to be cleaned up and Fire Safe.” “Establish a Fire Wise Community with outreach and education/city maintain city owned parcels” “Eastern side of Chico and Bidwell Park pre fire/mitigation work” “More options for getting physical help doing the work” “On a single street, if only one neighbor creates a fire safe home, it seems a waste of time if no one else has. The meter doesn’t really move in the right direction like if ALL the neighbors on the street participated.” “More prescribed fire on large scale”
“Reduce fuels”
“We are above paradise. Also considered outside the burn scar. Many of us have been here for decades before these requirements were made. Now they expect us to pay to have these things done and many of us are just surviving.
We are also losing insurance coverage and putting ourselves further into financial ruin in the event of a massive fire.
We need help and we need grants to encourage homeowners to get ready and more prepared.” “I don't hear a lot from Chico's Community leaders regarding this issue.“ “Remove and haul out necessary trees”
“More and larger vegetation removal projects.”
“Access to more financial resources”
“Landowners need to do better with clearing evacuation routes on private roads” 478
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“Wildfire awareness.”
“Continue clearing dead an down, trimming regrowth in burn scar, weed waking a larger area around structures.” “More code enforcement for vegitation removal along roads” “HOA fund hardening of commutiny”
“More enforcement of forest management and defensible space maintenance, and grants for disabled/senior/low incomes”
“Just finding an actual link for this survey was difficult. I saw the post on fb but only use my phone so couldn't scan the qr code. Couldn't find what website to find the link, finally saw a news article from my nspr that included a hyperlink.
I soundness be that hard to take a survey for something as helpful as collecting data to be fire prepared.” “Protective infrastructure and preserving our defensible space.” “Enforce property owners to comply with fire hazard clearance” “Clean up fire fuel more efficiently on properties over 1 acre. There are still piles of dead trees on my neighbors 4 acres and I see this all over the ridge. GET RID OF FIRE FUEL!!!” “Clearing fire hazards such as unnecessary trees and brush” “Grant information”
“some neighbors have not reduced fuel on their property” “Better understanding of evacuation routes and resources; more fire wise; education on defensible space and resources to assist; better networking within communities” “Collaboration to thin risk areas for community, additional outreach, support individual improvements to fire hardening” “Daily spend time doing defensible space 1 hr a day can make a difference” “Clear dead vegetation from property”
“Do their defensible space”
“It isn't effective if I clear my land when my neighbors have not also cleared theirs. We need work done at large scale to be effective. We need agency support for large scale prescribed fire in the canyons and forested areas.” “I live on [redacted]. The city of Chico could plow the field behind my house at the same times that they plow the field at [redacted].”
“Defensible space”
“Get rid of all the illegal cannabis activity (these folks cause fire and increase fire risks with debris/practices/behaviors; Ensure public and private water infrastructure is always operational and resilient; Have caches of supplies to fight fire (hoses, nozzles, pumps, full water tanks, respirators/masks, lights, protective gear, fire-defense training)” “Make abatement mandatory with fines”
“Remove illegal pot grows and the encampments that support the. These "outfits" use open flame for cooking and disposing trash and are likely causes for many of the foothill fires. 2. Help areas in Berry Creek improve and maintain primary roads to be able to access and leave populated areas.” “Follow thru on helping folks who cannot afford or have an ability to do the work on their property. I have been waiting for almost 2 years!”
“Our Property owners association needs to focus on fire hazard reduction instead of social events” 479
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“More frequent communication between fire officials and community organizations” “For the Park Fire, it could have been prevented if Chico council would have done the prescribed burn as per their own Burn Plan, where the exact area would have taken $10K and 1 day for prescribed burn. But the city said they didn't have OT budget.”
“More control burns, integrative landscape management, grants and services to help property owners create defensible space, better maintenance of open spaces and planting of fire-hardy native plants” “(I am on a phone so I cannot see all of my text.) Well, some of my neighbors could do better by not mowing on a hot and windy afternoon. Another could take below their pine trees and trim them up off the ground.” “Roadway signs like Plumas County which has a robust citizen education program (with signs)” “More enforcement of weed abatement, and more rapid enforcement, monitoring” “More public events”
“Allow logging and brush clearing and stop the WWP Nature Conservancy and Sierra Club etc. for their lawsuits.” “More effectively manage Bidwell Park which runs through town for fire mitigation” “team work and mitigation to past forest management policies” “Engage fire department with current FW communities and help to establish others. School programs too.” “Bypass CEQA and the red tape preventing this work getting accomplished on a large scale.” “You cannot completely prevent a wildfire but you can give your home and neighborhood the best chance. Many neighbors do not see the risk associated with their properties. Therefore, upkeep and maintenance begin to affect other neighbors who are diligently working to clear their property.” “No I sent I’ve for people to clear evacuations routes on private roads. People need to care about what their property maintenance does to the neighbors”
“Thorough Cal-Fire inspections with warnings and stiff fines” “Better planning in new developments of egress, especially in larger housing developments, where the roads are narrow and inadequate to the density of population. "Map Your Neighborhood" Programs where there are HMOs Or more cohesive and cooperative neighborhoods”
“The surrrounding areas of the Mobile Home Park Are Not Maintained By Those Property Owners; that is why we have been evacuated so many times.”
“Target each area individually with public picnic open forum with workshop. Make it a day long even, put community members in touch with those that need help.”
“Get the information out and provide assistance. Most people can't afford these improvements.” “At this point in time existing conditions should receive funding or tax exemptions for meeting fire prevention requirements. New construction should meet requirements before final approval is made. Fire Prevention needs to be primary concern. If you prevent fires you don't need all of the money that goes to red trucks.” “Force everyone to comply thru fines or jail time”
“POA needs to clear greenbelts of timber and grass, Vancant lot MUST GET CLEARED, roofs and yards must be maintained, PGE must completely remove downed and dead trees out of Magalia” “Folks are either complacent and lazy or have physical, financial and time barriers.” 480
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“I allowed pge, fire trucks ambulance and sherrif i complained several times to all agencies of road damage on [redacted] was told they would repair, 5 years later nothing, so no I don't have trust in letting people use this road in next fire ill block it off”
“Have OGE haul away trees they cut down and leave for many months.” “Organized informational meetings including a”
“Help people get the help they need to create defensible spac” “clear roadways sidings of vegetation, make 4 lanes of road over the Magalia dam.” “Defensible space”
“Use goats to eat up ground liter.”
“Get really really tough with people who do not maintain vegetation growth” “Everyone should be acutely aware that their individual actions affect an entire neighborhood & community. We are all in this together!! Everyone should actively participate in fire prevention on their individual properties, in an effort to save their own homes and diminish the risk for others in their neighborhood/community” “There are properties that are a threat to the rest of the community” “The Kelly Ridge HOA rules originally promoted lots of landscaping. Now, the HOA needs to help homeowners determin what needs to be done at each address to protect the community.” “Clearing brush”
“Clear overgrown vacant lots that remain since the Campfire” “Clean up lots in town”
“In my situation as a renter in a large apartment complex I spoke with an owner/investor to change landscaping so that flammable landscaping (ie trees, shrubs, bark, etc) be removed from within 5 ft of all resident buildings. That trees that touch or nearly touch residents home be trimmed back. It has been suggested that hard scraping be a focus going forward when replacing landscape materials and choosing greenery.” “People making sure their properties are not cluttered with combustible junk.” “all agencies should get together and clear out any trees/brush in any areas they have jurisdiction/control” “Demand that Sierra Pacific Industries clear up their brush-choked properties and salvage dead trees that abut homes.”
“I wish the county had a program that could make renting heavy equipment more affordable” “More info on various evacuation routes”
“Provide financial assistance to homeowners”
“Issue personal warnings to those who endanger the neighborhood” “Assist with yard debris pick up, low cost grants to help those on a limited income or disabled” “Clearing of abandoned properties in a timely manner.”
“Cut down more dead trees & clear brush out.”
“Clean up Bidwell park from fuel (dead trees). No camping or fires in the park” 481
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“More home nonpunative inspections.”
“Education, fuel breaks/reduction”
“Proactively mow fire breaks around undeveloped, grassy areas.” “Fuels management”
34. Would you like to see more projects in your community that treat and reduce hazardous vegetation?
35. What types of vegetation management projects would you prioritize for reducing wildfire risk in your community?
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36. Are there specific areas within your community that you believe should be targeted for hazardous vegetation reduction projects? Note: public responses were taken verbatim from the survey form. Comments containing personally identifiable information have been redacted (as indicated by [redacted]).
"Between the Feather River and Oro Dam Blvd East"
"All along Lovelock Road. Illegal dumping can be a problem here too. Sometimes people camp in the area which brings up concerns of camp fires possibly getting out of control." "Non-compliant defensible space properties"
"Big Chico Creek Canyon, especially on university land. Lots of opportunity to implement fuels projects to redistribute fuels for protection."
"Of course, anywhere with limited access for evacuations, areas near already managed areas to leverage the benefit, areas where you see pine needles on the majority of roofs in a neighborhood, sometimes seeing your neighbors do the work influences others, also key strategic areas based on slope, wind direction, lack of fire history, overgrowth. Prep areas with clear breaks surrounding populated areas so it doesn't even get to the populous areas."
"Yes, north, east & south areas at Chico city limits"
"yes, upper park should be regularly underburned. also, the Butte PBA does great work & ideally each small community would have its own PBA coordinator."
"Just drive around Oroville and Palermo areas. You'll see plenty of weeds that need caring to overgrowth.
Especially on all empty lots and along roadsidesi got." "Helltown-- it's thick underbrush and with lots of broom. Bean Flat road roadside. Various large land parcels that are unkept."
"Waterways are overgrown"
"Bidwell Park"
"Woodridge Neighborhood in magalia. The length of Nimshew rd and Nimshew extension." "Foothill areas below Forest Ranch"
"Roadways"
"Greenbelts and private properties"
"Everything from upper Magalia on up to Butte Meadows. We’ve been forgotten about and we are in a position to be just as dangerous as Paradise."
"Various properties in our new green island after Park Fire" "Cohasset road corridor"
"Since the fire, the green island that didn't burn"
"Clearing along evacuation routes"
"Along roadsides, recreational access."
"Along the main ridge, Lumpkin Rd, around elderly residents homes." "Create shelter in place facility"
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"Dead trees from prior fires need to be removed or burned in a pile." "The entire POA"
"Yes, and many are being addressed by the Yankee Hill FSC" "I live near lower park. I think the goats must be helpful" "The entire bidwell park and surrounding vegetation. Empty lots that can fuel fire." "Rental properties in the county."
"Paradise & surrounding communities. Sparks and embers travel a long ways… get rid of dead or underbrush fuel!" "Garland Road and Doe Mill Road"
"along roads"
"Roadways and clearing vegetation along routes so in the event of fire, vegetation/other doesn't obstruct access and can still get in/out. State and Federal land along residents areas/create fuel breaks and defensible space; reduction of fuels loads in residential areas and creating defensible spaces around structures; concerns with losing resources/utilities such as power and water"
"All the travelways and evacuation routes both public and private" "Foothills"
"[redacted] Road and all ajacent roads"
"Everywhere that hasn't already burned and some that have. Brushy canyons pose particular challenges for individuals. Needs large scale burns to manage risk."
"Yes. The city property behind my house needs to be plowed regularly." "Areas along Almond & Hillcrest, Kelly Ridge golf course area, state lands near residential areas" "PUSD property off Skyway turn-out, Magalia"
"Yes"
"All of the Bear/North Complex burn scar in our community is a new fire disaster waiting to happen. Sprouts should be thinned and dead trees removed. Acres and acres of it." "Lower Bidwell Park"
"Wyman Ravine is a tinderbox"
"Along roadways"
"Outside the burn scars"
"All of the common property within the poa."
"Canyon edges and drainages that have high potential for increased fire activity. Evacuation routes" "next door neighbors property"
"Removing dead and dying trees on private property"
"Again, the city failed to follow its own plan to close the Upper Bidwell Park gates to traffic on high heat 100F+ and high winds, but again failed for Park Fire."
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"Parks and large land parcels (eg cattle land), densely wooded areas where property owners can't afford to maintain alone"
"Help with clearing drainages and along rural roadways in Oro East." "Along Pentz Rd right above Lime Saddle Rd. It's a mess and boats drag their chains. Previous fires there." "Lots with out-of-town property owners"
"You need a map for this."
"The area between Magalia and Lovelock."
"Bidwell Park Upper and Lower"
"yes"
"large fields with vegetation"
"All the foothills surrounding butte county"
"Only Little Chico Creek and Butte Creek watersheds have seen very little fire in the recent past. Those areas are candlewicks into Chico, the largest population and community assets (hospital, CSUC, etc)" "Lower Paradise, West Branch, Little Butte Creek"
"Southeast Chico, honey run, little Chico creek, butte creek diversion channel, open space within baroni park landscape and lighting district"
"yes, but Butte County has addressed it"
"Landowners need to be held accountable for clearing their land, especially evac routes." "Upper Magalia up to Butte Meadows"
"The Entire Hawk Ravine area north of Mt Ida Road and West of Miners Ranch Rd all the way up to the Lakeside Market is a mess and has been for well over 10 years. The Oaks Senior Mobile Home Community Near Lakeside Market needs lots of attention all around us."
"Pot grows, vacant land, and abandoned, condemned buildings." "Old 1/2 dead trees and bushes"
"Anywhere needed."
"VACANT LOTS, BLM west of Magalia, broom removal throughout Magalia lots streets and poa" "Private property and drainages."
"Fix [redacted] Road as the heavy truck s damage the road i see always no management supervision adequate to serve public!"
"Properties that are not taken care of by the owners."
"Roadsides - private and county"
"skyway, Nimshew road, centerville road"
"Wui"
"Paradise Pines POA"
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"All areas along the feather river, around lake, all govt owned property, roadways, etc." "Areas around Lake Oroville and Kelly Ridge, in our opinion, are still quite ripe with fuel (even after the Thompson Fire)!"
"My neighbor on [redacted]"
"Vacant lots. Tremendous amount of dead and overgrown brush." "Empty lots"
"Abandoned and overgrown lots, areas frequented by homeless (ie parks & waterways), and areas where the foothills and homes connect."
"Some property owners property… "
"start with overgrown areas closest to large housing areas." "Sierra Pacific timber lands that are brush-choked and full of dead, dying and moribund trees that are adjacent to homes."
"Upper Magalia to Butte Meadows"
"Negligent neighbors"
"Pretty much anywhere in Magalia above the burn scar."
"Abandoned lots. There are still many that don't get mowed, have build up of broom and/or downed large trees have been left on the lot. These threaten existing homes that are being maintained." "Probably, if I looked. I hear about them."
"Lower bidwell park"
"Bidwell Park"
"Inaccessible/ hard to reach areas"
"Removing deadfall from Lower Bidwell Park!! Trees, brush are piled. Goats help remove grass, but large fuel piles accumulate. Plow fire breaks in grassy fields"
"Butte Creek"
"None that I can think of right now, I see progress every day " 486
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37. Is there anything else we should know about wildfire planning in Butte County? Note: public responses were taken verbatim from the survey form. Comments containing personally identifiable information have been redacted (as indicated by [redacted]). "The contracts the County has with WM, etc. must include a provision for yard waste disposal when they are renewed. It is the easiest and cheapest way for WUI residents to actually get the material away and gone easily. It would reduce smoke and problems from pile burners who are t good at it from doing it. May t seem like much but over time each person could make a dent by filling a can with flammable materials. Regardless of the volume it fosters the behavior change which is key. Right w it takes at least 1.5 hours roundtrip and a $12 fee to haul one truckload of needles to the dump. There is incentive to do this and it also doesn't seem like it would help given the small volume you can remove each time. I have researched dumpsters that could be placed in a centralized location for yard waster drop off (i.e. maybe at a school or community center or a volunteer fire station or calfire station) and they are extremely expensive, but perhaps a grant could pay for it, a revolving service that gets picked up in say one community one month every week then moves to ather for a month. Time, age, ability, money are all constraints as to why people do t maintain their own properties. Make it easy. The chipping program is cumbersome for many reasons, if it was a centralized drop off location people wouldn't have to wait for it to be scheduled, line them up perfectly, haul to a road etc. an leave dead materials on site during the dangerous fire season. It is sometimes much more work to participate in that program than it is worth. Thanks for listening, hope you take some ideas and run with them. "
"as we've seen, fuels management and prescribed fire follow-through in Chico affects the whole county" "Within a few.Years ago, you at least used to mow along the roadside.That's t even being done anymore t where I can see"
"Large projects and landscape-level forestry takes time-- maybe too much time than we have. While individual residents have been educated about defensivle space, and that topic seems to assume the lions share of publicity, I do think individual home hardening is a needed next step. The home hardwning I see in Butte County truly pales in comparison to other mountain communities. Why so few programs/incentives for this? Because funding would increase the value of residents' key assets? "
"There’s a lot of work to educate residents about Wildland Urban Interface and true preparation." "Quality projects sustainable of years on ridges and along primary evacuation routes should continue to be the priority."
"Prescribed fire is a powerful tool in preventing wildfire. It should be more accessible year round, including summer months under the right conditions."
"need to pass ordinances that increase the penalties for t complying" "Address the upper ridge."
"The message is t reaching a lot of people unless they watch the news and it seems that very few people do these days. The only social media platform I use is the Nextdoor app and I rarely see any information regarding this topic.
You need to find a better way of informing the public." "Defensible space inspections are a joke in our area. Problem properties get inspected, warned and physical follow up to see if the work has been done. Or inspectors CALL the landowners to ask if they have fixed the problem.
What a joke!"
"Help awareness."
"Inform the public of the options that are available such as PBA, residential prescribed burns an SFLAP." "Spend the annual dues to fund this work"
"Thank you so much for all you're doing. This is a really overwhelming problem, and it can't be easy. I'm really impressed and touched by all the efforts I have seen during and after the Camp and Park fires " 487
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" easy answers there, but getting individual and absentee property owners on board with land management is key" "I am a Paradise Campfire Survivor."
"Compliance! "
"It's t easy to access and people are unsure available resources, evacuation routes, etc. Need more education and assistance at a local level. People are unsure what resources are available to education themselves and get involved. Need network system and easy location to access resources. Need to get people involved at a local level and create pride in community. A lot of resources get to pot of money and t a local level." "We need a permanent defensible space and home hardening residential assistants program that works with the aging population throughout the county."
"More follow up on defensable space, more money for inspectors. Roadside fuel reduction." "More good fire on the ground. Strategic burns such as the work done in Cohasset that created the island of green in the Park fire."
"STOP thinking there is a one-size-fits-all to evacuation orders. Some farms, ranches and homesteads have defensible space, safety zones, green areas, water sources, fire defense skills and equipment, and experience to defend home, environment, livestock, lives. Evacuation is t practical and in some cases results in avoidable, uninsured, total loss. We've seen it with the Wall, Camp and Bear fires. So in your planning, plan to understand and allow for local defense and n-evacuation of well-defended ranches/farms/homesteads. Also, understand that the lack of affordable insurance and spotty/slow/inadequate government assistance means people will t as readily evacuate. Don't bully or harass folks that don't go if they are well-prepared to defend." "Enforcement of laws to remove illegal homeless campers!" "We are all traumatized, I wish this was recognized rather than calling us all brave survivors." "Getting any aid post-fire has been burdensome and extremely inefficient. Efforts should be made to streamline application and approval processes and actually use the funds for work instead of the approval process. More money appears to be wasted in the process than the one or two that may try to abuse getting funds." "You promise help but it never comes."
"Top issue is forest mismanagement at all levels of government" "Butte County Fire Safe Council personnel do an excellent job of reaching out to communities through the free chipper program and grants for hazard tree removal. I hope their resources and funding will be expanded to assist homeowners with all needed support for fire prevention." "We have Mechoopda Tribal TEK (Traditional Ecological Kwledge) that saved our Indigeus people since time immemorial and they should be hired for cultural prescribed burns." "We need more public education about the importance of prescribed burns, and more effort to carry out prescribed burns with minimal heavy equipment and fossil fuels (eg, focus on indigeus cultural/traditional burn techniques) to minimize negative ecological impacts and develop ecosystems that are fire-hardy with less frequent maintenance needed"
"Just that it takes money and/or skill that some people do t have." "Answer letters to Cal Fire from citizens. Igring written ideas shows disdain and discourages involvement." "We should be able to earn certification to submit to Insurance Companies for price reduction in policy" "Prescribed burns should be prioritized in areas with black oak and ponderosa pine." "log it, graze it or watch it burn!"
