POINT ARENA CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
AGENDA ITEM: VII C
MEETING DATE: 3/25/2025
TITLE
Point Arena Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map
RECOMMENDED ACTION
No action is required at this time.
ANALYSIS
CAL FIRE has updated the Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps, defining the local responsibility area for Point Arena and Redwood Coast Fire Department (RCFD). These maps were released on February 24, 2025, as part of Phase 2 of the rollout plan. The maps represent a scientific assessment of wildfire hazards, which are critical for informing building codes, defensible space requirements, and land-use planning to enhance community safety.
In accordance with regulatory requirements, local agencies are mandated to:
• Provide the maps for public comment within 30 days of receipt, with a deadline of March 26, 2025. Link to map and survey: Mendocino County - Fire Hazard Severity Zone Survey.
• In cooperation with RCFD designate Moderate, High, and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones by ordinance within 120 days of the release date, with a deadline of June 24, 2025.
• Submit the adopted ordinance to the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection within 30 days of adoption.
Local agencies retain authority to increase hazard severity levels but are prohibited from decreasing them. Please see attached, the Draft California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection Ordinance for Adoption. Maps that can be shared with the public are attached and can be found here: Fire Hazard Severity Zone Viewer - LRA.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact.
ATTACHMENTS
A} COPA Hazard Severity Zone Map
B} Model Ordinance for Fire Hazard Severity Zone Adoption
CITY MANAGER SIGNATURE
_________________________________
Peggy Ducey, Interim City Manager
City and County boundaries as of 10/22/24 (CA Board of Equalization) CAL FIRE State Responsibility Areas (SRA25_1)
CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZSRA23_3, FHSZLRA_25_1) Data Sources:
Daniel Berlant, State Fire Marshal, CA Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Joe Tyler, Director/Fire Chief, CA Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Wade Crowfoot, Secretary for Natural Resources, CA Natural Resources Agency The State of California and the Department of Forestry and Fire Gavin Newsom, Governor, State of California Protection make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy of data or maps. Neither the State nor the Department shall be liable under any circumstances for any direct, special, incidental, or consequential damages with respect to any claim by any user or third party on account of, or arising from, the use of data or maps. and other relevant factors including areas where winds
have been identified by the Office of the State Fire Marshal as a major cause of wildfire spread.
statewide criteria and based on the severity of fire hazard that is expected to prevail in those areas. Moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones shall be based on fuel loading, slope, fire weather, Government Code section 51178 requires the State Fire
Marshal to identify areas in the state as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones based on consistent Federal Responsibility
Area (FRA)
Unzoned LRA
Incorporated City
Projection: NAD 83 California Teale Albers
Scale: 1:20,000 at 11" x 17"
Km 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6
Mi 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
High Moderate
Fire Hazard Severity Zones in State Responsibility Area (SRA), Effective April 1, 2024
High Moderate
Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) in Local Responsibility Area (LRA), as Identified by the State Fire Marshal
Point Arena
PortRd
Bluff Top Rd
School St
UNINCORPORATED
MENDOCINO CO.
UNINCORPORATED
MENDOCINO CO.
1 M E N D O C I N O C O
.
February 24, 2025
As Identified by the
State Fire Marshal
Local Responsibility Area
Fire Hazard Severity Zones
CITY OF POINT ARENA – MENDOCINO COUNTY
REQUIREMENTS FOR WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE AREAS
2022 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE SUPPLEMENT—BLUE 49-7 EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2024 SECTION 4911
MODEL ORDINANCE FOR FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE ADOPTION
ORDINANCE NO.
An ordinance of the City (or County or District) of to designate fire hazard severity zones.
The Council (or Board) of the ordains as follows:
The City (or County or District) hereby designates the Fire Hazard Severity Zones as recommended by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection pursuant to Government Code Section 51178.
Or
The City (or County or District) hereby designates areas not identified as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones by the State Fire Marshal, as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones following a finding supported by substantial evidence in the record that the requirements of Government Code Section 51182 are necessary for effective fire protection within the area.
(and/or)
The City (or County or District) hereby designates areas not identified as Moderate and High Fire Hazard Severity Zones by the State Fire Marshal, as Moderate and High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, respectively.
The map, approved by the city (or county or district), is hereby incorporated by reference, and entitled “City (or County or District) Fire Hazard Severity Zones.” Dated ( ).
The official map is also located electronically on the following website:
On the motion of Member , seconded by Member:
The roll call vote:
Ayes: Noes: Abstain: Absent:
The foregoing ordinance was passed and adopted this day of , 20 Ordinance
(Name)
(City or County or Board of )
Attest: Approved as to form:
(Name) (Name)
Clerk City or County or District Counsel