(June 3, 2025)
Fire Department
DATE: June 3, 2025
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Aaron Osorio, Fire Chief
Dante J. Wiley, Fire Marshal
Subject:
Adopt the City of Richmond Fire Hazard Severity Zones
Ordinance
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact on this item.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
May 27, 2025
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The California Department of Forestry and Fire
Protection (Cal Fire) has updated the Fire Hazard
Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps to reflect current data and
fire risk modeling. On February 24, 2025, the City of
Richmond was included in the Phase 2 roll out of the
Local Responsibility Area (LRA). The City of Richmond is required to designate, by ordinance, moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones within its jurisdiction pursuant to Government Code Section 51179(a) and
adopt the LRA maps recommended by the Office of the
State Fire Marshal (OSFM).
AGENDA
REPORT
(June 3, 2025)
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ADOPT an ordinance (second reading) to designate Fire
Hazard Severity Zones within the City of Richmond as
recommended by the California Department of Forestry
and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) – Fire Department (Chief Aaron Osorio
510-307-8021/Fire Marshal Dante J. Wiley 510- 307-
8090).
DISCUSSION:
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (“Cal Fire”) through the Office of the State Fire Marshal (“OSFM”) has updated the Fire Hazard Severity Zone (“FHSZ”) maps to reflect current climate data and fire risk modeling. FHSZ are geographic areas designated by Cal Fire based on factors such as vegetation, slope, and fire history. The State Fire Marshal identified these zones by using the following criteria: fuel loading, slope, fire weather, and other relevant factors including areas where winds are a major cause of wildfire spread. These zones help determine appropriate mitigation strategies, building standards, real estate disclosures, and fire prevention measures to reduce fire risk. The matrix below stipulates fire prevention measures and minimum requirements for State Responsibility Area (SRA) and Local Responsibility Area (LRA).
(June 3, 2025)
On February 10, 2025, the State Fire Marshal rolled out Fire Hazard Severity Zones in Local Responsibility Area (LRA). The LRA refers to regions where local agencies are primarily responsible for fire protection and emergency response. The City of Richmond was notified on February 24, 2025, about the recommended Fire Hazard Severity Zones in LRA maps. The maps recommended for the City of Richmond include areas classified as moderate, high, very high, or a combination of these areas. See Attachment 2 for areas affected as identified by the State Fire Marshal, and Table 1 for the breakdown of the acreage and number of parcels within the City of Richmond.
Table 1
Acreage and Parcels in Moderate, High, and Very High within the City of Richmond
Classification Acreage Parcels
Moderate 915 624
High 180 584
Very High 4395 1661
Note. There are 684 parcels with overlapping designations. These parcels default to the highest zone in which they overlap.
On March 21, 2025, the City of Richmond created a website dedicated to Fire Hazard Severity Zones in Local Responsibility Area for public review and comment which can be accessed at www.ci.richmond.ca.us/LRA. The website contains fact sheets from Cal Fire, insurance information from California Department of Insurance, City of Richmond before and after maps, address/parcel lookups of affected areas, and a section for public comments (accepted through the website until May 20, 2025).
The City of Richmond also announced the LRA maps through the City Manager’s weekly report, the City Manager’s report to City Council, social media (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, X, Nextdoor), flyers, and postcards sent to affected addresses. Similarly, the City of Richmond conducted informational sessions to the Point Richmond Neighborhood Council on March 26, 2025, at the Richmond Neighborhood Coordinating Council on May 12, 2025, and during the Open House at Fire Station 63 on May 17, 2025.
On May 27, 2025, the Richmond Fire Department introduced an ordinance (first reading) to the Richmond City Council. During the presentation, staff provided an overview of the Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) background, as well as CAL FIRE’s zone determinations and updates. Staff also discussed LRA changes in Richmond,
(June 3, 2025)
including additions to the map, downgrades, updated zone requirements, building construction standards, defensible space guidelines, and outlined the next steps.
Pursuant to Government Code Section 51179(a), the City is required to designate, by ordinance, moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones within its jurisdiction. City staff recommend the City of Richmond adopt, through ordinance, to designate the areas identified and recommended by the State Fire Marshal as Fire Hazard Severity Zone within the City of Richmond.
This ordinance shall be effective thirty days after passage and adoption, and shall be submitted to the OSFM.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Ordinance
Attachment 2 – OSFM Local Responsibility Area Map
Attachment 3 – City of Richmond Fire Hazard Severity Zones Map Attachment 4 – Cal Fire Official Transmittal of Fire Hazard Severity Zones