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"Keep doing it it's making a difference"
"City limits are t boundaries for wildfire-how can we communicate that?" "I clicked the "Draft CWPP Main Doc" form and was directed to this survey. I feel this survey took way too long.
Most people will likely give up and t view it at all. I spent over 20 minutes on the survey." "Involve/compel the city of chico"
"How's the water pressure doing! "
"Be active and t reactive"
"Have more than one property. One was completley destroyed in [redacted]. A million Dollar Cabin over 2,000 sq ft.
I don't think I need educated on fire and loss."
"It could be helpful if the B line or other transport services were available during evacuations, especially in densely populated neighborhoods. And if they are already in the plan, how to access that kind of transportation during evacuations would be helpful. In my previous community, they were designated evacuation areas that people could drive to, and then be transported out of the area so as to reduce congestion on the roads. Sorry if the typos are hard to figure out, but I'm dictating on a phone and it doesn't let me correct easily. Thanks for this opportunity to give feedback. This is very important."
"Yes, Would Like to be able to listen to the BCSO Scanner again. more encription." "We need to enforce property use laws. In our area many recent fires were started by generators, and/or pot grows."
"A better organized evacuation plan so people don't get stuck and funding to help people to create defensible spaces."
"It has t been a concern for too many years. You don't have eugh fire prevention staff available for the magnitude of the problem. Provide COVID level funding and measures to ensure proper fire prevention with grants for individuals or areas which need attention. Make fire prevention a priority and stop wasting tax money and BS and Illegal Aliens. You need to care about fire prevention and make it a priority for the safety of the people. Make the Electric Utilities comply with all laws and GO95. If they don't comply put them in jail!" "Find more help for seniors, vets, disabled to get their properties cleaned " "Thank you for your help!"
"Yes do what you tell residents, there's program s for us in berry creek, I took loans to fix my house, government help sad the southern California is more valuable then our area its why they have grants, we were overlooked, like we are illegal aliens, very insulting [redacted]"
"Your community outreach needs improvement. Last years survey only 71 Butte CO citizens participated in the 2024 survey"
"Timely and assertive follow-up on violators."
"Utilize goats, control burns, etc."
"The State Park needs to reduce fire fuels that are nearest the homes bordering the park, t just Loafer Creek." "People need incentives to move forward. My elderly parents have needed help, and there are services for them that they can afford. I think a move towards fire hardening could also be a beautification process as well. Maybe use the local events/nurseries/landscape businesses to promote events highlighting attractive hardscaping demos(?)"
"t that I can think of this minute."
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"the fires in LA demonstrate the obvious short comings of City, County, State resources. Both in techlogies and aero response tools/application"
"Make and enforce a total ban on fireworks and fire crackers. Offenders should receive stiff fines or jail sentences" "Options for those with medical disabilities who may need help evacuating." "I would like to see flyers, emails, social media posts with maps of clearly drawn escape routes up here on the ridge."
"Continuing maintenance of already treated or cleared areas so you don't waste time, money, and work force having to redo what's already been done. Maintenance is much less expensive and continues to help protect everyone.
Those who can't afford to hire help should have access to applying for maintenance crews. I would love to see a program like the Conservation Corp be available to this area. Seeing if funding, State and Federal, is available to help in that area. A lot of hard work has already been done and we appreciate and ackwledge those who have done it to help protect us all! Thank you!"
"Long term arrangements for evacuees that have travle/house trailers, livestock trailers w/ living quarters ect. for people who own as well as people that want to lend these things. Long periods of time can be expensive at trailer courts and the like. t everyone has family or friends willing to let them set up home on their property " "Educate the newcomers that are moving to town"
PUBLIC MEETING INPUT
Public input was gathered during the four community meetings held as part of the CWPP development process. Attendees shared a variety of concerns, including the potential wildfire risks associated with proposed new housing developments and the impact of electric utility activities near homes and high-risk areas. Participants also voiced opinions on the effectiveness of current local wildfire mitigation practices and identified specific locations they believed to be particularly vulnerable to wildfire. This valuable community feedback was considered throughout the planning process to ensure the CWPP addresses the priorities and concerns of local residents.
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APPENDIX E:
Funding Sources
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FUNDING SOURCES
The following section provides information on state, federal, and private funding opportunities for conducting wildfire mitigation projects.
STATE FUNDING INFORMATION
CAL FIRE – Grant Programs
Website: https://www.fire.ca.gov/grants/
Description: The CAL FIRE Grant Program offers a range of forest-related grants with differing scopes and funding details. Some of the grants include:
• Forest Health Grants: https://www.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/grants/forest-health • California Forest Improvement Program: https://www.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/grants/californiaforest-improvement • Wildfire Prevention Grants Program: https://www.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/grants/wildfireprevention-grants • Urban & Community Forestry Grant Programs: https://www.fire.ca.gov/grants/urban-andcommunity-forestry-grant-programs/ • Wildfire Resilience and Forestry Assistance Grant-Prop 68: https://www.fire.ca.gov/what-wedo/natural-resource-management/wildfire-resilience#ResilienceGrantAnchor • Volunteer Fire Capacity Grant: https://www.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/fireprotection/cooperative-efforts California Air Resources Board – Funding Wizard
Website: https://fundingwizard.arb.ca.gov/web/
Description: The Funding Wizard aggregates current federal, state, regional, private, and other funding opportunities for environmental and sustainability projects.
California Department of Conservation – Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Grant Program Website: https://www.conservation.ca.gov/dlrp/grant-programs/Pages/Regional-Forest-and-FireCapacity-Program.aspx Description: The California Department of Conservation announced the release of the 2022 Regional Forest and Fire Capacity (RFFC) Program Final Grant Guidelines. The RFFC Program provides block grants to regional entities and eligible coordinating organizations to support large- and small-scale project implementation.
California Environmental Protection Agency – Loans and Grants Website: https://calepa.ca.gov/loansgrants/
Description: The California Environmental Protection Agency Loans and Grants hosts a wide variety of agency grants specifically for California. While these funding sources may not tie directly to fuel 494
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management or fire recovery, there is a wide array of funding opportunities for water and air resources that are directly impacted by wildfire.
California State Coastal Conservancy – Wildfire Resilience Program Website: https://scc.ca.gov/wildfire-resilience-program/ Description: This program supports local partners in implementing projects that will improve forest health and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire in wildland-urban interface (WUI) areas.
The Coastal Conservancy has provided over $17 million to support forest management projects that reduce wildfire risk.
State of California – Adaptation Clearinghouse
Website: https://resilientca.org/
Description: This resource provides wildfire-related resources such as funding opportunities, assessments, case studies, educational materials, data and tools, example plans and strategies, and additional policy guidance.
State of California – Grants Portal
Website: https://www.grants.ca.gov/
Description: The California Grants Portal helps users identify the latest grants that could support fire hazard planning or related implementation efforts that support wildfire risk mitigation, fuels management, and other related projects.
FEDERAL FUNDING INFORMATION
2022 Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act
Website:https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3684 Description: The Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act allocated funding through various departments for infrastructure projects including, but not limited to, roads, bridges, and major projects; passenger and freight rail; highway and pedestrian safety; public transit; broadband; ports and waterways; airports; water infrastructure; power and grid reliability and resiliency; resiliency, including funding for coastal resiliency, ecosystem restoration, and weatherization; clean school buses and ferries; electric vehicle charging; addressing legacy pollution by cleaning up Brownfield and Superfund sites and reclaiming abandoned mines; and Western Water Infrastructure.
Section 40803 addresses wildfire risk reduction, Section 40804 deals with ecosystem restoration, Section 40806 handles the establishment of fuel breaks in forests and other wildland vegetation, and Section 70302 addresses reforestation. To learn more about the Act, please visit:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3684 EPA – Catalog of Federal Funding Sources; Land Resources Website: https://ordspub.epa.gov/ords/wfc/f?p=165:512:10535656593775:::512::
Description: The Land Finance Clearing House is a catalog of federal funding sources for all things land related.
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Examples of the types of grants found at this site are:
• Forest and Woodlands Resource Management Grant:
https://sam.gov/fal/a798ad78cac749639b48270db3e86fdc/view?index=cfda&page=2&organi zation_id=100011100
• Environmental Education Grant: https://www.epa.gov/education/grants • Public Assistance Grant Program: https://www.fema.gov/assistance/public • Hazard Mitigation Grant: https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/hazard-mitigation EPA – Catalog of Federal Funding Sources; Water Resources Website: https://ofmpub.epa.gov/apex/wfc/f?p=165:12:6483383318137:::12::
Description: The Water Finance Clearing House is a catalog of federal funding sources for all things water related.
Examples of the types of grants found at this site are:
• Water Conservation Field Services Program: https://www.usbr.gov/waterconservation/ • California Community Development Block Grant:
https://www.grants.ca.gov/grants/community-development-block-grant-cdbg/ • California Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program (CWSRF):
https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/grants_loans/srf/index.html EPA Grant Programs
Website: https://www.epa.gov/grants
Description: Various grant programs are listed under this site. Listed below are examples of grants offered:
• Multipurpose Grants to States and Tribes: https://www.epa.gov/grants/multipurpose-grantsstates-and-tribes EPA Tribal Environmental General Assistance Program (GAP) Website: https://www.epa.gov/tribal-pacific-sw/epa-region-9-tribal-environmental-gap-funding Description: The program aids Native American tribes in developing reservation-specific environmental protection programs.
FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG)
Website: https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters/assistance-grants Description: The AFG program provides resources to assist fire departments in attaining critical resources such as training and equipment. Since its launch in 2001, the AFG program has provided firefighters and first responders with essential equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other vital resources to enhance public and emergency personnel safety against fire and related hazards. In addition to the AFG grant, this program is composed of two additional distinct grant categories; these are detailed below.
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FEMA Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Website: https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters/safer Description: The SAFER grants are a component of FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program. These grants aim to help fire departments increase the number of “frontline firefighters.” The goal is for fire departments to increase their staffing and deployment capabilities and ultimately attain 24-hour staffing, thus ensuring that their communities have adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards. The SAFER grants support two specific activities: 1) hiring of firefighters, and 2) recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters.
FEMA Fire Prevention and Safety Grants (FP&S)
Website: https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters/safety-awards Description: The FP&S grants are a component of FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program. These grants provide funding for projects aimed at enhancing the safety of both the public and firefighters who may be exposed to fire and related hazards. The primary goal is to target high-risk populations and mitigate high incidences of death and injury.
Examples of the types of projects supported by FP&S include fire-prevention and publicsafety education campaigns, juvenile fire-setter interventions, media campaigns, and arson prevention and awareness programs. In fiscal year 2005, Congress reauthorized funding for FP&S and expanded the eligible uses of funds to include firefighter safety research and development.
FEMA – Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Grants Website: https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/building-resilient-infrastructure-communities Description: BRIC supports states, local communities, tribes, and territories as they undertake hazard mitigation projects, reducing the risk they face from disasters and natural hazards. The BRIC program guiding principles are supporting communities through capability- and capacity-building; encouraging and enabling innovation; promoting partnerships; enabling large projects; maintaining flexibility; and providing consistency.
FEMA – Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG)
Website: https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/emergency-management-performance Description: The EMPG program funds state, local, tribal, and territorial emergency management agencies to create a safe and resilient nation. Its main objectives are to close capability gaps identified in the latest Stakeholder Preparedness Review (SPR) and to build or sustain high-priority capabilities identified through the Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA)/SPR process. Program priorities are agreed upon by the grant recipient and Regional Administrator, based on national, state, and regional priorities.
FEMA – Fire Management Assistance Grant
Website: https://www.fema.gov/assistance/public/fire-management-assistance Description: The Fire Management Assistance grant supports state, local, and tribal governments in mitigating, managing, and controlling fires on publicly or privately owned forests or grasslands that could result in a major disaster. The process begins when a state submits a request for assistance to 497
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the FEMA Regional Director during a "threat of major disaster." Decisions are made within hours, ensuring an expedited response. To be eligible for a grant, a state must demonstrate that the total eligible costs for the declared fire meet or exceed either the individual fire cost threshold for single fires or the cumulative fire cost threshold for multiple smaller fires.
FEMA – Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant
Website: https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/floods
Description: The Flood Mitigation Assistance Program is a competitive grant program that provides funding to states, local communities, federally recognized tribes, and territories. Funds can be used for projects that reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings insured by the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA chooses recipients based on the applicant’s ranking of the project and the eligibility and cost-effectiveness of the project.
FEMA – Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)
Website: https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/hazard-mitigation Description: The HMGP provides funding to state, local, tribal, or territorial governments (and individuals or businesses if the community applies on their behalf) to rebuild with the intentions to mitigate future losses due to potential disasters. This grant program is available after a presidentially declared disaster.
FEMA – Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) – Post Fire Website: https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/post-fire Description: The HMGP Post Fire grant program aids communities in implementing hazard mitigation measures following a wildfire. Mitigation measures may include soil stabilization, flood diversion, and reforestation.
FEMA Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grants
Website: https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/regional-catastrophic Description: The Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant program provides funding to increase collaboration and capacity regarding catastrophic incident response and preparation.
NRCS – Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)
Website: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/cig-conservation-innovation-grants Description: The Conservation Innovation Grants State Component stimulates the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies, leveraging federal investment for environmental enhancement alongside agricultural production.
NRCS – Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program
Website: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/landscape/ewpp/ Description: The program offers technical and financial assistance to help local communities relieve imminent threats to life and property caused by floods, fires, windstorms, and other natural disasters that impair a watershed. Eligible sponsors include cities, counties, towns, conservation districts, or any federally recognized Native American tribe or tribal organization. Interested public and private landowners can apply for EWP Program recovery assistance through one of those sponsors. 498
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EWP Program covers the following activities:
• Debris removal from stream channels, road culverts, and bridges • Reshape and protect eroded streambanks
• Correct damaged drainage facilities
• Establish vegetative cover on critically eroded lands • Repair levees and structures
• Repair conservation practices
NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
Website: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/eqip-environmental-quality-incentives Description: The Environmental Quality Incentives Program is a program aimed at helping farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who own or rent agricultural land to implement practices and/or install measures to protect soil, water, plant, wildlife, and other natural resources while ensuring sustainable production on their farms, ranches, and working forest lands.
NRCS and USFS Joint Chiefs' Landscape Restoration Partnership Website: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/joint-chiefs-landscape-restorationpartnership Description: The Joint Chiefs' Landscape Restoration Partnership program is a collaborative effort between the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the USFS aimed at enhancing the health and resilience of forested landscapes, encompassing National Forest System land and state, tribal, and private lands. This partnership involves working with agricultural producers, forest landowners, tribes, and public land managers to invest in large-scale conservation and restoration initiatives. The program addresses multiple objectives, including reducing wildfire risks to communities, safeguarding water quality and supply, and enhancing wildlife habitat for endangered species. In 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) invested over $48.6 million in project coordinated through this program.
USDA Farm Service Agency – Emergency Conservation Program Website: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/conservation-programs/emergencyconservation/index Description: The Emergency Conservation Program helps farmers and ranchers repair damage to farmlands caused by natural disasters and to help put in place methods for water conservation during severe drought. The program provides ranchers and farmers with funding and assistance to repair the damaged farmland or to install methods for water conservation.
USDA Farm Service Agency – Emergency Forest Restoration Program Website: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/disaster-assistance-program/emergency-forestrestoration Description: The Emergency Forest Restoration Program assists owners of non-industrial private forests in restoring forest health after natural disasters by providing financial support. Administered by the local Farm Service Agency County Committee, the Emergency Forest Restoration Program 499
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covers all disasters except drought and insect infestations. Eligible activities include debris removal, site preparation, replanting, and restoration of forest infrastructure. To qualify, the land must have existing tree cover and be owned by a non-industrial private entity.
USDA and U.S. Department of the Interior National Fire Plan (NFP) Website: http://www.forestsandrangelands.gov/
Description: Many states are using funds from the National Fire Plan to provide funds through a cost-share program with residents to help them reduce the wildfire risk to their private property. These actions are usually in the form of thinning or pruning trees, shrubs, and other vegetation and/or clearing the slash and debris from this kind of work. Opportunities are available for rural, state, and volunteer fire assistance.
USFS – Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG)
Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire/grants Description: The Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) is a program aimed at assisting local communities and tribes within the WUI in their planning efforts to reduce wildfire risk. The USFS intends to do this through the implementation of three goals from the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy: restoring and maintaining landscapes, creating fire-adapted communities, and improving wildfire response within the specific at-risk community. Grant funding of no more than $250,000 will be awarded for the development and revision of community wildfire protection plans, and no more than $10 million will be awarded for the implementation of projects outlined in community wildfire protection plans that are less than 10 years old. Communities, tribes, states, nonprofits, and Alaska Native Corporations are all considered eligible for this grant.
USFS – Federal Excess Personal Property (FEPP)
Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire/fepp Description: The Federal Excess Personal Property (FEPP) program, established in 1956, facilitates the loan of USFS-owned property to State Foresters for wildland and rural firefighting. Initially, most of this property belonged to the Department of Defense (DoD). Once transferred to the USFS, it is then loaned to state cooperators to support firefighting efforts. State Foresters can further distribute this property to local departments, thereby enhancing local fire programs. The USFS and State Foresters have been actively participating in the FEPP program since its inception.
USFS – Landscape Scale Restoration Competitive Grant Program Website: https://www.thewflc.org/landscape-scale-restoration-competitive-grant-program Description: The Landscape Scale Restoration Competitive Grant Program supports collaborative, science-based restoration of key forest landscapes using public and private resources. Funded by the USFS, the program addresses priority challenges in western lands, emphasizing cross-boundary collaboration and coordination with other landscape-scale projects. Projects should align with State Forest Action Plans and other restoration strategies. The Western Forestry Leadership Coalition oversees the Landscape Scale Restoration grant process in the western United States, evaluating and scoring proposals from western states and Pacific Island territories, and forwarding approved recommendations to the USFS for funding consideration.
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USFS – Urban and Community Forestry Program
Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/urban-forests/ucf Description: USFS funding will provide for Urban and Community Forestry Programs that work with local communities to establish climate-resilient tree species to promote long-term forest health.
The other initiative behind this program is to promote and carry out disaster risk mitigation activities, with priority given to environmental justice communities.
PRIVATE FUNDING INFORMATION
California Fire Foundation Grant Programs
Website: https://www.cafirefoundation.org/programs/fireprevention/ Description: The California Fire Foundation offers grant opportunities to fire departments, firefighter associations, and community-based organizations whose projects help address wildfire and disaster prevention, preparedness, relief, and recovery needs within the state of California. The California Fire Foundation directly supports high fire threat and/or under-resourced communities.
California Community Foundation – Wildfire Recovery Fund Website: https://www.calfund.org/wildfirerecoveryfund/
Description: The Wildfire Recovery Fund supports intermediate and long-term recovery efforts for major California wildfires. The fund also supports wildfire prevention and preparedness efforts. Since 2003, the fund has granted more than $32 million to support relief and recovery efforts in the aftermath of destructive wildfires.
California Fire Safe Council – Grant Programs
Website: https://cafiresafecouncil.org/grants-and-funding/apply-for-a-grant/ Description: The California Fire Safe Council provides a range of federal, state, and private funding sources in addition to administering the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) State Fire Assistance Grant Programs.
COCO and USFS Action, Implementation, & Mitigation Program Website: https://co-co.org/aim-grant/
Description: Coalitions and Collaboratives Inc., a Colorado nonprofit, developed the Action, Implementation, and Mitigation Program to enhance fire adaptation and reduce wildfire risk nationwide. The grant funds mitigation projects, equipment, personnel enhancements, and planning on non-federal lands. Applicants must contribute a 100% match, and funding may range from $10,000 to $75,000. The sponsored organization must have a nonprofit 501(c)(3) status or a fiscal sponsorship from a local government or other entity with nonprofit status.
EPA, NRCS, USFS, and Other Agencies U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities Website: https://www.usendowment.org/funding-opportunities/ Description: The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities collaborates with public and private sector partners to drive systemic, transformative, and sustainable change, enhancing the health and vitality of the nation's working forests and forest-reliant communities. 501
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Esri Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. Grants Website: https://www.esri.com/en-us/grant-programs
Description: Esri offers free software, hardware, and training bundles through Esri-sponsored grants for activities like conservation, education, and sustainable development. Additionally, they share nonEsri grant opportunities in categories such as agriculture, education, environment, fire, public safety, and more.
Factory Mutual Fire Prevention Grant Program
Website: https://www.fm.com/about-us/corporate-responsibility/fm-fire-prevention-grant-program Description: The Factory Mutual Fire Prevention Grant Program provides financial support to fire departments, brigades, and various organizations to reduce fire risk. The grant funds a range of fire prevention, preparedness, and control efforts, including pre-incident planning, fire prevention education and training, and arson prevention and investigation. Organizations can apply for funding to support fire mitigation initiatives.
Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation Re:wild Grants
Website: https://www.rewild.org/
Description: The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation supports global projects that build climate resiliency, protect vulnerable wildlife, and restore ecosystems and communities.
Firewise Communities Program
Website: http://www.firewise.org
Description: Firewise Communities offer various activities to help homeowners and neighborhoods become safer from wildfires at minimal cost. Community cleanup days, awareness events, and cooperative activities can be achieved through partnerships with neighbors, local businesses, and fire departments. The type of assistance needed will depend on identity, location, and objectives. Among the various activities that individuals and neighborhoods can pursue, the following often benefit from seed funding or external support:
• Thinning/pruning/tree removal/clearing on private property—particularly on very large, densely wooded properties
• Retrofitting home roofing or siding to noncombustible materials • Managing private forest
• Community slash pickup or chipping
• Creation or improvement of access/egress roads
• Improvement of water supply for firefighting
• Public education activities throughout the community or region First Nations Development Institute – Access to Ancestral Lands Grant Opportunity (AALG) Website: https://www.firstnations.org/
Description: First Nations Development Institute, a Native-led nonprofit, aims to strengthen Indigenous economies and communities by investing in innovative institutions and models. Since 502
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launching its national grantmaking program in 1993, it has managed 2,276 grants totaling over $46 million. The California Tribal Fund, a project of First Nations, supports California Native–led nonprofits and tribal programs in protecting their food systems, water, languages, traditional ecological knowledge, and land.
NFF Matching Awards Program
Website: https://www.nationalforests.org/grant-programs/ Description: The National Forest Foundation’s Matching Awards Program provides funds for on-theground projects benefitting America’s National Forests and Grasslands. The program pairs federal funds from the USFS with non-federal dollars raised by recipients to implement stewardship projects.
Patagonia Environmental Grants and Support
Website: https://www.patagonia.com/how-we-fund/
Description: Patagonia supports innovative initiatives tackling the root causes of the environmental crisis, focusing on protecting the environment and affected communities. Efforts concentrate on areas connected to Patagonia’s outdoor recreation network and retail stores, nationally and internationally.
State Farm Good Neighbor Citizenship (GNC) Grants
Website: https://www.statefarm.com/about-us/corporate-responsibility/community-grants/goodneighbor-citizenship-grants Description: State Farm funds initiatives directed at:
• Auto and roadway safety
• Teen driver education
• Home safety and fire prevention
• Disaster preparedness
• Disaster recovery
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OTHER FUNDING INFORMATION
The following resources may also provide helpful information for funding opportunities:
• Insurance Services Office Mitigation Online (town fire ratings): http://www.isomitigation.com/ • National Fire Protection Association: http://www.nfpa.org • National Interagency Fire Center, Wildland Fire Prevention/Education: https://www.nifc.gov/fireinformation/fire-prevention-education-mitigation • USDA Information Center: https://www.nal.usda.gov/main/information-centers • U.S. Forest Service Fire Management website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire • U.S. Fire Administration: https://www.usfa.fema.gov/index.html • Western Forestry Leadership Coalition: https://www.thewflc.org/ 504
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APPENDIX F:
Homeowner Actions and Resources
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HOMEOWNER ACTIONS AND RESOURCES
With adequate resources, homeowners may have the ability to significantly reduce wildfire risk through practical measures such as home hardening, which aims to reduce a home's ignitability, and by creating defensible space throughout the property and within the home ignition zone, preventing the likelihood of flames and embers reaching and igniting structures. The following includes comprehensive guidance on building resilient communities by creating defensible space; hardening the home and surrounding property to wildfire impacts; utilizing local, state, and national resources; and preparing the household for potential evacuation. Financial constraints and the complexity of mitigation can often pose significant obstacles for homeowners, so included are several resources and recommendations at varying levels of effort designed to support these actions.
DEFENSIBLE SPACE
The definition of defensible space via state and local codes, its maintenance by property owners, and enforcement by fire agencies as needed is a common part of wildfire risk mitigation. The California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection issued General Guidelines for Creating Defensible Space in 2008, which included required vegetation clearance from 0 to 30 feet around structures and vegetation thinning from 30 to 100 feet around buildings and structures within all State Responsibility Areas as well as all Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones within Local Responsibility Areas. The Public Resources Code was amended in January 2021 to require an ember-resistant zone within 5 feet of the home/structure after January 2023 (CAL FIRE 2022d).
Figure F.1. Defensible space zones providing clearance between a structure and adjacent woodland or forest fuels.
Source: Direct communication, CAL FIRE, 2025.
Chapter 38A of the Butte County Code requires 100 feet of defensible space around all buildings, including buildings on adjacent parcels, divided into three zones: Zone 0 (0–5 feet), Zone 1 (5–30 feet), and Zone 2 (30–100 feet) (Figure F.1). Each zone has specific guidelines to minimize fire risk, such as using noncombustible materials close to structures, maintaining low vegetation, and ensuring proper 508
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spacing between trees and shrubs (Be Ready, Butte 2024). Additionally, Chapter 38A requires property owners to ensure there is 100 feet of clearance for structures on neighboring properties if the 100-foot area extends onto the neighboring property. It also requires clearance of undeveloped parcels, with treatment of the entire parcel required for smaller parcels and a perimeter buffer required for larger parcels.
For inquiries about the Butte County Defensible Space Guidelines and their application to individual properties, property owners can visit the Be Ready, Butte website at https://bereadybutte.com and https://www.buttecounty.net/587/Defensible-Space.
Effective defensible space is an essentially fire-free zone adjacent to the home, a treated secondary zone that is thinned and cleaned of surface fuels, and (if the parcel is large enough) a transitional third zone that is basically a managed forest. These components work together in a proven and predictable manner.
Zone 0 keeps fire from burning directly to the home; Zone 1 reduces the adjacent fire intensity and the likelihood of torching, crown fire, and ember production; and Zone 2 does the same at a broader scale, keeping the fire intensity lower by maintaining a more natural, historic condition.
It should be emphasized that defensible space allows firefighters to work effectively and with some degree of safety to defend structures. While defensible space may increase a home’s chance of surviving a fire on its own, a structure’s survival is not guaranteed, with or without firefighter protection.
Nevertheless, when these principles are consistently applied across a neighborhood, everyone benefits.
The three zones for defensible space actions are described below (Butte County n.d.c; CAL FIRE 2022d):
Zone 0 – Immediate Zone, Ember Resistant: Zone 0 has been proven to be the most important defensible space zone for protecting a home against wildfire. This zone consists of the immediate area around a home and is defined as 0 to 5 feet from the property structure, including areas under and around all structure attachments, such as sheds or decks. Zone 0 requires the most stringent wildfire fuel reduction methods as actions taken within this zone can directly influence whether a structure ignites.
Recommendations for treating Zone 0 include (Butte County n.d.c; CAL FIRE 2022d):
• Landscaping materials that are likely to be ignited by embers should not be within Zone 0. This includes, but is not limited to, grass, ornamental or native plants, shrubs, and combustible mulches including bark and woodchips. One acceptable alternative would be to use gravel in these areas.
o Exception: Plants in pots are allowable if they are in areas that are not directly beneath, above, or adjacent to a window; are kept in an unaffixed, noncombustible pot or container that is no larger than 5-gallon capacity; and set apart by 1.5 times the height of the plant or 12 inches, whichever is greater, from the structure and each other. These plants shall be no greater than 18 inches in height. Dead or dying material on the plants shall be removed. • Clear all dead and dying debris from around a structure, including branches, dead leaves, pinecones, pine needles, grasses, and shrubs. Remember to check areas where the debris can accumulate, such as gutters, stairways, porches, and roofs. • Clear all branches or vegetation within 10 feet of any chimney or stovepipe outlet. • Vegetation within Zone 0 should be limited to non-woody, high-moisture, low-growing species that are well maintained and thoroughly watered
• Trees are not recommended in Zone 0.
• Items that are likely to be ignited by embers are not recommended, including but not limited to combustible boards, timbers, firewood, synthetic lawn, attached window boxes, and trellises. 509
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• Combustible gates that are directly attached to a building or structure are not recommended. • Fences that are directly attached to a building or structure should have a 5-foot noncombustible span at the point of attachment.
• Outbuildings are not recommended in Zone 0, unless constructed according to the standards in Chapter 7A.
• Limit the use of combustible materials, such as outdoor furniture, on decks or patios. • Relocate firewood or lumber to Zone 2.
• Replace structures attached to a home, such as fencing or gates, with noncombustible materials. • If possible, keep garbage receptacles outside of Zone 0. • If possible, keep all vehicles, boats, all-terrain vehicles, and any other machines outside of Zone 0.
Zone 1 – Intermediate Zone, Clean and Green: Zone 1 consists of the first 30 feet from structures, including home, decks, garages, etc. Under Butte County’s Chapter 38A, Zone 1 is 30 feet around all structures, regardless of the property line. This zone features fuel reduction efforts and serves as a transitional area between Zones 0 and 2. Recommendations for treating Zone 1 include (Butte County n.d.c; CAL FIRE 2022d):
• Remove all dead and dying vegetation, including vegetation debris such as leaf litter. Be sure to check the roof and gutters as well.
• Maintain a minimum buffer of 10 feet between a chimney and any vegetation, including dead or overhanging branches. Be sure to remove all branches that hang over the roof. • Maintain trees by trimming them regularly and keeping a minimum 10-foot buffer between tree canopies.
• Relocate fire or lumber to Zone 2.
• Trim or remove any flammable vegetation near windows. • Remove any items or vegetation that could catch fire and ignite other property structures, such as vegetation under decks or stairs.
• Separate any items that could ignite, such as trees, shrubs, swing sets, patio furniture, etc.
Zone 2 – Extended Zone, Reduced Fuel: This zone encompasses an area 30 feet from a structure out to 100 feet, including any portion of this area that is on a neighboring parcel. This zone addresses fuel reduction to prevent wildfires from spreading. Recommendations for treating Zone 2 include (Butte County n.d.c; CAL FIRE 2022d):
• Maintain all grasses to reach a maximum height of 4 inches. • For shrubs or trees, maintain a distance between plants of at least two times a plant’s size.
Additional space between vegetation is needed for properties on slopes. o Flat to mild slope (less than 20%): Minimum distance of 10 feet between trees and two times the size of other plants. Example: For shrubs 2 feet in diameter, at least 4 feet are needed between shrubs.
o Mild to moderate slope (20%–40%): Minimum distance of 20 feet between trees and four times the size of other plants. Example: For shrubs 2 feet in diameter, at least 8 feet are needed between shrubs.
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o Moderate to steep slope (greater than 40%): Minimum distance of 30 feet between trees and six times the size of other plants. Example: For shrubs 2 feet in diameter, at least 12 feet are needed between shrubs.
• Create vertical space between vegetation by clearing all branches at least 6 feet from the ground for isolated trees, or for trees with nearby shrubs, clear at least 3 times the shrub height. o Example: A 4-foot shrub is growing near a tree; a clearance of 12 feet (3 × 4 feet) is needed between the top of the shrub and the lowest tree branch. • Vegetation debris such as dead leaves, branches, twigs, pinecones, etc., may be allowed up to 3 inches in depth. However, it is best to remove vegetation debris. • All wood or lumber piles must have a 10-foot buffer of bare mineral soil in all directions; no vegetation is allowed.
In addition to the recommendations listed above, CAL FIRE requires maintaining a clearance zone of 10 feet around any outbuildings or liquid propane gas storage tanks, and an additional 10-foot clearance zone with no flammable vegetation (CAL FIRE 2022d). Butte County requires the following for travel ways and undeveloped property (Butte County n.d.c):
• Travel ways
o Create a minimum 10-foot buffer on both sides of the travel way. o Trim all overhanging tree branches to a minimum height of 14 feet. o Remove all dead vegetation within 10 feet of the roadside. • Undeveloped Properties
o Property owners must comply with defensible space and fuel reduction requirements to avoid violations.
o It is not permitted to allow an accumulation of combustible material, dead or dying trees, or green waste on an improved or unimproved parcel’s property line when it encroaches on the 100-foot defensible space requirements of a structure or building on the adjacent property. o Parcels greater than 1.25 acres in a sphere of influence require a 30-foot firebreak along the parcel line.
o Parcels less than 1.25 acres in a sphere of influence require clearance on the entire parcel.
HOME HARDENING
To safeguard your home from embers during wildfires, it is crucial to recognize that exterior vegetation is not the sole source of fuel for these embers. Wildfires can spread between structures and wildland vegetation or from structure to structure. Houses that are close together may find that hardening their home is the most effective option if there aren’t options to manage exterior vegetation. Fortifying or retrofitting your home serves as a strong defense against ember intrusion. To effectively mitigate a home from wildfire, use fire-resistant building materials, perform regular maintenance, and address potential ignition points caused by embers (Sustainable Defensible Space 2024). Further information and instructions surrounding building resilience for each component of your home are outlined below.
For more information and additional components surrounding home hardening activities for increasing wildfire resilience, reducing structural ignitability, and preparing for wildfires, please visit:
https://wildfireprepared.org/.
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Further, the Be Ready, Butte “Harden Your Home” webpage has information and additional documents that identify low-cost options, retrofit guidance, personalized home-hardening opportunities. The webpage can be accessed through the following link: https://bereadybutte.com/harden-your-home/ Upgrading Components to Reduce Structural Ignitability
Roof
The roof is identified as the most vulnerable component during wildfires as it is most likely to ignite due to
embers. Complex roofs present issues due to greater
exposed surface area and pockets where embers can
accumulate. Evaluating the vulnerability of the roof is important for new homes or remodeling projects and proper maintenance is critical to reduce the ignition risk. It is also imperative to remove accumulated leaves and other debris from your roof.
Upgrading an existing structure’s roof with Class A rated fire-resistant material such as metal, composition, clay, or tile is recommended. Blocking spaces between roof decking and covering chimneys with noncombustible screens are good steps to reduce ignitability. Chimney openings can allow embers to enter or exit the home and should be covered with metal screening. Eaves are easily overlooked and should be boxed in with flat underboards made from noncombustible materials. Lastly, regular maintenance and professional inspections ensure a home's resilience to ember intrusion and wildfire exposures (Be Ready, Butte 2024; Sustainable Defensible Space 2024).
Gutters
Dry debris left in gutters, when ignited by embers, can lead to flames reaching the roof edge and adjacent
siding. If upgrades to the gutter system are not possible then cleaning gutters annually is still effective in
reducing wildfire ignitions.
If upgrades are possible, installing noncombustible leaf guards over gutters, using noncombustible materials for gutters and downspouts (such as galvanized steel, copper, and aluminum), and incorporating a drip edge are all recommended actions to minimize ignitability. The drip edge serves the dual purpose of protecting the roof edge from flaming exposures and minimizing ember entry into roof undersides by blocking gaps between the roof sheathing and the top of the fascia (Be Ready, Butte 2024; Sustainable Defensible Space 2024).
Vents
Roof vents, vital for attic air circulation and moisture control, are highly vulnerable to flames and embers.
CA Building Code 7A requires vents to be covered with
a noncombustible, corrosion resistant mesh with a
minimum opening of 1/16-inch (1.6 mm) and shall not exceed 1/8-inch (3.2 mm) in diameter. “The most exposed, fire-vulnerable part of
your home.” – Be Ready, Butte
“Clean them or close them” – Be Ready,
Butte
“Open vents are open invitations to flying
embers.” – Be Ready, Butte
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While shutters and metal screens help prevent ember entry, they don't fully protect against wildfiregenerated hot gases. Additional protection involves considering fire dampers in HVAC ducts, which automatically close in high heat. For existing construction, reducing vulnerability to wildfires and embers requires retrofitting the structure with ember-resistant vents (Be Ready, Butte 2024; Sustainable Defensible Space 2024).
Walls, Sidings, Coatings
Exterior walls are vulnerable to direct flames,
conductive heat, and radiant heat. Solid wood and
wood composite wall coverings can ignite leading to
fire potentially spreading to other components and
causing substantial damage. Windborne embers and firebrands are common ignition sources trapped in wall cracks. Ensure that the siding has continuous coverage along the entire structure, from the foundations to the roof. Recommended materials include concrete, fiber-cement panels, pressureimpregnated fire retardant–treated wood, traditional stucco, masonry, and metals. Materials to avoid are non-treated wood siding and vinyl siding.
For upgraded construction, using nonflammable materials to replace current coverings and removing combustible debris in proximity to exterior walls on a regular basis are both recommended (Be Ready, Butte 2024; Sustainable Defensible Space 2024).
Fences and Decks
Wooden fences and decks can ignite and spread fire to
the home. If upgrades are not possible, it is
recommended to keep fencing separate from the house
or other structures on the property. For fencing that
must be attached to the structure, metal plating at the fence-wall connection is suggested, but long-term moisture-related issues may arise. Fences and decks built within 10 feet of the home should be constructed from fire-resistant materials. Ground space beneath deck should be cleared of combustible materials and covered with gravel or another non-ignitable surface. Openings beneath the deck should be covered with metal mesh (Be Ready, Butte 2024; Sustainable Defensible Space 2024).
Windows
Windows, sliding glass doors, and skylights play a
crucial role in preventing the ignition of a home's
interior due to windborne embers, hot gases, and
radiant heat. The recommendations for new
constructions include using tempered glass with low-e coatings or proprietary reflective coatings, insulated glazing units, and solid metal frames. Screen working windows to increase ember resistance and reduce radiant heat.
California Residential Code requires windows in new construction to be multipaned with one tempered pane and meet requirements of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 257 or SFM 12-7A-2 (California Residential Code R377.8.2.1). When upgrading existing construction, it is recommended to replace susceptible windows, door vision panels, sliding glass doors, and skylights with fire-resistant materials in accordance with the previously mentioned recommendations (Be Ready, Butte 2024; Sustainable Defensible Space 2024).
“Most common home siding burns easily.” –
Be Ready, Butte
“Attached fencing invites fire…[Decks] count
as part of your house too” – Be Ready,
Butte
“Heat alone can break them and let fire
inside.” – Be Ready, Butte
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Doors and Garages
Safeguarding exterior doors, including garage doors,
against ember intrusion or radiant heat is crucial in
areas with increased wildfire hazard. Installing
adjustable weatherstripping and an automatic door
bottom or threshold weatherstripping enhances protection. Insulated, metal garage doors with tested weatherstripping and noncombustible exterior trim further fortify the structure.
When upgrading existing construction, reinforcing existing doors, upgrading sliding glass doors, and replacing wooden garage doors is recommended to increase the resilience of the home's openings and reduce heat transmission (Be Ready, Butte 2024; Sustainable Defensible Space 2024).
PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS
CAL FIRE and the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) collaborated on a demonstration burn to give the public a visual of how important it is to include a noncombustible 5-foot buffer, known as Zone 0, around a home or business (photo date: 9/19/23).
Photo Credit: CAL FIRE
LOCAL RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS
Fire Safe Councils
There are multiple fire safe councils in Butte County (Figure F.2). Each has its own initiatives, priorities, and programs. The sections below were developed from available information. “Think of [the garage] as your car’s
bedroom.” – Be Ready, Butte
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Figure F.2. Fire safe councils in Butte County.
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Butte County Fire Safe Council
The Butte County Fire Safe Council (BCFSC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit community organization that is funded by grants and community donations. Established in 1998, the council mobilizes Butte County residents to create fire-resistant and resilient communities within a wildfire-prone landscape (BCFSC 2024).
Key programs include:
• Borrow a Weed Wrench: The BCFSC provides weed removal tools to qualified applicants. This program helps community members create defensible space around buildings and structures. • Chipper Program: A community chipping initiative that assists qualified applicants in maintaining defensible space by processing or disposing of vegetative materials such as brush and tree branches.
• Grazing Management Plan: In collaboration with long-term goat grazing contractors, the BCFSC targets large land parcels to reduce vegetation fuel loads in high-risk areas. Interested landowners can apply to have goats on their property by contacting the BCFSC directly. • Youth Education: The council offers various youth education and outreach programs, aimed at teaching local communities about the impacts of wildfire and promoting mitigation practices that increase fire resistance and resilience.
For additional information on BCFSC’s local programs, please visit the Butte County Fire Safe Council website.
Yankee Hill Fire Safe Council
The Yankee Hill Fire Safe Council (YHFSC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has served the communities of Concow and Yankee Hill for over 25 years, dedicated to protecting lives, properties, and natural landscapes. Through events and programs, YHFSC connects with residents, provides resources, and collaborates on local initiatives like evacuation plans, Emergency Radio Station AM 1630, and resource signs for public safety. Yankee Hill has also been recognized as a Firewise Community, emphasizing their proactive stance on wildfire risk reduction (Yankee Hill Fire Safe Council 2020).
Key programs include:
• Defensible Space and Fuel Reduction: YHFSC coordinates fuel reduction projects to protect lives and property and support safe evacuation routes, assembly points, and firebreaks. • Education and Training: Programs equip residents with practical knowledge on wildfire preparedness and response, helping families make informed decisions in emergencies. • Post-Fire Assistance: YHFSC is actively involved in fire recovery, providing resources for housing, sanitation, food, supplies, erosion control, debris removal, and replanting.
For additional information on YHFSC’s local programs, please visit the Yankee Hill Fire Safe Council website.
Paradise Ridge Fire Safe Council
The Paradise Ridge Fire Safe Council (PRFSC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on promoting wildfire preparedness, risk awareness, and fuel reduction efforts. Through educational programs and community initiatives, PRFSC helps residents create defensible space, plan for 516
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emergencies, and implement wildfire mitigation strategies. PRFSC collaborates closely with BCFSC to strengthen regional resilience and address the unique needs of Paradise Ridge residents (PRFSC 2024).
Key programs include:
• Chipper Program: Offers no-cost chipping for vegetative fuels. Brush must be stacked per guidelines along accessible roadways. The service depends on grant funding. • Youth Education Programs: PRFSC offers engaging programs and resources for young residents, including classroom presentations, mentorship activities, and storybooks designed to teach wildfire safety and preparedness.
• Weed Wrench Loan Program: Provides free weed wrenches for removing fire-prone invasive plants like broom. Requires a photo ID and volunteer hours tracking. Tools can be borrowed for up to two weeks, with extensions available if no waiting list exists. • Ready’s Happy Habitat: A quarterly award recognizing homes with wildfire-resilient design or landscaping. Winners receive a certificate, lawn sign, and a visit from Wildfire Ready Raccoon, with nomination videos produced by BCFSC.
For additional information on PRFSC’s local programs, please visit the Paradise Ridge Fire Safe Council website.
Forbestown Ridge Fire Safe Council
The Forbestown Ridge Fire Safe Council (FRFSC) is a dedicated community organization working to strengthen wildfire preparedness and resilience in the Forbestown Ridge area. The FRFSC was formed as a response to the increasing risk of wildfire, catalyzed by concerned community members who recognized the need for proactive measures. This grassroots council is composed of local residents, volunteers, and regional stakeholders focused on reducing fire hazards and promoting fire-safe practices.
The council actively collaborates with local fire officials and other agencies to develop and implement projects tailored to the unique needs of Forbestown Ridge. Through outreach and education, the FRFSC encourages homeowners to engage in wildfire preparedness activities and equips them with the knowledge and resources needed to enhance their properties’ fire resilience. Their initiatives include community meetings, training workshops, and access to valuable resources on defensible space, fuel reduction, and emergency planning (California Land Conservation Assistance Network 2022).
For additional information on FRFSC’s local programs, please visit the Forbestown Ridge Fire Safe Council website.
Berry Creek Fire Safe Council
The Berry Creek Fire Safe Council serves the community of Berry Creek, located east of Lake Oroville in Butte County. Dedicated to community safety, the council provides vital resources and updates to help residents prepare for wildfire risks. During wildfire events, residents can access current information regarding fire status, evacuation orders, and traffic updates through the council’s website and local radio station, AM 1250. In addition, the Berry Creek Fire Safe Council connects the community with essential emergency resources, including Butte County Fire, CAL FIRE, U.S. Forest Service, and the Office of Emergency Services, to ensure fast, accurate information is readily available (Berry Creek Fire Safe Council 2024).
For additional information on local resources and fire information, visit:
https://berrycreekca.org/fire_information.html.
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Be Ready, Butte
"Be Ready, Butte" is an essential wildfire preparedness initiative for Butte County homeowners, offering resources to protect homes and ensure personal safety. It emphasizes creating defensible space, home hardening, and having evacuation plans in place. With actionable guides on preparing Go Bags for family and pets, identifying evacuation zones, and maintaining defensible space, the program empowers residents to proactively mitigate wildfire risks. To learn more and access key resources, visit the following webpage: https://bereadybutte.com/.
The Be Ready, Butte "Wildfire Preparedness for 4th Grade Students in Butte County" program teaches essential wildfire safety measures over 5 days. Day 1 covers evacuation procedures and meetup locations. Day 2 focuses on identifying flammable materials. Day 3 highlights the importance of keeping the first 5 feet around homes clear of fire fuels. Day 4 emphasizes preparing a Go Bag for all family members and pets. Day 5 teaches the effective use of fire extinguishers. Through activities, videos, and worksheets, students learn how to protect themselves and their homes from wildfires. More information, as well as take home worksheets are available here: https://bereadybutte.com/youthprogram/.
Butte Prescribed Burn Association
The Butte Prescribed Burn Association (Butte PBA) is a program of the Butte County Resource Conservation District. The PBA helps landowners who are interested in using beneficial fire as a tool on their own land. It assists landowners with understanding whether fire is the right tool for their land, identifying burn units, writing a burn plan/prescription, monitoring weather, obtaining permits, and everything else a landowner needs to become a skilled fire practitioner. Furthermore, the Butte PBA offers free training to anyone who wants to learn to use fire safely (landowner or not). Anyone can volunteer with the Butte PBA (no experience necessary); beginners will be paired with experienced mentors dedicated to deepening Butte County’s local culture of “good fire.” The PBA also works closely with various partners, including CAL FIRE, fire safe councils, and local ecological reserves, to enhance the region's fire resilience. Since its inception, the association has successfully conducted numerous training burns and workshops, engaging hundreds of local residents in hands-on fire management activities. These efforts have not only reduced fuel loads on strategic acres but also built a capable workforce of local fire practitioners. By fostering a culture of "good fire," the PBA aims to mitigate the impacts of wildfires, protect watersheds, and preserve the natural and cultural heritage of Butte County (Butte County RCD 2024a).
For more information about the Butte County PBA and to learn how you can reduce hazards in your neighborhood, please visit the following link: https://www.bcrcd.org/prescribed-burn-association.
STATE RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS
Wildfire Home Retrofit Guide
The Wildfire Home Retrofit Guide provides homeowners and building professionals with recommendations on retrofitting homes to withstand wildfires. It focuses on hardening vulnerable home components like roofs, vents, decks, and siding while emphasizing defensible space in three key zones around the home. To view the guide visit the following link: https://readyforwildfire.org/wpcontent/uploads/2024/03/wildfire-home-retrfito-guide-1.26.21.pdf. 518
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CAL FIRE Ready, Set, Go!
The CAL FIRE "Ready, Set, Go!" program is a three-step plan designed to help California residents prepare for wildfires. To learn more about this three-step wildfire preparation plan, visit the following website: https://readyforwildfire.org/prepare-for-wildfire/.
Housing Assistance
The California Office of Emergency Services provides housing assistance to individuals affected by wildfires, offering temporary housing solutions, financial aid for housing repairs, and rental assistance to those displaced by wildfire damage. For more information on available housing assistance programs, visit the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Wildfire Recovery page here:
https://wildfirerecovery.caloes.ca.gov/general-info/housing-assistance/.
California Wildfire Mitigation Discount Program
The California Wildfire Mitigation Discount Program offers eligible homeowners and condo policyholders discounts on their insurance if they take specific wildfire mitigation actions. For more information and to access informational resource such as frequently asked questions, access the following website:
https://www.horacemann.com/insurance/homeowners-insurance/wildfire-discounts.
California Wildfire Mitigation Program
The California Wildfire Mitigation Program was established to enhance community resilience against wildfires through home hardening and defensible space creation, focusing on areas at high wildfire risk.
Developed through a partnership between the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services and CAL FIRE, the program was initiated under Assembly Bill 38 in 2019. For more information on the program and to explore additional resources, access the following California Wildfire Mitigation Program webpage here: https://www.caloes.ca.gov/office-of-the-director/operations/recovery-directorate/hazardmitigation/california-wildfire-mitigation-program/.
California Department of Insurance Safer from Wildfires Program The California Department of Insurance’s Safer from Wildfires Program provides homeowners with information on home hardening measures that qualify for discounted insurance rates and references 10 steps that homeowners can take, each providing insurance discounts so that homeowners can save more as they complete each step. For more information on the program and to explore resources, access the following website: https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/200-wrr/Safer-from-Wildfires.cfm.
NATIONAL PROGRAMS
Ready, Set, Go!
The Ready, Set, Go! Program, which is managed by the International Association of Fire Chiefs, was launched in 2011 at the wildland-urban interface (WUI) conference. The program seeks to develop and improve the dialogue between fire departments and residents, providing teaching for residents who live in high-risk wildfire areas—and the WUI—on how to best prepare themselves and their properties against fire threats (International Association of Fire Chiefs 2021). Butte County utilizes the Ready, Set, Go! Program for their public outreach with a focus on making communities “fire adapted.” 519
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The tenets of Ready, Set, Go! as included on the website (http://www.wildlandfirersg.org) are:
Ready – Take personal responsibility and prepare long before the threat of a wildland fire so your home is ready in case of a fire. Create defensible space by clearing brush away from your home.
Use fire-resistant landscaping and harden your home with fire-safe construction measures. Assemble emergency supplies and belongings in a safe place. Plan escape routes and ensure all those residing within the home know the plan of action.
Set – Pack your emergency items. Stay aware of the latest news and information on the fire from local media, your local fire department, and public safety.
Go – Follow your personal wildland fire action plan. Doing so will not only support your safety but will allow firefighters to best maneuver resources to combat the fire.
National Fire Protection Association
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is a global nonprofit organization devoted to eliminating death, injury, property, and economic loss due to fire, electrical, and related hazards. Its 300 codes and standards are designed to minimize the risk and effects of fire by establishing criteria for building, processing, design, service, and installation around the world.
The NFPA develops easy-to-use educational programs, tools, and resources for all ages and audiences, including Fire Prevention Week, an annual campaign that addresses a specific fire safety theme.
The NFPA’s Firewise Communities program (www.firewise.org) encourages local solutions for wildfire safety by involving property owners, community leaders, planners, developers, firefighters, and others in the effort to protect people and property from wildfire risks.
The NFPA is a premier resource for fire data analysis, research, and analysis. The Fire Analysis and Research Division conducts investigations of fire incidents and produces a wide range of reports and special studies that cover a broad spectrum of fire safety–related topics .
U.S. Fire Administration’s Wildland-Urban Interface Toolkit The U.S. Fire Administration is an entity of FEMA that aids in the preparation for and response to fire.
Their wildland-urban interface toolkit consists of a list of websites and other information regarding risk assessments, public outreach, and community training. Find the toolkit here:
https://www.usfa.fema.gov/wui/.
Wildfire Research Center (WiRē)
Wildfire Research Center (WiRē) is a nonprofit organization that works with local wildfire services to achieve community-tailored pathways that reduce risk to wildfire while simultaneously promoting pathways to fire adaptation.
To achieve its goals and serve communities, WiRē will typically conduct a “rapid wildfire risk assessment,” which assesses what contributes to wildfire risk, such as building materials, vegetation near homes, background fuels, local topography, and access to emergency fire services. Additionally, they also conduct social surveys, assessing residents’ perceptions about wildfire, wildfire risk, risk mitigation behavior, and their willingness to take action to reduce wildfire risk.
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National Interagency Fire Center
The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) provides a wide array of fire resources and services.
The NIFC offers communication assistance to many firefighters and major events at one given time (NIFC 2022). In addition, NIFC’s Predictive Services Group creates wildfire forecasts and predictions from fuel and weather data. The NIFC has a network of weather stations that help inform the Predictive Services Group.
The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG), which is nested under the NIFC, provides operational coordination to federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial partners (NWCG 2024). The NIFC also has a training branch where training curriculums are developed to be used across the nation. For those too young to participate in the standard trainings, the NIFC offers FireWorks, an educational program designed for kids K-12. The program teaches children topics such as wildland fire science, ecosystem fluctuations, human interaction with the environment, and other environmental science topics. The NIFC also provides public education resources:
• Wildfire Readiness – Home (https://disastersafety.org/wildfire/wildfire-ready/) • Wildfire Readiness – Business (https://disastersafety.org/wildfire/wildfire-ready-business/) • Wildfire Readiness – Farm and Ranch (https://disastersafety.org/wildfire/farm-and-ranch-wildfireguidance/) • Weekend Wildfire Preparedness (https://disastersafety.org/wildfire/weekend-wildfirepreparedness-projects/) • What to Do if a Wildfire is Approaching (https://disastersafety.org/wildfire/what-to-do-if-a-wildfireis-approaching/) • Wildfire Risk – Community (https://wildfirerisk.org/reduce-risk/) • Prepare and Protect Your Home (https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/fire-prevention-educationmitigation/wildfire-mitigation/home) • Prepare Your Community (https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/fire-prevention-educationmitigation/wildfire-mitigation/community) • One Less Spark, One Less Wildfire (https://www.readyforwildfire.org/prevent-wildfire/one-lessspark-campaign/) U.S. Small Business Association
The U.S. Small Business Administration provides low-interest disaster loans to help businesses, homeowners, renters, and nonprofits recover from declared disasters like wildfires. These loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and help with business operating expenses impacted by the disaster. The Small Business Association offers different loan types, including physical damage loans, mitigation assistance for future damage prevention, and economic injury loans for small businesses. Eligible applicants must be located in declared disaster areas and can apply online for assistance to aid in their recovery.
For more information, please visit the following webpage: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disasterassistance. 521
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Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing building safety and resilience through scientific research. Supported by property insurers and affiliated companies, IBHS translates research into practical solutions to reduce losses from severe weather and other hazards. Their work includes testing building materials, developing building codes, and providing guidance on construction and retrofitting best practices.
Protect your home
• Critical Home Preparation: https://ibhs.org/wildfireready/. • Exterior Home Upgrades: https://ibhs.org/wildfirereadyhomeupgrades/. • Create a Wildfire Resistant Yard: https://ibhs.org/wildfirereadyhomedefensiblespace/. • Home Preparation Checklist: https://wildfireprepared.org/wp-content/uploads/WPH-How-ToPrepare-My-Home-Checklist.pdf. • Wildfire Prepared Home (free online assessment): https://wildfireprepared.org/wildfire-preparedhome-base-assessment/. • Homeowner Articles and Testimonies: https://wildfireprepared.org/homeowner-articles/. • Applications for Wildfire Prepared Certifications: https://wildfireprepared.org/get-started/.
Prepare for evacuation
• Prepare your Home for Evacuation: https://ibhs.org/ibhs-in-the-news/prepare-your-home-forevacuation-from-wildfire/. • Home Evacuation Steps: https://ibhs.org/wildfirereadyhomeevacuation/.
INSURANCE RESOURCES
The Safer from Wildfires Initiative, a partnership between the California Insurance Commissioner, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, California Public Utilities Commission, CAL FIRE, and California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (Cal OPR), has led to the development of regulatory action that creates insurance incentives for implementing actions that build up home and community resilience to wildfire. This new wildfire safety regulation aims to make insurance more affordable while increasing public involvement in risk mitigation and awareness regarding local hazards (California Department of Insurance 2023). Wildfire risk reduction actions identified in this plan (such as home hardening, creating defensible space, and community collaboration) are in alignment with the mitigation actions specified in the Safer from Wildfires initiative. More information can be accessed through the following link: https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/200-wrr/Safer-from-Wildfires.cfm.
The California FAIR Plan Association, established in 1968, provides insurance coverage to homeowners unable to find traditional insurance, particularly in high-risk areas like fire zones or earthquake fault lines.
It is a syndicated fire insurance pool comprising all licensed property/casualty insurers in California, who share the risks and profits based on their market share. The FAIR Plan is not a state agency and receives no public funding. It serves as a temporary safety net for homeowners until they can obtain coverage from traditional insurers. As of June 2024, the FAIR Plan covers over $392 billion in dwelling exposure (Bankrate 2024).
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An additional resource to homeowners is nonprofit 501(c)(3) United Policyholders. Their mission is to serve as a reliable and valuable information source and advocate for consumers across all 50 states in matters related to insurance. United Policyholders is committed to providing unbiased guidance on purchasing insurance, assisting with claims, and advocating for the rights of consumers. The nonprofit operates independently, without financial support from insurance companies, ensuring transparency and unwavering support for the interests of policyholders.
United Policyholders offers free assistance to homeowners who experience significant losses from wildfires. They also assist homeowners who are having issues getting insured or obtaining risk assessment documents from their insurer, and help with facilitating conversation with insurers about risk scores. To learn more about United Policyholders, please visit: https://uphelp.org/. 523
APPENDIX G:
Fuel Treatment Types and Methods
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FUEL BREAKS AND OPEN SPACE CLEANUP
Fuel breaks are strips of land where fuel (for example, living trees and brush, dead branches, leaves, or downed logs) has been modified or reduced to limit the fire’s ability to spread rapidly. Fuel breaks should not be confused with firebreaks, which are areas where vegetation and organic matter are removed down to mineral soil. Also, firebreaks are typically used during fire suppression activities, whereas fuel breaks are usually installed before fires occur (to reduce extreme fire behavior).
One type of fuel break is a “shaded fuel break,” where much of the surface and ladder fuels are removed with limited removal of the trees and canopy. This creates an area of significantly reduced fuel loading while providing the foundation for a healthy and resilient forest. A shaded fuel break may be created to provide options for suppression resources or to provide opportunities to introduce prescribed fire. In many cases, shaded fuel breaks may be created by thinning along roads. This provides access for mitigation resources and firefighters, as well as enhancing the safety of evacuation routes.
LARGER-SCALE TREATMENTS
Farther from wildland-urban interface communities, the emphasis of treatments often becomes broader.
While reducing the buildup of hazardous fuels remains important, other objectives are often included, such as forest health and resiliency to catastrophic wildfire and climate change considerations. Wildfires frequently burn across jurisdictional boundaries, sometimes on landscape scales. As such, these larger treatments need to be coordinated on a strategic level. This requires coordination between projects and jurisdictions, as is currently occurring.
FUEL TREATMENT METHODS
Several treatment methods are commonly used for hazardous fuels reduction, including manual treatments, mechanized treatments, prescribed fire, and grazing (Table G.1). This brief synopsis of treatment options is provided for general knowledge; specific projects will require further planning.
The appropriate treatment method and cost will vary depending on factors such as the diameter of materials, proximity to structures, acreage of project, fuel costs, slope steepness, accessibility, and density and type of fuels.
It is imperative that long-term monitoring and maintenance of all treatments is implemented. Posttreatment rehabilitation such as seeding with native plants and erosion control may be necessary.
In addition, post-treatment fuel cleanup is a must as neglected piles of vegetation may result in increased fire risk.
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Table G.1. Summary of Fuels Treatment Methods
Treatment Comments
Machine mowing Appropriate for large, flat, grassy areas on relatively flat terrain.
Manual treatment with
chipping or pile burning
Requires chipping, hauling, and pile burning of slash in cases where lop and scatter is inappropriate.
Pile burning must comply with smoke management policy.
Brush mastication
Brush species tend to re-sprout vigorously after mechanical treatment.
Frequent maintenance of treatments is typically necessary.
Mastication tends to be less expensive than manual (chainsaw) treatment and eliminates disposal issues.
Mastication
Materials up to 10 inches in diameter and slopes up to 30% can be treated.
Eliminates disposal issues.
Environmental impact of residue being left on-site is still being studied.
Prescribed fire
Can be the most cost-effective treatment with the most effective outcomes in many cases.
Ecologically beneficial.
Can be used as training opportunities for firefighters.
May require manual or mechanical pretreatment.
Carries risk of escape.
Unreliable scheduling due to weather and smoke management constraints.
Feller buncher
Mechanical treatment on slopes more than 30% or of materials more than 10 inches in diameter may require a feller buncher rather than a masticator.
Costs tend to be considerably higher than masticator.
Grazing (goats)
Can be cost effective.
Can be ecologically beneficial.
Can be applied on steep slopes and shrubby and flashy fuels.
Requires close management.
MANUAL TREATMENT
Manual treatment, involving crews using chainsaws, offers precision and access to steep or hard-to-reach areas that machines cannot access. Although more costly than mechanized methods, it allows for the removal of merchantable materials and firewood, while non-merchantable materials are often lopped, scattered, chipped, or burned on-site. Care must be taken to properly manage discarded materials to avoid increasing fire hazards.
Strategic timing and placement of fuels treatments are essential and should be tailored to site conditions.
For instance, fuel breaks should target areas with heavier fuels and prevailing winds, and grass should be mowed just before it becomes flammable. On slopes or ridgelines, treatments extending from the wildland-urban interface enhance community protection. In sparse vegetation areas, treatments may be unnecessary to maintain defensible spaces and prevent the introduction of invasive species.
MECHANIZED TREATMENTS
Mechanized treatments, such as mowing, mastication, and whole tree felling, offer more precision than prescribed fire and are often more cost effective than manual methods. Mowing using all-terrain vehicles 527
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or tractor-pulled mowers is effective for reducing grass fuels near structures, highways, and fence lines.
For heavier fuels, masticators, ranging from small skid-steers to large front-end loaders, grind up standing timber or surface fuels, altering their arrangement to reduce combustibility, though the biomass remains on-site.
Fuel break maintenance is crucial, particularly where shrubs or trees encroach. In high-risk areas, more intensive treatments may be needed to keep fires at ground level and reduce flame lengths. Shrubs should be removed, tree branches pruned to 4 to 8 feet above ground, and tree spacing increased to prevent canopy fires.
TARGETED GRAZING
Fuel modifications targeted toward decreasing both vertical and horizontal continuity in fuels is critical as a prevention method against fire proliferation. The primary objectives for these modifications are treating surface fuels and producing low-density and vertically disconnected stands. Goat grazing is an effective, nontoxic, nonpolluting, and practically carbon-neutral vegetation treatment method. A goat grazing system typically consists of a high density of goats enclosed by a metallic or electrified fence guided by herders. Goats feed on a variety of foliage and twigs from herbaceous vegetation and woody plants (Lovreglio et al. 2014).
The Paradise Grazing Plan is a leading example of using targeted grazing for wildfire risk reduction in areas like Paradise, especially within the wildland-urban interface. By deploying goats and sheep, this approach effectively controls invasive and fire-prone vegetation, providing a sustainable, cost-effective alternative to mechanical or prescribed burning methods. This strategy not only lowers the risk associated with other vegetation management techniques but also fosters an environmentally friendly method that helps prevent the spread of wildfires while enhancing ecosystem health (BCFSC 2021).
PRESCRIBED BURNING
Prescribed burning is an effective method for reducing extreme fire behavior by clearing excess plant material, litter, and woody debris while controlling shrub encroachment. It is ecologically beneficial to fireadapted vegetation and wildlife, and agencies like CAL FIRE, U.S. Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) are already conducting burns in the region.
All prescribed burns must comply with federal and state regulations, prioritizing public safety, particularly in the wildland-urban interface. Each burn follows a specific plan considering smoke management and sensitive areas, with smoke monitors placed where concerns have been raised.
Post-treatment monitoring is essential to ensure the ongoing effectiveness of fuels reduction. Vegetation can change rapidly due to seasonal conditions, so treatments should be adjusted accordingly. More information on firing techniques can be found on the EFIRE Fire Techniques webpage:
https://efire.cnr.ncsu.edu/efire/fire-techniques/.
Cultural Burning
In the Pacific West, Indigenous communities have historically used fire for forest management and restoration (Long et al. 2021). Cultural burning, defined as the purposeful use of fire by a cultural group for various purposes, is a form of Indigenous stewardship (Long et al. 2021). 528
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Unlike conventional fire management focused on fuel reduction, cultural burning embraces a holistic philosophy of "reciprocal restoration," where caring for the land also benefits the people who rely on it.
These burns serve multiple purposes, including landscape management, biodiversity, cultural knowledge transmission, spiritual well-being, and material services like food and medicine. Site preparation and postburn monitoring are integral to this stewardship tradition (Long et al. 2021).
In Butte County, all six tribes are actively working to revive and sustain their cultural fire traditions. These tribes play a vital role in reintroducing beneficial fire to the landscape, helping to restore ecological balance after a century of widespread fire suppression.
Air Quality Impacts of Prescribed Fires
Both prescribed fires and wildfires reduce fuels and produce smoke. However, because prescribed fires are ignited only at a carefully chosen time, they offer a chance to reduce hazardous fuels without the extreme smoke impacts that are often associated with wildfire. Prescribed fire still produces smoke, which can affect people nearby, especially those with respiratory conditions. Burn planners carefully monitor weather conditions so they can burn during the windows that offer the fastest smoke dispersal, which means the fewest impacts to communities.
Effective smoke management is vital in prescribed fire planning (Figure G.1). The California Air Resources Board has guidelines to protect public health (California Air Resources Board 2003). In Butte County, residential burning permits are required seasonally. Burning is regulated by the Butte County Air Quality Management District (BCAQMD), who designates “no burn days”. While CAL FIRE may recommend suspending permits due to high-risk conditions, the final decision to restrict burning is made by BCAQMD (Butte County Air Quality Management District 2024; direct communication, CAL FIRE, 2025).
The National Wildfire Coordinating Group’s (NWCG) Smoke Management Guide for Prescribed Fire (2020) offers a comprehensive framework for managing smoke, pairing with their Interagency Prescribed Fire Planning and Implementation Procedures Guide. These resources cover air quality regulations, smoke modeling, and public perception. Smoke impacts can be mitigated by burning when winds direct smoke away from sensitive areas and informing the public through a variety of media channels, which can provide advance notice to sensitive populations so they can properly prepare for any potential impacts. These resources can be accessed through the following links:
NWCG Smoke Management Guide for Prescribed Fire, PMS 420-3:
https://www.nwcg.gov/publications/pms420-3
Interagency Prescribed Fire Planning and Implementation Procedures Guide:
https://www.nrfirescience.org/sites/default/files/InteragencyPrescribedFirePlanningProceduresGuide. pdf
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Figure G.1. Photograph showing a prescribed burn conducted with the Butte County Resource Conservation District Prescribed Burn Association.
Source: Butte County RCD (2021).
MANAGEMENT OF NONNATIVE PLANTS
Fuel treatment approaches should always consider the potential for introduction or proliferation of invasive nonnative species as a result of management actions. The USDA maintains a list of introduced, invasive, and noxious plants by state (USDA 2024). The California Department of Food and Agriculture (2024) also maintains a list of plant species that are considered noxious and therefore actionable at the county level. The California Invasive Plant Council (2024) provides on its website an inventory of nonnative plant species that threaten California’s wildlands.
For more info on California Invasive Plant Council’s and California Department of Food and Agriculture’s invasive plant lists, please visit the following links:
California Invasive Plant Council: https://www.cal-ipc.org/plants/profiles/ California Department of Food and Agriculture:
https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/ipc/encycloweedia/pdf/CaliforniaNoxiousWeeds.pdf 530
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APPENDIX H:
Post-Fire Response and Restoration
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BACKGROUND
Butte County has faced several significant wildfires over the past few decades, with the 2018 Camp Fire (Figure H.1), 2020 North Complex Fire, and 2024 Park Fire being three of the most impactful (CAL FIRE 2024a). Despite the ongoing challenges, Butte County remains at the forefront of community wildfire protection efforts, with residents, communities, and government agencies actively engaged in wildfire mitigation strategies and post-fire response and restoration actions to prevent further impacts to human life and other valued resources.
The Camp Fire, which burned 153,336 acres and destroyed 18,804 structures, is widely recognized as the deadliest wildfire in California’s history (National Institute of Standards and Technology [NIST] 2021).
The fire claimed 85 lives and displaced tens of thousands of residents (Butte County Office of Emergency Management 2020). Recovery efforts included massive debris removal operations and the construction of temporary housing, but the fire also left a lasting psychological toll on survivors. A study on the mental health impacts following the Camp Fire found that approximately 20% of survivors developed posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Thornburg 2023). The 2020 North Complex Fire burned 152,151 acres within Butte County, destroyed 2,352 structures, and claimed 16 lives (CAL FIRE 2024i). The Park Fire in 2024, which burned 429,603 acres and destroyed 709 structures in Butte and Tehama Counties, further demonstrated the severity of wildfire risks in the region (CAL FIRE 2024a).
A comprehensive dashboard showing progress toward recovery, incident information, and updates, as well as recovery resources from the Camp Fire, North Complex Fire, and Park Fire, can be found through the following links:
• Camp Fire Dashboard: https://www.buttecounty.net/254/Camp-Fire-Additional-Resources • North Complex Fire Dashboard: https://www.buttecounty.net/259/North-Complex-Fire-Information • Park Fire Dashboard: https://www.buttecounty.net/2021/Park-Fire For additional wildfire recovery information, Butte County hosts a Fire Recovery Guide, with links for financial assistance, safe cleanup, and ways the community can get involved on its website:
www.buttecounty.net/disaster-recovery.
POST-FIRE RESPONSE AND RESTORATION
Experiencing a wildfire is a traumatic and highly impactful event that takes time and energy to fully recover from. The post-fire recovery process is complex, often requiring support from local neighbors, governmental agencies, and nonprofit organizations to address both immediate and long-term needs (Butte County Office of Emergency Management 2020):
• Damage assessment and hazard identification: After the fire, agencies like CAL FIRE and local officials assess the structural damage and environmental hazards, including the potential for weakened trees and stump holes that can pose risks long after the fire is extinguished. • Returning home and cleaning up: Residents are given specific safety instructions to avoid hazards such as underground heat pockets and gas leaks when returning to fire-damaged areas.
They are also provided with guidelines for safely removing hazardous debris, including ash, which can contain harmful chemicals.
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• Coordinating community emergency response teams: Local community organizations, along with county agencies, mobilize teams to coordinate efforts in restoring public utilities, clearing roads, and supporting vulnerable populations during the recovery phase. • Identifying immediate needs and critical resource impacts: Residents are encouraged to focus on securing access to clean water, food, and essential services, particularly in areas where infrastructure has been severely damaged. Programs like Butte County’s Fire Survivor Resource Hotline, which is often activated during and after a major fire, can help residents find immediate support.
• Temporary housing and replacing lost goods: Many displaced families require temporary housing assistance while they begin the long process of rebuilding their homes. Organizations such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the American Red Cross provide support in replacing basic goods and offering mental health counseling for those affected. • Rebuilding communities and assessing economic needs: Securing financial resources through insurance claims, grants, and federal aid is crucial for rebuilding homes and public infrastructure. The county also evaluates the economic impact on businesses and local economies.
• Restoring the damaged landscape: A key part of the rehabilitation process is addressing environmental damage. This involves soil stabilization, reforestation, and restoring watersheds, all essential to preventing further erosion and ecological degradation.
Prioritizing the needs of socially vulnerable residents/communities who have specific circumstances, such as individuals living in poverty, minorities, people without vehicles, people with disabilities, older adults, and people with limited English proficiency, is imperative in the post-fire recovery process. Municipal and County governments will often establish websites and other guiding resources specific to the recovery process of a recent fire, such as the recovery page created for the Park Fire:
https://www.buttecounty.net/2021/Park-Fire. Pages such as this are an ideal place to start working through the recovery process by identifying next steps and speaking with representatives.
DEBRIS FLOW AND POST-FIRE FLOODING
Severe wildfires dramatically alter landscapes, making them more susceptible to erosion, debris flow, and flooding. Research shows that high-severity burn areas can experience erosion and runoff rates up to 10 times higher than those from moderate-severity burns (Sierra Nevada Conservancy 2021). Post-fire rain events, even small ones, can trigger widespread floods carrying trees, boulders, and soil through canyons, posing risks to communities and critical infrastructure, particularly along slope-adjacent roadways (Sierra Nevada Conservancy 2021).
Heavy rains, especially in severely burned areas, increase the likelihood of flash floods and debris flows.
Even moderate rainfall—0.35 inches in 15 minutes or 0.75 inches in 1 hour—can prompt flash flood warnings (California Department of Conservation 2019). This risk is further elevated by saturated soils in the spring or afternoon thunderstorms during monsoon season. Debris flows caused by these conditions are often unpredictable, necessitating vigilance and preparedness to protect life and property (California Department of Conservation 2024b).
For more information on post-fire debris flow and flooding risks, visit the following resources:
• Debris Flow Factsheet
• Flood After Fire California Toolkit
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Figure H.1. Example showing one of the numerous maps outlining damaged areas after the Camp Fire.
Source: Wallingford (2018)
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COMMUNITY RESPONSE AND RECOVERY
Recovery of the vegetated landscape is often more straightforward than recovery of the human environment. Assessments of the burned landscape are often well-coordinated through the use of interagency crews who are mobilized immediately after a fire to assess the post-fire environment and make recommendations for rehabilitation efforts.
Residents impacted by the fire need assistance making insurance claims; finding temporary accommodation for themselves, pets, and livestock; rebuilding or repairing damaged property; removing debris and burned trees; stabilizing the land for construction; mitigating potential flood damage; repairing infrastructure; reconnecting to utilities; and mitigating impacts to health. Oftentimes, physical impacts can be mitigated over time, but the emotional impacts of the loss and change to surroundings are long-lasting and require support and compassion from the community.
POST-FIRE RESOURCES
Rebuilding and recovery from wildfire can vary greatly across income levels and demographics.
Rural areas, low-income neighborhoods, and immigrant communities generally do not have the necessary resources to cover insurance and rebuilding expenses that occur after a fire. Due to this, many of these areas take more time to recover than those with greater access to resources. In addition, the occurrence of wildfire can worsen existing mental health conditions and lead to post-traumatic stress (PTS), low self-esteem, and depression for at-risk populations (Cal OPR 2020).
In response to devastating wildfires, Butte County often launches a dedicated web page and Fire Survivor Resource Line to support affected residents. The hotline provides essential resources including housing assistance, financial aid, basic necessities, and emotional support. For a limited time during recovery, the hotline may be accessible 7 days per week, serving as a crucial lifeline for those impacted by the fires as they begin the recovery process (direct communication, Butte County, 2025).
TEAM RUBICON: EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
Team Rubicon is a veteran-led humanitarian organization that serves communities around the world before, during, and after disasters such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfire. Team Rubicon focuses on serving vulnerable and at-risk populations affected by disasters, and all services are provided free of charge. Services include incident management, debris management, hazard mitigation, volunteer management, home repair, and emergency medicine. With respect to fire-related assistance, Team Rubicon assists with any action that would limit the impact of a wildfire, such as helping property owners to make their home fire safe, providing staff to assist with mitigation projects (e.g., fuels reduction), and removing debris and hazardous trees (Team Rubicon 2022).
To find out more about Team Rubicon, please visit https://teamrubiconusa.org/capabilities-services/.
RETURNING HOME
First and foremost, follow the advice and recommendations of emergency management agencies, fire departments, utility companies, public health officials, and local aid organizations regarding activities following the wildfire. Do not attempt to return to your home until fire personnel have deemed it safe to do so.
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When driving, watch for trees, brush, and rock that may have been weakened or loosened by the fire.
Be aware of any damage or debris on roads and driveways. Traffic may be delayed or lanes closed due to firefighter operations. Use extreme caution around trees, power poles, and any other tall objects that may have been weakened by the fire (CAL FIRE 2020a).
Even if the fire did not damage your house, do not expect to return to normal routines immediately.
Expect that utility infrastructure may have been damaged and repairs may be necessary. When you return to your home, check for hazards, such as gas or water leaks and electrical shorts. Turn off damaged utilities if you did not do so previously. Request that the fire department or utility companies turn the utilities back on once the area is secured. Similarly, water supply systems may have been damaged; do not drink from the tap until you have been advised that it is safe to do so. Finally, keep a “fire watch”; look for smoke or sparks in houses and other buildings. Once at home, check for the following (CAL FIRE 2019b):
• Check the roof and exterior areas for sparks or embers. • Check grounds for hot spots, smoldering stumps, and vegetation. • Check for fire damage to your home, turn off all appliances and make sure the meter is not damaged before turning on the main circuit breaker.
• Check the attic and throughout your house for any hidden burning sparks or embers. • Do not drink water from the faucet until emergency officials say it is okay, water supply systems can be damaged and become polluted during wildfires.
• Discard any food that has been exposed to heat, smoke, flood water, or soot. • If you have a propane tank or natural gas, leave valves closed until the supplier or utility company can inspect your system.
• If you have a solar electrical system, this system should be inspected by a licensed technician to verify that the solar panels and electrical wiring are safe for continued operation. • Consult local experts on the best way to restore and plant your land with fire-safe landscaping. • Contact 911 if any danger is perceived.
• Ash contains toxic substances and may be irritating to the eyes, nose, throat, and skin. Ash is harmful to breathe and may trigger asthma attacks. Follow these tips to reduce your exposure to ash (California Department of Public Health 2017):
o Do not allow children to play in ash, and wash off children’s toys before children play with them.
o Immediately wash any part of your body that touches ash to avoid irritation. o Wash fruits and vegetables from your garden thoroughly before eating them. o Keep pets out of ash areas.
o Frequently clean indoor surfaces by wet mopping.
o Wear protective clothing and a respirator when working outside.
INSURANCE CLAIMS
Your insurance agent is the best source of information for submitting a claim. It is recommended you take photos of your home, of both the inside and outside, in preparation of an emergency. Keep the photos in 538
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a safe place as this will make the insurance claim process easier. Most expenses incurred during the time you are forced to live elsewhere may be reimbursed, so be sure to keep all receipts. Additional items that may be covered are extra transportation costs to and from work or school, telephone installation, furniture rental, extra food costs, and water damage. Do not start any repairs without the approval of your claims adjuster (California Department of Insurance 2023).
Natural disasters aren’t always predictable, but there are steps property owners can take to better prepare for an emergency.
• Review your insurance policy annually to see if your home is adequately insured. • Know your “loss of use” section – this covers living expenses should your home become unlivable due to fire, smoke, or otherwise.
You can view a guide on creating a home inventory here: https://www.iii.org/article/how-create-homeinventory.
MOBILIZING COMMUNITY
In the aftermath of a wildfire, community-scale recovery efforts are essential. While local emergency managers coordinate with state and federal partners to manage disaster response, mobilizing local recovery teams plays a critical role in the process. These teams, made up of community members and volunteers, work in collaboration with all levels of government to ensure recovery efforts are successful.
Clear communication and coordination among volunteers, local organizations, and government agencies are key to an efficient and well-organized recovery process (California Silver Jackets Team [California SJT] 2019).
Unlike wildfire response, which is typically managed by unified state or federal teams, post-fire recovery requires a more localized approach. Each organization and level of government operates independently, creating a need for strong coordination at the community level. Sharing information and resources between local agencies and recovery teams is crucial for navigating the complexities of post-fire hazards and mitigating further damage (California SJT 2019).
Communities are encouraged to establish local fire safe councils and post-fire coordination groups to direct recovery efforts and address post-wildfire risks. Fire safe councils educate residents about wildfire preparedness, while post-fire coordination groups work with government agencies to assess risks, manage geospatial data, and assist in public communications. Communities should also appoint a postfire coordinator to lead recovery efforts, facilitate communication with agencies, and ensure a unified, effective response to post-fire challenges (California Fire Safe Council 2021; California SJT 2019).
The recovery coordinator should become familiar with representatives from local, state, and government agencies that will be helping with coordination or funding of post-fire recovery. The following resources may be helpful for the post-fire and volunteer coordinators (California SJT 2019):
Housing
• Disaster Assistance (FEMA)
• Federal Housing Administration (FHA)
o Disaster Relief
• Individuals and Household Program
• California Department of Housing and Community Development 539
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• The Salvation Army
Debris Removal
• CalRecycle-Wildfire Debris Removal
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Debris Modeling
• U.S. Geological Survey
Hazardous Waste and Pollution
• California Environmental Protection Agency
Pets and Livestock
• American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals • California Department of Food and Agriculture
Food
• USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
• California Department of Social Services, Disaster Help Center • Feeding America
Social Services
• California Employment Development Department (EDD)
• FEMA Disaster Unemployment Assistance
• U.S. Administration for Children and Families
• Office of Access and Functional Needs
• California Foundation for Independent Living Centers
Farm Rehabilitation
• Farm Service Agency
• USDA Rural Development Disaster Assistance
• Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) General Environmental Quality Incentives Program Financial Assistance
General
• The American Red Cross
• Cal OES
• USFS
• National Park Service
• CAL FIRE
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POST-FIRE REHABILITATION AND RESOURCES FOR
LANDOWNERS
Wildfires can lead to increased erosion, flooding, and debris flow, threatening properties, water supplies, and endangered species (USFS 2021b). Following a fire, the immediate priority is emergency stabilization to prevent further damage to life, property, or natural resources. Soil stabilization efforts begin promptly and can last up to a year, while long-term rehabilitation, focusing on areas unlikely to recover naturally, can continue for several years (USFS 2021b).
The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) program addresses post-fire threats to safety, property, and critical resources on USFS lands. BAER teams, consisting of experts like soil scientists, engineers, and biologists, quickly assess the damage and recommend treatments to mitigate risks (NIFC 2022).
The USFS offers a science-based framework to guide post-fire restoration efforts in California’s National Forest lands. This five-step process helps develop a restoration plan that informs project planning and monitoring (USFS 2021c). The framework can be accessed in the Post-Fire Restoration Framework.
A comparison of hillside, channel, and road treatments is available in the Post-Fire Treatment Comparison Guide.
California's Watershed Emergency Response Teams (WERTs) are vital in post-fire assessments, identifying risks from debris flows, flooding, rockfall, and erosion. WERT members evaluate "Values-atRisk" and recommend emergency protection measures, coordinating their findings with local emergency agencies.
More information on post-wildfire recovery can be found at Ready for Wildfire - After a Wildfire.
Butte County Resource Conservation District Small Forest Landowner Assistance Program
The Butte County Resource Conservation District (RCD) has introduced the Small Forest Landowner Assistance Program (SFLAP) to aid small, non-industrial private landowners in enhancing fire recovery and resilience. This program offers low-cost or no-cost treatments, including tree and brush thinning, replanting, pruning, fuels reduction, and large hazard tree removal.
Eligible landowners can receive no-cost work on 1 to 10 acres, with a focus on properties smaller than 250 acres. In 2023, SFLAP assisted 15 landowners in Berry Creek, and in 2024, it served 20 landowners in Berry Creek and Feather Falls (as of fall 2024), covering 224 acres. Each participant receives a forest management plan prepared by a Registered Professional Forester, along with a field botany survey and an archaeological survey conducted by cultural resource experts, including local tribal members when possible (Butte County RCD 2024b).
These steps ensure environmental compliance, enabling the use of state funds to improve fire resilience and ecological health. The program prioritizes low-income landowners and those living on their properties. While the SFLAP program has been focused on the Berry Creek and Feather Falls area in recent years, the program aims to expand to additional communities in the future. For more information, visit the following webpage: https://www.bcrcd.org/small-forest-landowner-assistance-program-sflap. 541
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LONG-TERM COMMUNITY RECOVERY
On non-federal land, recovery efforts are the responsibility of local governments and private landowners.
Challenges associated with long-term recovery include homes that were severely damaged or were saved but are located in high-severity burn areas. Furthermore, homes saved but located on unstable slopes or in areas in danger of flooding or landslides present a more complicated challenge.
Economically, essential businesses that were burned or were otherwise forced to close pose a challenge to communities of all sizes. It is critical that a long-term plan is in place and there is sufficient funding and support for all necessary ecosystem and community recovery. To learn about more post-fire recovery resources, visit the Ready for Wildfire website here: https://www.readyforwildfire.org/post-wildfire/after-awildfire/.
Additional funding resources regarding post-fire return and recovery can be found in Appendix E.
FEDERAL PROGRAMS
BURNED AREA EMERGENCY RESPONSE
One example of a post-fire response program is the U.S. Forest Service’s (USFS’s) post-fire emergency stabilization program, called the Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) program. The goal of the BAER program is to discover post-wildfire threats to human life and safety, property, and critical natural or cultural resources on USFS lands and take appropriate actions to mitigate unacceptable risks (BAER 2021).
There are many facets to post-fire recovery, including but not limited to:
• Ensuring public health and safety—prompt removal of downed and hazard trees, addressing watershed damage, and mitigating potential flooding.
• Rebuilding communities and assessing economic needs—securing the financial resources necessary for communities to rebuild homes, business, and infrastructure. • Restoring the damaged landscape—restoration of watersheds, soil stabilization, and tree planting.
• Reducing fire risk in the future—identifying hazard areas and implementing mitigation. • Prioritizing the needs of vulnerable and disadvantaged communities during response and disaster recovery efforts.
• Reducing post-fire recovery time by replanting native species. • Retaining downed logs for erosion control and habitat maintenance. • Evaluating and updating disaster recovery plans every 5 years to respond to changing needs and characteristics of the community.
• Coordinating with planning, housing, health and human services, and other local, regional or state agencies to develop contingency plans for meeting short-term, temporary housing needs of those displaced during a catastrophic wildfire event.
• Incorporating forecasted impacts from climate change intro trends and projections of future risk and consideration of policies to address identified risk. 542
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• Updating codes and ordinances to specify procedures and standards for planning and permitting the reconstruction of buildings destroyed by wildfire.
CALIFORNIA WATERSHED EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM
California Watershed Emergency Response Teams (WERTs) assist communities in post-wildfire recovery by quickly assessing and communicating risks from debris flows, flooding, and rockfalls.
Co-led by CAL FIRE and the California Geological Survey, WERTs follow a structured process to reduce risk, beginning with identifying and evaluating values at risk—resources or assets vulnerable to post-fire geologic and hydrologic hazards. Using a qualitative approach that combines modeling with expert judgment, WERTs assess relative risk and recommend emergency protection measures.
The final step involves sharing findings with local jurisdictions responsible for emergency planning and response. CAL FIRE, in coordination with local and federal agencies, determines whether a WERT response is necessary. More information can be found at:
https://www.conservation.ca.gov/cgs/bwg/wert.
POST-FIRE TREATMENTS AND MANAGEMENT
While the following describes various treatment activity types, many of the areas where these treatments would be implemented fall under the jurisdiction of public agencies. In addition, these areas may also require additional local, state, and federal permits to perform such work.
HILLSLOPE TREATMENTS
Cover Applications:
Dry mulch: provides immediate ground cover with mulch to reduce erosion and downstream flow.
Wet mulch (hydromulch): provides immediate cover to hold moisture and seeds on slopes using a combination of organic fibers, glue, suspension agents, and seeds (most effective on inaccessible slopes).
Slash spreading: provides ground cover to reduce erosion by felling trees in burned areas.
Seeding: reduces soil erosion over time with an application of native seed mixtures (most successful in combination with mulching). Breaking up and loosening topsoil to break down the hydrophobic layer on top of the soil is also effective.
Erosion Barrier Applications:
Erosion control mat: organic mats staked on the soil surface to provide stability for vegetation establishment.
Log erosion barrier: trees felled perpendicular to the hillslope to slow runoff.
Fiber rolls (wattles): rolls placed perpendicular to the hillslope to reduce surface flows and reduce erosion.
Silt fencing: permeable fabric fencing installed parallel to the slope contour to trap sediment as water flows down the hillslope.
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Channel Treatments
Check dam: small dams built to trap and store sediment in stream channels.
In-channel tree felling: felling trees in a staggered pattern in a channel to trap debris and sediment.
Grade stabilizer: structures made of natural materials placed in ephemeral channels for stabilization.
Stream bank armoring: reinforcing streambanks with natural materials to reduce bank cutting during stream flow.
Channel deflector: an engineered structure to direct flow away from unstable banks or nearby roads.
Debris basin: constructed to store large amounts of sediment moving in a stream channel.
Road and Trail Treatments
Out sloping and rolling dips (water bars): alter the road shape or template to disperse water and reduce erosion.
Overflow structures: protect the road by controlling runoff and diverting stream flow to constructed channels.
Low water stream crossing: culverts replaced by natural fords to prevent stream diversion and keep water in the natural channel.
Culvert modification: upgrading culvert size to prevent road damage.
Debris rack and deflectors: structure placed in a stream channel to collect debris before reaching a culvert.
Riser pipes: filter out debris and allow the passage of water in stream channels.
Catchment-basin cleanout: using machinery to clean debris and sediment out of stream channels and catchment basins.
Trail stabilization: constructing water bars and spillways to provide drainage away from the trail surface.
The U.S. Forest Service provides a science-based framework to guide post-fire restoration efforts in National Forest lands in California. The framework is based on a five-step process that leads to the development of a restoration portfolio that can inform project planning and monitoring (USFS 2021c).
The framework is available at:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/psw/publications/documents/psw_gtr270/psw_gtr270.pdf.
Timber Salvage
Many private landowners may decide to harvest trees killed in the fire, a decision that can be highly controversial. Trees remaining post-fire can be instrumental for soil and wildlife habitat recovery, but dead standing trees may also pose safety concerns and fuel loadings may still be conducive to future high intensity wildfires. Burned soil is especially susceptible to soil compaction and erosion so it is recommended to have professionals perform the timber salvage.
Dead tree removal is a key component of the Butte County SFLAP program. The program helps landowners obtain the necessary permits for tree removal, and the revenue from the sale of saw logs subsidizes the cost of tree removal and slash cleanup on the property. This approach exemplifies local efforts to reduce wildfire hazards in a financially sustainable manner (Butte County RCD 2024b). 544
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Invasive Species Management
Wildfire provides opportunity for many invasive species to dominate the landscape because many of these species thrive on recently burned landscapes. It is imperative that landowners prevent invasive establishment by eradicating weeds early, planting native species, and limiting invasive seed dispersal (California Native Plant Society n.d.). The Butte County Resource Conservation District collaborates with the Butte County Agricultural Commissioner's office and local landowners. The Butte County Agricultural Commissioner's Office coordinates the Butte County Weed Management Area and works to minimize the spread of invasive species throughout the county. By organizing regular meetings, they ensure that Butte County parks, cities, foresters, and farmers remain eligible for funding to eradicate invasive weeds. These invasive weeds are costly to farmers and ranchers, consume billions of gallons of water annually, can exacerbate wildfires, and typically do not provide suitable habitat for native wildlife (Butte County RCD 2024c).
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TOWN OF PARADISE – RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE
LONG-TERM RECOVERY
Following the Camp Fire in 2018, the Long-Term Recovery Plan was created through a series of community meetings to guide Paradise through the next several years of regrowth. The plan identifies five goals in support of the community vision, many of which are relevant to the 2025 Butte County CWPP:
• Make Paradise Safer
• Make Paradise Welcoming
• Make Paradise Stronger
• Make Paradise Better
• Make Paradise Greener
The plan is unique in that all priorities and projects were developed by residents of the Town. The final plan was presented to the Town Council, who was asked to adopt the Long-Term Recovery Plan (“Community Vision”) at a Special Town Council Meeting on June 25, 2019.
The Long-Term Recovery Plan has been updated to reflect changing needs and priorities during the Camp Fire recovery process. The Town of Paradise published an update in 2022, and an Action Plan in 2024–2025.
Information on the Long-Term Recovery Plan can be found on the Town of Paradise web site:
• Long-Term Community Recovery Plan, adopted 2019:
https://www.townofparadise.com/sites/default/files/fileattachments/recovery/page/42792/062519_f inal_recovery_plan_compressed.pdf
• Long-Term Community Recovery Plan Update, published 2022:
https://www.townofparadise.com/sites/default/files/fileattachments/recovery/page/42792/ltrp_upda te_11.1.22is.pdf
• Long-Term Community Recovery Action Plan, 2024–2025:
https://www.townofparadise.com/sites/default/files/fileattachments/recovery/page/42792/2024202 5_community_recovery_ap.pdf
All projects within the Long-Term Recovery Plan related to CWPP goals and objectives are hereby incorporated, including:
ALL-AT-ONCE EVACUATION
The Town of Paradise All-At-Once Evacuation Plan is an existing project, developed initially based on findings from the Camp Fire After Action Review and Corrective Action Report. The plan is designed to move traffic off the ridge and onto State Route 99 without interruption. The plan includes the Town of Paradise Public Works, Butte County Public Works, City of Chico, CHP, and Caltrans. 546
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WILDFIRE TRAFFIC CONTROL PLAN
The Town of Paradise has developed a plan that guides decision-makers on the best evacuation routes off the ridge based on six wildland fire scenarios that would impact the town. Additionally, there is a seventh scenario that accommodates evacuation from Magalia and the Upper Ridge moving traffic through the town with as little interruption as possible.
EARLY WARNING SYSTEM
An existing project, the Town of Paradise Early Warning System (EWS) consists of 21 siren towers located within the town limits of Paradise, California. This system is known as the Early Warning Sirens (EWS) and is part of the overall emergency notification strategy known as “Alert Paradise.” The purpose of the EWS is to provide a redundant warning system for residents and visitors in Paradise of potential or emergent hazards that threaten life and property. The EWS is designed to work in coordination with existing emergency notification systems and processes and to alert residents of emergencies. There are also cameras located on eight of the towers to provide emergency management personnel with real-time access to on the ground conditions during an evacuation or for other potential emergencies. The towers are tested monthly.
EARLY WARNING SYSTEM ACTIVATION SCENARIOS
Existing project. In order to effectively utilize the EWS, the Town has developed seven wildfire scenariobased evacuation maps that identify the preferred evacuation routes and potential one-way evacuation routes. These scenarios also designate which of the 21 EWS towers would be activated.
FUEL MANAGEMENT MAP
The Fuel Management Map defines the boundaries of the four fuel reduction projects identified in the 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. The map defines best management practices for fuel reduction based on topography, fuel type and density, and fire return intervals.
CATASTROPHIC AND EXTREME CONDITIONS PLANS
Nature Based Resiliency Project: This project is being spearheaded by the Paradise Recreation and Park District. The plan is exploring the concept of creating Wildfire Risk Reduction Buffers (WRRBs) between the urban area and the wildlands. Using a combination of greenbelts, parklands, orchards, and other low ignition-risk land uses. Catastrophic fire modeling has been completed, which identified Strategically Placed Landscape Area Treatments (SPLATS), where fuel treatments or lower risk land uses would reduce the overall risk of wildfire in Paradise. The project is currently using this data to identify actual parcels that could be treated or converted to a lower-risk land use. These parcels could be included in planning fuel reduction projects, purchased for other land uses such as parks or trailways, or protected in land trusts or long-term land use agreements.
Temporary Refuge Areas: Temporary Refuge Areas (TFAs) were used extensively during the Camp Fire to provide a safer place to congregate for traffic blocked by the fire. In spite of its success, the concept remains undefined and is not a recognized tactic for responders. The goal of this plan is to create a recognized and defined tactics for use in future emergencies. 547
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WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS
Since the Camp Fire, the Paradise Irrigation District (PID) has made significant upgrades to the water system. This includes the replacement of the damaged 2-million-gallon (MG) “B” Reservoir with two
1.5-MG reservoirs, increasing the water storage capacity in the town by 1 MG. The PID has also replaced 79,466 linear feet of water mains that were damaged or impacted by the Camp Fire. The PID also installed a new generator at the water treatment plant, plus pipeline and pump station upgrades for Zone A. The upgrades provide for redundancy in bringing water to town from the treatment plant. This is also known as the ZAPS Project.
UNDERGROUNDING OF POWER LINES
Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) is currently moving the entire distribution system underground in the Town of Paradise and replacing 74 miles of damaged natural gas lines.
ROAD CONNECTIVITY PROJECT
The Town is in the planning phase to create a new west-to-east connector from Skyway to Pentz Road.
The plan will extend the existing Roe Road and connect the gaps between Skyway and Pentz. This would provide an additional alternative route during wildland fire evacuations.
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS
The Town of Paradise, in cooperation with Butte County Emergency Management, is implementing an online Emergency Management Program. This program provides emergency managers and responders with the ability to communicate and track the status of an emergency in real time to maintain a current and accurate common operating picture. This program automates documentation, including the Incident Action Plan, logistics, finance, planning, damage assessment, and other vital functions of emergency management.
TOWNWIDE CEQA FOR FUEL REDUCTION PROJECTS
In 2023, the Town of Paradise completed a categorical exclusion for fuel reduction for the entire town.
This allows the Town to submit grants for fuel reduction projects that are shovel ready.
EVACUATION ZONE SIGNAGE
The Town of Paradise has installed signs along town
roadways that identify which zone you are entering
and leaving.
Evacuation Zone Sign in the Town of Paradise
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RESILIENT BUILDING AND PLANNING
The Town of Paradise Community Development Department plays a vital role in the Town’s recovery and resilience through initiatives such as the Fire Prevention Bureau, Community Education, and the Defensible Space Inspection Program. These programs are detailed below and are integral components of the CWPP.
FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU
The Town of Paradise Fire Prevention Bureau, a key part of the Community Development Department, is dedicated to protecting lives, properties, and the environment through a proactive approach to fire prevention. Led by the Fire Marshal and supported by two full-time Fire Inspectors, the bureau works closely with local developers and business owners to provide expert advice on fire and life safety engineering, permitting, and inspections. This collaboration aims to enhance community safety through education, leadership, and collective efforts.
The Fire Marshal's Office is critical in enforcing essential parts of the Paradise Municipal Code and the California Building Standards Code. Its duties include overseeing use permits, reviewing and permitting building and fire system plans, and enforcing Title 19 of the California Code of Regulations for regulated occupancies. The team ensures compliance with the Public Resources Code, California Minimum Fire Safe Regulations, and other relevant new construction and land division codes.
In alignment with the California Wildfire Prevention Plan, the bureau focuses on structural fire resilience and pre-fire management strategies. These include improving emergency vehicle access, ensuring accurate property addressing, promoting ignition-resistant materials, maintaining defensible space, and managing vegetation effectively. The bureau’s efforts in vegetation management are mainly focused on reviewing and approving landscaping and fuel modification plans to reduce wildfire risk.
The Fire Prevention Bureau is essential in translating statewide wildfire prevention strategies to meet local needs through inspections, code enforcement, and public education. The bureau significantly enhances community resilience against wildfires through partnerships with various governmental levels, employing a comprehensive approach that integrates proactive planning and community involvement.
PUBLIC EDUCATION
Each year, the Town of Paradise engages thousands of residents, children and adults, through various educational initiatives at school programs, fair exhibits, and community gatherings. These events feature critical topics such as stop, drop and roll; home safety; fire safety; and defensible space. Additionally, career fairs for young people highlight opportunities within the fire prevention field, showcasing potential career paths.
The effectiveness of these public education efforts can be credited to the unwavering dedication of multiple agencies, active community involvement, and the proactive measures taken by fire prevention personnel. Their direct engagement at events ensures that safety messages are delivered personally, demonstrating the Town’s commitment to exceptional community service.
Furthermore, Defensible Space Inspectors are vital in educating residents about the Town of Paradise’s Municipal Code Chapter 8.58, which covers defensible space and hazardous fuels management. These inspectors visit homes door-to-door, distributing educational materials and advising residents on establishing the necessary defensible space around properties to enhance fire safety. Their mission is 549
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comprehensive, aiming to reach every homeowner in the town through face-to-face interactions or mail, ensuring that all residents have the information needed to protect their homes effectively.
DEFENSIBLE SPACE INSPECTION PROGRAM
The Fire Prevention Bureau manages the Defensible Space Inspection Program in Paradise, which includes two Fire Inspectors who oversee the program, two limited-term grant-funded Fire Inspectors, and one Office Assistant, funded through FY25/26. Specializing in High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZs), one inspector focuses on real estate transaction inspections as required by California Civil Code Section 1102.19, enacted on July 1, 2021, following Assembly Bill 38 and Paradise Municipal Code 8.58.
Paradise enhances state defensible space requirements set by California Public Resources Code (PRC) 4291 with Municipal Code Chapter 8.58, which mandates year-round inspections for all properties. These inspections ensure a 5-foot noncombustible zone around structures and a 100-foot clearance, regardless of property lines, to reduce wildfire risks, enhance firefighting, and protect community and natural areas.
Properties failing to meet standards receive follow-up inspections and are documented and prioritized by violation severity, community impact, inspector availability, and resident requests. Non-compliant properties may be escalated to Town Code Enforcement and potentially to Town Council for public nuisance and abatement actions.
These rigorous standards are vital to Paradise’s strategy to mitigate the threat of devastating wildfires, safeguarding the community through proactive fire management policies. 550
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APPENDIX I:
Fuel Treatment Activities
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FUEL TREATMENT ACTIVITIES
Table I.1 is a comprehensive summary of various fuel treatment projects aimed at mitigating wildfire risks across various communities throughout the county. These projects play a crucial role for enhancing forest health, protecting communities from wildfire hazards, and reducing the severity of wildfire events.
Outlined are key pieces of information for each project, including the project name, responsible agency, current status, expected or actual completion year, types of treatments applied, and the area covered in acres. This information is vital for risk mitigation, resource allocation, stakeholder coordination, progress tracking, public awareness, and strategic planning.
Table I.1 is presented as a “living document” that will be updated in real-time as needed. The updated fuel treatment activity list in Table I.1 will be included when this document is revised during each annual review cycle.
The geographic areas associated with the projects listed in Table I.1 are geographically referenced in Figure I.1.
Butte County Fire’s masticator working on the South Paradise VMP. 554
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Figure I.1. Butte County Geographic Planning Areas.
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Table I.1. Butte County Fuel Treatment Project Summaries Project Name Objective Status Project Acres Project Contact Collaborating Partners CAL FIRE Geographic Area Berry Brush WUI Hazardous Fuels Reduction Active PNF BCRCD 5 Berry Creek Fuels Reduction Project Berry Creek Fuels Reduction Fuels Reduction Active 33 BCFSC 5 Berry Creek French Creek I Hazardous Fuels
21,437
Fuels Reduction Active 2,610 PNF 5 Berry Creek Reduction Berry Creek Fuels Reduction Fuels Reduction Completed 157 BCFSC 5 Berry Creek Forest Health and Feather River Fuels Reduction Completed 100 BCFSC 5 Berry Creek Watershed Lindo Channel Defensible Space Fuel Reduction/
Broadcast Burn Active 44 Chico FD FEMA/Cal OES Chico City Chico Project Lindo Channel Fuels Reduction Fuel Reduction/
Broadcast Burn Active 250 Chico FD Chico City Chico
Lower Park Fuel Reduction Fuel Reduction/
Broadcast Burn Active 250 Chico FD Chico Parks Department Chico City Chico Middle Park Fuel Reduction Fuel Reduction/
Broadcast Burn Active 100 Chico FD Chico Parks Department, BCRCD Chico City Chico Park Fire Dozer Line Annual
Maintenance
Fuel Reduction/
Broadcast Burn Active 25 Chico FD Chico Parks Department Chico City Chico Upper Park Road Fuels
Reduction Project
Fuel Reduction/
Broadcast Burn Active 150 Chico FD Chico Department of Public Works Chico City Chico Whispering Winds Shaded Fuel
Break
Fuel Reduction/
Broadcast Burn Active 25 Chico FD Chico Parks Department Chico City Chico Big Chico Creek Ecological
Reserve - Expansion Fuels Reduction Active 3,855 BCCER BCRCD, BCFSC 2 Cohasset Cal Fire Rx Support Fuels Reduction Active 350 BCFSC CAL FIRE 2 Cohasset CCI WUI Wide Restoration Fuels Reduction Active 138 BCFSC 2 Cohasset Cohasset Forest Resilience Fuels Reduction Active 232 BCFSC 2 Cohasset Cohasset Loop Fuels Reduction Fuels Reduction Active 161 BCFSC 2 Cohasset Cohasset TRA NOE Fuels Reduction Active 9 CAL FIRE 2 Cohasset Musty Buck Ridge Restoration Fuels Reduction Active 45 BCFSC 2 Cohasset Station 23 VTP Fuels Reduction Active 45 CAL FIRE 2 Cohasset Page | I-3
Battalion
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Project Name Objective Status Project Acres Project Contact Collaborating Partners CAL FIRE Battalion Geographic Area
Cohasset Forest Resilience Fuels Reduction Completed 345 BCFSC 2 Cohasset Cohasset Fuels Reduction Fuels Reduction Completed 251 BCFSC 2 Cohasset Cohasset Roadside Fuels
Reduction Fuels Reduction Completed 69 BCFSC 2 Cohasset Cohasset School Fuels
Reduction Fuels Reduction Completed 5 BCFSC 2 Cohasset
Musty Buck Fuels Reduction Completed 15 BCFSC 2 Cohasset Big Chico Creek Watershed
Stewardship
Prescribed Fire,
Fuels Reduction Planned 401
Mechoopda Indian
Tribe of Chico
Rancheria
2 Cohasset
H Line VTP Fuel Reduction/
Prescribed Fire Planned 3,570 CAL FIRE Sierra Pacific Industries 2 Cohasset Iron Canyon VMP Fuel Reduction/
Prescribed Fire Proposed 8,179 CAL FIRE 2 Cohasset
Sheep Hollow VMP Fuel Reduction/
Prescribed Fire Proposed 5,966 CAL FIRE 2 Cohasset
Sycamore VMP Fuel Reduction/
Prescribed Fire Proposed 9,640 CAL FIRE 2 Cohasset
Tuscan VMP Fuel Reduction/
Prescribed Fire Proposed 3,552 CAL FIRE 2 Cohasset
Boot 1, 2, 4, 5 Fuels Reduction Active 42,949 YHFSC 1 Concow/Yankee Hill
Concow Fire Salvage Project Fuels Reduction Active 482 PNF 1 Concow/Yankee Hill
Concow Pyrodiversity Project
Reforestation, Fuel
Reduction,
Prescribed Fire
Active 34,971 BCRCD, PNF
Sierra Pacific Industries,
CAL FIRE, private land
owners, USFS, BCFSC,
YHFSC
1 Concow/Yankee
Hill
Concow Resilience Fuels Reduction Active 594 BCRCD CAL FIRE, SNC, USFS, PNF 1 Concow/Yankee Hill
Concow Resilience Project Fuels Reduction Active 860 PNF BCRCD 1 Concow/Yankee Hill
Concow/Yankee Hill - Staging
Areas Fuels Reduction Active 4,263 YHFSC 1 Concow/Yankee Hill 557
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Project Name Objective Status Project Acres Project Contact Collaborating Partners CAL FIRE Battalion Geographic Area
Sawmill Peak Recovery Project Prescribed Fire/
Fuels Reduction Active 132 BCFSC 1 Concow/Yankee Hill
Transfer Ridge FB Fuels Reduction Active 45 Sierra Pacific Industries 1 Concow/Yankee Hill
V-Line Fuels Reduction Active 236 Sierra Pacific
Industries 1 Concow/Yankee Hill
Yankee Hill Evacuation Plan –
1 Concow Rd Fuels Reduction Active 177 YHFSC 1 Concow/Yankee Hill Yankee Hill Evacuation Plan –
10 Hwy 70 Fuels Reduction Active 177 YHFSC 1 Concow/Yankee Hill Yankee Hill Evacuation Plan –
11 Big Bend Rd Fuels Reduction Active 112 YHFSC 1 Concow/Yankee Hill Yankee Hill Evacuation Plan –
12 Detlow Rd Fuels Reduction Active 15 YHFSC 1 Concow/Yankee Hill Yankee Hill Evacuation Plan –
13 Yankee Hill Fuels Reduction Active 67 YHFSC 1 Concow/Yankee Hill Yankee Hill Evacuation Plan –
14 Rich Gulch Rd Fuels Reduction Active 78 YHFSC 1 Concow/Yankee Hill Yankee Hill Evacuation Plan –
15 Truex Rd Fuels Reduction Active 10 YHFSC 1 Concow/Yankee Hill Yankee Hill Evacuation Plan –
2 Cirby Creek Fuels Reduction Active 17 YHFSC 1 Concow/Yankee Hill Yankee Hill Evacuation Plan –
3 Hoffman Rd Fuels Reduction Active 40 YHFSC 1 Concow/Yankee Hill Yankee Hill Evacuation Plan –
4 Ishi Trail Fuels Reduction Active 22 YHFSC 1 Concow/Yankee Hill Yankee Hill Evacuation Plan –
5 Jordan Hill Rd Fuels Reduction Active 60 YHFSC 1 Concow/Yankee Hill Yankee Hill Evacuation Plan –
6 Deadwood Rd Fuels Reduction Active 38 YHFSC 1 Concow/Yankee Hill Yankee Hill Evacuation Plan –
7 Andy Mountain Rd Fuels Reduction Active 30 YHFSC 1 Concow/Yankee Hill Yankee Hill Evacuation Plan –
8 Nelson Bar Rd Fuels Reduction Active 16 YHFSC 1 Concow/Yankee Hill 558
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Project Name Objective Status Project Acres Project Contact Collaborating Partners CAL FIRE Battalion Geographic Area
Yankee Hill Evacuation Plan –
9 Lunt Rd Fuels Reduction Active 32 YHFSC 1 Concow/Yankee Hill Concow Rd Fuels Reduction Completed 122 YHFSC 1 Concow/Yankee Hill
Crain Ridge Rd SFB Fuels Reduction Completed 209 YHFSC 1 Concow/Yankee Hill
Crane Valley Meadow
Restoration
Wetland
Restoration Planned 96 BCRCD Sierra Pacific Industries, LNF 1 Concow/Yankee Hill Rim Road Strategic Fuel Break Fuels Reduction Planned 189 BCFSC 1 Concow/Yankee Hill
Andy Mountain Rd Fuels Reduction Proposed 54 YHFSC 1 Concow/Yankee Hill
Comfort Lane Area Fuels Reduction Proposed 58 YHFSC 1 Concow/Yankee Hill
Concow Rd North Fuels Reduction Proposed 210 YHFSC 1 Concow/Yankee Hill
Concow Rd South Fuels Reduction Proposed 45 YHFSC 1 Concow/Yankee Hill
Granite Ridge SFB Fuels Reduction Proposed 360 YHFSC 1 Concow/Yankee Hill
Rim Rd Fuels Reduction Proposed 69 YHFSC 1 Concow/Yankee Hill
Rock Creek Contingency Line Fuels Reduction Proposed 200 CAL FIRE 1 Concow/Yankee Hill
Transfer FB Fuels Reduction Proposed 24 Sierra Pacific
Industries 1 Concow/Yankee Hill
Butte Creek House Meadow
Restoration Project
Wetland
Restoration Active 107 BCRCD CDFW 2 Concow/Yankee Hill
Craig Access Fuels Reduction
and Restoration Project
Fuel Reduction/
Prescribed Fire Active 80 CA State Parks 5 Feather Falls DWR Enterprise Fuels Reduction Fuel Reduction Active 308 DWR CAL FIRE 5 Feather Falls Feather Falls Restoration and
Resilience Project Active 915 PNF Mooretown Rancheria 5 Feather Falls 559
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Project Name Objective Status Project Acres Project Contact Collaborating Partners CAL FIRE Battalion Geographic Area
Midrock SFB Fuels Reduction Active 140 Sierra Pacific
Industries 5 Feather Falls
Mooretown Tribal Cultural
Landscape Fuels Reduction Active 5,915 Mooretown Rancheria 5 Feather Falls Swain Hill SFB Fuels Reduction Active 201 Sierra Pacific Industries 5 Feather Falls
Lumpkin Rd Post North Complex
Fire Fuels Reduction Fuels Reduction
Completed
(monitoring
required)
120 BCRCD BLM, CAL FIRE 5 Feather Falls
Jackson Ridge FB Fuels Reduction Planned 44 Sierra Pacific Industries 5 Feather Falls
35/45 Maintenance Fuels Reduction Active 38 BCFSC 5 Forbestown Ridge Forbestown Forest Resilience Fuels Reduction Active 88 BCFSC 5 Forbestown Ridge Forest Health and Feather River Fuels Reduction Active 1,509 BCFSC 5 Forbestown Ridge Loafer Creek DWR VMP Fuel Reduction/
Prescribed Fire Active 938 DWR CAL FIRE, CA State Parks, BCFSC 6 Forbestown Ridge Phoenix VMP Fuel Reduction/
Prescribed Fire Active 6,877 CAL FIRE 5 Forbestown Ridge Swedes Flat Fire Hazard Tree &
Fuels Reduction Shaded Fuel Break Active 80 BCRCD CAL FIRE 5 Forbestown Ridge Swedes Flat VMP Fuel Reduction/
Prescribed Fire Active 130 CAL FIRE 5 Forbestown Ridge
Butte Prescribed Burn
Association Fuels Reduction Active 149 BCRCD Private landowners; CAL FIRE 5 Forbestown Ridge Forbestown Forest Resilience Fuels Reduction Completed 87 BCFSC 5 Forbestown Ridge Forbestown Fuels Reduction Fuels Reduction Completed 257 BCFSC 5 Forbestown Ridge Forbestown Restoration Project Fuels Reduction Completed 97 BCFSC 5 Forbestown Ridge Forest Health and Feather River Fuels Reduction Completed 3 BCFSC 5 Forbestown Ridge Mt. Ida Fuels Reduction Fuels Reduction Completed 74 BCFSC 5 Forbestown Ridge DWR Canyon Creek/HWY 162
Corridor Fuels Reduction Fuel Reduction Completed 456 DWR 5 Forbestown Ridge DWR Stringtown Fuels Reduction Fuel Reduction Planned 433 DWR 5 Forbestown Ridge 560
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Project Name Objective Status Project Acres Project Contact Collaborating Partners CAL FIRE Battalion Geographic Area
Lost Creek FB (Contingency) Fuels Reduction Planned 10 Sierra Pacific Industries 5 Forbestown Ridge
Powerline FB (PG&E Distribution) Fuels Reduction Planned 8 Sierra Pacific Industries 5 Forbestown Ridge
Prune Orchard FB (Contingency) Fuels Reduction Planned 17 Sierra Pacific Industries 5 Forbestown Ridge
South Mooreville SFB Fuels Reduction Planned 169 Sierra Pacific Industries 5 Forbestown Ridge
Woodleaf SFB Fuels Reduction Planned 142 Sierra Pacific Industries 5 Forbestown Ridge
Forbestown Contingency Line Fuels Reduction Proposed 200 CAL FIRE 5 Forbestown Ridge South Mooreville FB
(Contingency) Fuels Reduction Proposed 27 Sierra Pacific Industries 5 Forbestown Ridge WUI Wide Restoration
Prescribed
Fire/Fuels
Reduction
Planned 2,583 BCFSC 1,2,5,6 Forbestown/Forest
Ranch
Big Chico Creek Ecological
Reserve - ZH Fuels Reduction Active 4,060 BCCER BCRCD, BCFSC 2 Forest Ranch Big Chico Creek Forest Health Fuels Reduction Active 235 BCFSC 2 Forest Ranch Big Chico Creek Forest
Resilience
Prescribed Fire/
Fuels Reduction Active 417 BCFSC 2 Forest Ranch
Forest Ranch Roadside Fuels
Reduction Fuels Reduction Active 150 BCFSC 2 Forest Ranch Station 22 NOE Fuels Reduction Active 5 CAL FIRE 2 Forest Ranch Turkel NOE Fuels Reduction Active 72 CAL FIRE 2 Forest Ranch Big Chico Creek Forest Health Fuels Reduction Completed 234 BCFSC 2 Forest Ranch Big Chico Creek Forest
Resilience Fuels Reduction Completed 120 BCFSC 1 & 2 Forest Ranch Forest Ranch Roadside Fuels
Reduction Fuels Reduction Completed 285 BCFSC 2 Forest Ranch Big Chico Creek Ecological
Reserve VMP
Fuel Reduction/
Prescribed Fire Planned 1,655 CAL FIRE
BCRCD, BLM Redding
Field Office (REFO), CAL
FIRE,
2 Forest Ranch
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Project Name Objective Status Project Acres Project Contact Collaborating Partners CAL FIRE Battalion Geographic Area
Forest Resilience and
Restoration Fuels Reduction Planned 1,063 BCFSC 1, 2, 5, & 8 Forest Ranch B-Line Contingency Fuels Reduction Proposed 50 CAL FIRE 2 Forest Ranch Carpenter Ridge Contingency
Line Fuels Reduction Proposed 100 CAL FIRE 2 Forest Ranch Forks of Butte Forest Health
Project Fuels Reduction Planned 2,071 BCRCD BLM 1 & 2 Forest Ranch/ Paradise Ridge DWR Bidwell Canyon/Kelly
Ridge/Saddle Dam Fuels
Reduction
Fuel Reduction Active 575 DWR 6 Oroville Area
DWR Diversion Dam/Power
Canal Fuels Reduction Fuel Reduction Active 178 DWR 6 & 9 Oroville Area DWR Feather River Fish
Hatchery Fuels Reduction Fuel Reduction Active 50 DWR 6 & 9 Oroville Area DWR HMGP Hazardous Fuels
Reduction Fuel Reduction Active 305 DWR 6 Oroville Area DWR Hyatt Fuels Reduction Fuel Reduction Active 244 DWR CAL FIRE 6 Oroville Area DWR Oroville Wildlife Area VMP Prescribed Fire/
Fuel Reduction Active 4,214 DWR CAL FIRE 9 Oroville Area DWR Sewim Bo/Old Ferry Road
Fuels Reduction Project Fuel Reduction Active 15 DWR 9 Oroville Area DWR Thermalito Grassland Rx Prescribed Fire Active 865 DWR CAL FIRE, CA State Parks 6 Oroville Area
East Oroville Hazardous Fuels
Reduction Fuels Reduction Active 362 BCFSC
DWR, CA State Parks,
CAL FIRE, PG&E,
Mooretown Rancheria,
Berry Creek Rancheria,
Enterprise Rancheria,
Konkow Valley Band of
Maidu Indians
6 Oroville Area
Forest Resilience and Watershed
Protection in State Parks of Butte
County
Fuel
Reduction/Prescrib
ed Fire
Active 500 CA State Parks DWR 6 & 9 Oroville Area
Mt. Ida Fuels Reduction Fuels Reduction Active 38 BCFSC 6 Oroville Area Pioneer Trail Roadside Fuels Reduction Active 2 BCFSC 6 Oroville Area 562
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Project Name Objective Status Project Acres Project Contact Collaborating Partners CAL FIRE Battalion Geographic Area
Rabe Rd NOE Prescribed Fire Active 79 CAL FIRE DWR 6 Oroville Area Defensible Space Fuels Reduction Completed 48 BCFSC 6 Oroville Area Hazardous Fuels Reduction for
Camp and North Complex Fuels Reduction Completed 25 BCFSC 6 & 9 Oroville Area DWR Canyon Drive Fuels
Reduction Fuel Reduction Completed 26 DWR 6 Oroville Area DWR Lakeland Blvd. Fuels
Reduction Fuel Reduction Completed 30 DWR 6 Oroville Area DWR Dark Canyon Fuels
Reduction Fuel Reduction Planned 70 DWR 6 Oroville Area DWR Diversion Pool Fuels
Reduction Fuel Reduction Planned 643 DWR 6 Oroville Area DWR East Oroville VMP Prescribed Fire/
Fuel Reduction Planned 1,950 DWR CAL FIRE, PG&E, BCFSC, State Parks 6 Oroville Area DWR Goat Ranch/Spring Valley
Fuels Reduction Fuel Reduction Planned 381 DWR 6 Oroville Area DWR Kelly Ridge Point Fuels
Reduction Fuel Reduction Planned 371 DWR CAL FIRE 6 Oroville Area DWR Potters Ravine Post Fire
Recovery
Prescribed Fire/
Fuel Reduction Planned 486 DWR 6 Oroville Area
DWR Spillway Fuels Reduction Prescribed Fire/
Fuel Reduction Planned 202 DWR 6 Oroville Area
DWR Thompson Fire Post Fire
Recovery
Prescribed Fire/
Fuel Reduction Planned 1,220 DWR 6 Oroville Area
High Test Kennels NOE Fuel Reduction/
Prescribed Fire Planned 114 CAL FIRE 7 Oroville Area
North-Fork Bloomer Fuels
Reduction Fuel Reduction Planned 455 CA State Parks 6 & 9 Oroville Area Potters Ravine Recovery Project Fuel Reduction Planned 565 CA State Parks DWR 6 & 9 Oroville Area Upper Mooreville SFB Fuels Reduction Planned 57 Sierra Pacific Industries 6 Oroville Area
Wyandotte HFR Fuel Reduction/
Prescribed Fire Planned 3,981 CAL FIRE BCFSC 6 Oroville Area 563
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Project Name Objective Status Project Acres Project Contact Collaborating Partners CAL FIRE Battalion Geographic Area
Butte Creek Ecological Preserve
Stewardship
Prescribed Fire,
Fuels Reduction Active 93
Mechoopda Indian
Tribe of Chico
Rancheria
CAL FIRE 2 Paradise Ridge
Butte Fire Center HFR Fuel Reduction/
Prescribed Fire Active 81 CAL FIRE 1 Paradise Ridge
Camelot VMP Prescribed Fire,
Fuels Reduction Active 1,665
Mechoopda Indian
Tribe of Chico
Rancheria
CAL FIRE 4 Paradise Ridge
Camp Fire North Complex
Grazing Fuels Reduction Active 1356 BCFSC 1 Paradise Ridge Camp Fire Strategic Fuels
Reduction Fuels Reduction Active 51 BCFSC 8 Paradise Ridge Category 4 Tree Removal
Program Fuels Reduction Active 11,565 Town of Paradise CAL FIRE, BCFSC 8 Paradise Ridge De Sabla Forest Restoration Fuels Reduction Active 935 BCFSC 1 Paradise Ridge DWR Lime Saddle Fuels
Reduction Fuel Reduction Active 428 DWR 1 Paradise Ridge Forest Health Upper Watershed Prescribed Fire/
Fuels Reduction Active 1,623 BCFSC 1, 2, & 8 Paradise Ridge Lovelock SFB Fuels Reduction Active 11 Sierra Pacific
Industries 1 Paradise Ridge
Magalia Fire Salvage Project Fuels Reduction Active 177 PNF 1 Paradise Ridge Magalia Forest and Wildfire
Resilience Fuels Reduction Active 185 BCFSC 1 Paradise Ridge Magalia Roadside Fuels
Reduction Fuels Reduction Active 14 BCFSC 1 Paradise Ridge My Sierra Woods Parcel Fuels Reduction Active 20 BCFSC 1 Paradise Ridge Paradise Lake SFB Fuels Reduction Active 205 Sierra Pacific Industries 1 Paradise Ridge
Public/Private Roads Right of
Way Fuels Reduction Active 2,335 Town of Paradise CAL FIRE 8 Paradise Ridge South Paradise VMP Fuel Reduction/
Prescribed Fire Active 8,175 CAL FIRE 1 Paradise Ridge
Station 35 NOE Fuels Reduction Active 11 CAL FIRE 1 Paradise Ridge 564
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Project Name Objective Status Project Acres Project Contact Collaborating Partners CAL FIRE Battalion Geographic Area
Stirling SFB Fuels Reduction Active 296 Sierra Pacific
Industries 1 Paradise Ridge
Upper Butte Creek Forest Health
Initiative
Fuels Reduction/
Prescribed Fire Active 19,835 BCRCD Almanor Ranger District, LNF 2 Paradise Ridge Wajim Kumbali Stewardship Fuels Reduction Active 635
Mechoopda Indian
Tribe of Chico
Rancheria
1 Paradise Ridge
Bader Mine Fuels Reduction Completed 8 BCFSC 1 Paradise Ridge BLM Hazard Tree Removal for
Upper Ridge Nature Preserve Fuels Reduction Completed 25 BCRCD BLM, BCFSC 1 Paradise Ridge Butte Creek Forest Health Fuels Reduction Completed 46 BCFSC 1 Paradise Ridge Camp Fire Fuels Reduction Fuels Reduction Completed 135 BCFSC 8 Paradise Ridge Magalia Forest and Wildfire
Resilience Prescribed Fire Completed 82 BCFSC 1 Paradise Ridge My Sierra Woods Fuels Reduction Completed 318 BCFSC 1, 4, & 5 Paradise Ridge Skylock Fuels Reduction Completed 14 BCFSC 1 Paradise Ridge Upper Ridge Nature Preserve Fuels Reduction Completed 25 BLM BCRCD, BCFSC 1 Paradise Ridge West Branch Fuels Reduction Completed 50 BCFSC 1 Paradise Ridge WUI Wide Restoration Fuels Reduction Completed 132 BCFSC 1 Paradise Ridge Lower Paradise Fuels Reduction
Project Fuels Reduction Planned 5,000 Town of Paradise BCFSC, PRFSC, CAL FIRE 8 Paradise Ridge My Sierra Woods Fuels Reduction Planned 207 BCFSC 1, 4, & 5 Paradise Ridge Upper Butte Creek Forest Health
Initiative Fuels Reduction Planned 19,827 Lassen NF BCRCD 2 Paradise Ridge West Branch Fuels Reduction
Project Fuels Reduction Planned 2,000 Town of Paradise BCFSC, PRFSC, CAL FIRE, PRPD, BLM, DWR 8 Paradise Ridge Powellton SFB Fuels Reduction Proposed 573 Sierra Pacific Industries 1 Paradise Ridge
Forks of the Butte Fuels Reduction Planned 2,070 BLM BCRCD 1 & 2 Paradise Ridge/ Forest Ranch
Biggs Drainage Canal HFR Fuel Reduction Planned 169 City of Biggs 7 Valley Biggs Power Line Clearance HFR Fuel Reduction Planned 88 City of Biggs 7 Valley 565
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Project Name Objective Status Project Acres Project Contact Collaborating Partners CAL FIRE Battalion Geographic Area
Biggs Wastewater Retention
Ponds HFR Fuel Reduction Planned 161 City of Biggs 7 Valley Gridley Drainage Canal HFR Fuels Reduction Active 222 City of Gridley 7 Valley Gridley Emergency Sewer
Storage Ponds Fuels Reduction Active 22 City of Gridley 7 Valley Gridley Power Line Clearance
HFR Fuels Reduction Active 10 City of Gridley 7 Valley
Gridley Wastewater Retention
Ponds HFR Fuels Reduction Active 26 City of Gridley 7 Valley 566
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APPENDIX J:
Fuel Treatment Effectiveness Reports
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FUEL TREATMENT EFFECTIVENESS REPORTS
CAL FIRE's Fuel Treatment Effectiveness Reports (FTERs) assess how past fuel reduction projects have influenced fire behavior and suppression efforts. This section includes both video and written FTERs, each providing insights into the effectiveness of these treatments in real-world wildfire scenarios.
VIDEO FUEL TREATMENT EFFECTIVENESS REPORTS
Local video FTERs available on YouTube:
• Fuel Break Highway 32 near Forest Ranch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3TXqY3ugY&t=84s • The Park Fire, the Community of Cohasset, and Collaborative Successes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xc_gVOmm-E&t=1s
• How A Fuel Reduction Project Helped Save Lives During the Park Fire:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rt3u8rtcGk4
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WRITTEN FUEL TREATMENT EFFECTIVENESS REPORTS
2008 BTU Camp and Humboldt Fires
571
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2023 Victoria Fire
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2024 Park Fire (Cohasset Forest Health & Upper Watershed Resilience Project) 578
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2024 Park Fire (Loafer Creek LLC Project)
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2024 Park Fire (Forest Ranch Crane Mills & G Line Projects) 585
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2024 Park Fire (Highway 32 Wilder and BCCER Projects)
588
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2024 Colter Fire
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APPENDIX K:
Annual Accomplishments
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2024 ANNUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
With the 2025 Butte County CWPP being a complete rewrite, a concerted effort was made to incorporate the 2024 accomplishments into the body of the document and appendices.
The next phase of the CWPP effort will focus on building out an interactive online platform to display the CWPP content in a manner that is interactive and engaging. The first part of this phase is the establishment of a central online “hub” to house the most recent version of the CWPP as well as link to additional resources and interactive components of the CWPP. The hub is accessed at https://buttecounty-cwpp-buttecountygis.hub.arcgis.com/ and will continue to be built out over the coming months and years.
Development of the Butte County Collaborative Group’s (BCCG’s) countywide mapping site continued throughout 2024 and shows the locations of past, present, and proposed vegetation management projects across the Butte County fireshed, which includes not only the Butte County CWPP’s planning area, but also adjacent areas to the north, east, and south. This online map displays fuel reduction project data from a wide range of partner agencies and organizations in a single, consolidated online map. This site has become a useful resource for cooperative project planning efforts, enabling land managers to visualize and coordinate projects being implemented. This not only improves continuity between adjacent projects, but also facilitates opportunities for collaboration. The BCCG’s countywide mapping site proved to be a great asset during the development of this CWPP, especially when gathering the spatial data used in the hazard analysis and fuel management project identification portions of this document.
The map is available on the BCCG’s website at https://butte-county-collaborative-groupbcrcd.hub.arcgis.com/. The direct link to the map is https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/6010edd161fa4a17afd7435f01f005c8/.
In 2024, 19 new Firewise USA communities were established throughout Butte County, bringing the total number of communities to 35. Numerous additional communities are in the process of becoming recognized by Firewise USA, which further increases community involvement in wildfire safety initiatives.
An active list of Firewise USA communities in Butte County is hosted on the Butte County Fire Safe Council’s website at https://buttefiresafe.net/firewise-usa/.
The 2024 Park Fire burned through the Loafer Creek LLC, Mud Creek, and Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve projects, as well as numerous other active projects and additional conceptual project ideas that were in the early stages of development. These projects are in the process of being reevaluated for environmental impacts and scope of work adjustments prior to the resumption of work.
The environmental analysis for the South Paradise VMP has been completed and approximately threequarters of the landowners in the project area have approved agreements for work to be completed on their parcels. Work will commence on portions of this project in January 2025.
Other CAL FIRE projects that were active in 2024 include the Camelot VMP, Swedes Flat VMP, Phoenix VMP, and Loafer Creek DWR VMP. CAL FIRE has also been assisting numerous other entities with their projects, including the Prescribed Burn Association (PBA), Butte County Fire Safe Council, California Department of Water Resources, and others.
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In 2024, the CAL FIRE Butte Unit conducted the following:
Fuel Reduction Broadcast Burn Total
Acres Treated 819 877 1,696
Personnel Hours 10,023 2,729 12,752
Equipment Hours 5,318 1,244 6,562
The countywide Defensible Space Inspection Program focuses on public education for wildfire preparation as it relates to defensible space, home hardening, zone awareness, and evacuation planning.
In addition to the career DSI staff detailed elsewhere in this CWPP, 15 California Conservation Corps (CCC) members were trained under CAL FIRE’s Defensible Space Assessment Program. Additional CCC and citizen assessment trainings are scheduled in 2025, which will increase the number of trained personnel available locally.
2024 CAL FIRE Butte Unit Defensible Space Inspection Program statistics:
Residents Contacted During Inspections 6,466 Total Inspections Completed 10,524 Residents Reached at Community Events 12,205 Total Parcels Inspected 6,466 Total Residents Contacted 18,671 Follow-up Inspections 1,866 Real Estate (AB38) Inspections 151 1st Inspection Compliance 67% Qualified Entity Personnel Trained 15 2nd Inspection Compliance 85% Qualified Entity Assessments 52 Code Enforcement Referrals 107 2024 CAL FIRE Butte Unit Fire Marshal and Fire Protection Planning statistics:
Residential Plan Review 351 Tentative Parcel Map 7
Non-Residential Plan Review 82 Tentative Subdivision Map 3 Residential Final Inspection 304 General Plan Amendment 1 Non-Residential Final Inspection 73 Planned Unit Development 1 Pre-Development Review 7 Use Permit 5
Lot Line Adjustment 13 Minor Use Permit 1
Legal Lot Determination 4 Parade Permit 5
Parcel Merger 2 Title 19/SB 1205 Inspections 194
2024 CAL FIRE Butte Unit Public Information Statistics:
211 Call Center Activations 2 Social Media Postings 1,000+ Call Center Phone Calls Received 5,750 Facebook Followers 78,000 Call Center Incoming Text Messages 4,089 Instagram Views 23,300 Total Call Center Contacts 9,839 X/Twitter Followers 47,500 Volunteers In Prevention 14 YouTube Views 185,249
Education Programs 59 YouTube Subscribers 1,660
Residents Reached 140,000 Media Releases/Fact Sheets 81 Page | K-2 597
2025 Butte County Community Wildfire Protection Plan
CAL FIRE Butte Unit Law Enforcement Statistics
Arrests for Arson 25 Warrants Authorized 63
Arrests for Other Crimes
Subpoenas Received
Detailed Investigations
LE38/Hazard Inspections
4 50
108
123
Citations Issued (Misdemeanor)
Assists to Other Law Enforcement Agencies
Public Records Act Requests Received
16 49
162
Garrett Sjolund, Unit Chief, CAL FIRE Butte Unit Date
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Town of Paradise
Council Agenda Summary
Date: May 13, 2025
Agenda Item: 6(c)
ORIGINATED BY: Susan Hartman, Community Development Director – Planning & Wastewater
REVIEWED BY: Jim Goodwin, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Ag-Residential Zoning and Animal Regulations Discussion
LONG TERM
RECOVERY PLAN:
No
COUNCIL ACTION REQUESTED:
1. Provide staff with direction on desired changes, if any, to the Paradise Municipal Code relating to agricultural-residential zoning and/or the animal regulations to present at a future council meeting.
Background:
At the March 11, 2025 Town Council meeting, staff and Council discussed fire risk management strategies including zoning amendments pertaining to livestock and broadcast burning. At the end of the conversation, staff were directed to prepare suggestions and/or recommendations on potential changes to the regulations for Council consideration that would potentially allow the keeping of livestock on properties zoned Agricultural Residential 3 and 5 acre minimum (AR-3 & AR-5) without a primary residence.
Analysis:
As discussed with the Council in March 2025, the AR-3 and AR-5 zones currently allow the keeping of livestock by right but does not allow ag buildings (only permitted in the Agricultural 10- and 20-acre minimum zones) and the animal keeping regulations require the establishment of a single-family residence with the keeping of the livestock.
Options included the possibility of permitting ag buildings, as animal shelters, in the AR-3 and AR-5 zones as well as developing regulations that would ensure the safe keeping of livestock without the benefit of having caretakers on-site.
After reviewing different strategies on how to accomplish those goals, staff identified three chapters in the zoning ordinance that would potentially require modification; the land use listings in the AR zones, the animal keeping regulations, and the zoning definitions. Additionally, staff would propose a separate Resolution document be adopted that sets the minimum standards, often referred to as “objective development standards”, for an animal management plan. The added benefit of an adopted animal management plan is that it would provide guidance for all zoning districts that potentially allow livestock in understanding what the Town’s minimum expectations are.
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Existing Regulations:
Zoning Livestock Keeping Ag Buildings Primary Residence AR-3 Permitted by right Not permitted Required
AR-5 Permitted by right Not permitted Required
“Private Stables” are permitted-by-right which allow for the boarding of horses owned by the occupant of the premises or the owner of the property.
Proposed Regulations:
Zoning Livestock Keeping Ag Buildings Primary Residence AR-3 Administrative Permit Permitted with Use
Permit
Not required
AR-5 Administrative Permit Permitted with Use
Permit
Not required
Amend the definition of “Private Stables” to allow for the boarding of all livestock instead of only horses which would be consistent with the Merriam-Webster definition of stables, stating “a building in which domestic animals are sheltered and fed”.
By changing the keeping of livestock from a permitted land use to requiring an Administrative Permit, which does not require a public hearing, staff has the ability to review, approve, and enforce an animal management plan as well as any general conditions of approval assigned to the Administrative Permit such as fencing requirements. Failure to comply with the conditions could lead to permit revocation through an existing process described in the municipal code.
With a relaxed, amended definition of ‘private stables’, landowners with an issued Administrative Permit for livestock would have the option of either building stables as their animal enclosure with no further zoning review, or go for a fully enclosed ag building with a Use Permit issued by the Planning Commission that would be conditioned solely for the ag uses found in the municipal code definition.
If the majority of the Town Council would like to formally consider adopting regulations governing the amendment of the livestock regulations and ag buildings in the AR-3 and AR-5 zones along with animal management plan standards, staff would bring back a draft ordinance and resolution for review after consideration by the Planning Commission.
Financial Impact:
Discussion of municipal code ordinances will have no financial impact upon the Town of Paradise. 600
Town of Paradise
Council Agenda Summary
Date: May 13, 2025
Agenda Item: 6(d)
ORIGINATED BY: Susan Hartman, Community Development Director – Planning & Wastewater
REVIEWED BY: Jim Goodwin, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Consider authorizing Town staff to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for qualified consultant firms to complete a comprehensive update of the 1994 Town of Paradise
General Plan
LONG TERM
RECOVERY PLAN:
Yes – Tier 1 Planning and Zoning
COUNCIL ACTION REQUESTED:
1. Consider authorizing Town staff to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for qualified consultant firms to complete a comprehensive update of the 1994 Town of Paradise General Plan. (ROLL CALL VOTE)
Background:
The Community Development Department is pursuing a comprehensive update to the Town of Paradise 1994 General Plan, which was last updated in its entirety in 1994. As is statutorily required, the Town has updated both the Housing Element (2022) and Safety Element (2024) post-Camp Fire but seeks a new contract with a consulting firm to assist in the completion of the five (5) remaining mandatory general plan elements and well as discuss and collaborate on any additional optional elements that would be beneficial in guiding the Town’s growth and rebuilding efforts.
In 2020, the Governor’s Office of Planning & Research (OPR), now referred to the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI), met with Town staff regarding a roadmap they’d assembled to assist the Town in its path towards a comprehensive general plan update. Utilizing that roadmap, staff initiated the updates of the Housing and Safety Elements first since state requirements for those elements are more specific and directive than other elements and had state adopted deadlines. They were also subject to external review from the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, which adds additional time to their completion. The Safety Element was the most recent element to be completed, having been approved by the Board of Forestry in 2024, allowing the Town to focus on the update of the remaining five elements under a new consultant contract.
Analysis:
The Town is seeking a consultant team that has extensive experience in preparing General Plans to assist staff in the preparation of an update to the Town’s current General Plan and subsequent Zoning Ordinances. It is anticipated this update may result in additional changes to the Town’s Land Use Map, Zoning Map, and Municipal Code. The major changes will come in the form of very technical issues such as climate change and sustainable community strategies, which will 601
require research and analysis from very skilled members of the consultant team. In addition, the consultant team must be prepared to conduct the necessary CEQA compliance documents.
It is expected that the update will involve data collection and analysis; formulation and organization of goals, policies, and implementation measures; and the coordination of interdepartmental meetings, Town Council interviews, and public participation to arrive at a refreshed strategy to guide and maintain the Town of Paradise for the next 20 years.
The update of the General Plan will need to do additional studies, data collection, and analysis in order to develop goals and policies that will be consistent with recent (last 10+ years) State law.
Staff will leverage existing studies completed post-fire, such as the Transportation Master Plan and the Long-Term Recovery Plan, to avoid duplication of efforts and costs where possible. The following are some, but not all, of the anticipated technical topics that the updated General Plan will need to address:
AB 32 and SB 375 (Climate Change Action Plan) have brought about some important changes in the planning process, particularly the relationship between state, regional, and local agencies. One of the most noteworthy aspects of these new laws is the requirement to coordinate local land use planning with State and regional policies regarding greenhouse gas emissions.
The 2024 Regional Transportation Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS) as prepared by BCAG.
The Circulation Element is not limited to transportation network issues; circulation now includes all systems that move people goods, energy, water, sewage, storm drainage, and communications. The Element should contain objectives, policies, and standards for transportation systems, including multimodal transportation networks and utilities. AB 1358 requires that the Town modify its Circulation Element to plan for balanced, multimodal transportation networks, and if necessary, consider modifying the Housing, Open Space, Noise, Conservation, and Safety Elements. Given that the Circulation Element by statute must correlate with the land use patterns, the land use plan and transportation network should be complementary. Multimodal transportation policies should link transportation planning and land use planning to support effective multimodal transportation networks that connect people with desired destinations. The needs of all users, needs of the community, traffic, demand, and impacts on alternate routes, impacts on safety, funding feasibility, maintenance feasibility, and regulations shall be addressed as well. Public Utilities Code (PUC) 21676(a) requires each local agency whose general plan is covered by an airport land use commission plan to submit a copy of its general plan to the airport land use commission for review and determination of consistency with the Plan.
Paradise is covered by the Paradise Skypark Airport Land Use Plan found within the Butte County Airport Compatibility Plan (2017).
The development and maintenance of an accurate color digitized General Plan Land Use Map.
The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to solicit and select a consulting firm to assist staff in drafting the General Plan Update and any requisite CEQA documentation. The RFP will be in circulation for six weeks, ideally launching immediately following the May Town Council meeting, with a recommendation being brought back before the Town Council at the August 12, 2025 meeting. Therefore, it is recommended that the Town Council authorize staff to issue the attached RFP document and authorize staff to review proposals, interview respondents, and make a recommendation for the preferred consultant.
Financial Impact:
602
There are no expenses associated with approving and circulating an RFP. The Town Council is not obligated to approve a contract by soliciting proposals. The actual project costs will be determined through the Consultation selection process.
The technical research, analysis, and environmental review for the proposed General Plan Update will span several fiscal years. Similar to the preparation of the 1994 General Plan as well as the completion of the updated Housing and Safety Elements, it is anticipated that the update of the remaining General Plan Elements will also take approximately three (3) years to complete.
Funding for the project will come from the General Plan Update account which is funded through a surcharge on development projects (building, engineering, wastewater, planning). To date, the 25+ year accumulation of funding totals $2.45 million with approximately $250,000 being added to the fund annually. These funds are exclusively set aside for comprehensive updates (5+ elements) of the General Plan as well as the statutorily required updates of the Housing and Safety Elements every eight (8) years. It is estimated that the RFP will solicit costs in the $1.5- $2M range, the cost of which will be allocated out over multiple fiscal years and will not create any financial impact on the General Fund.
Attachment:
General Plan Update Request for Proposals
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