The CAL FIRE hazard maps are not used for insurance rates or underwriting decisions. Click here to learn more.
Insurance companies use their own computerized wildfire catastrophe models to determine which homes to write based on the risk of loss.
CAL FIRE’s hazard maps are required by law and their purpose is to drive local planning decisions, not insurance decisions.
CA 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 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, 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.
Very high fire hazard severity zones were originally established in 1996 (AB 337 – Bates Bill) and adopted by ordinance into the San Clemente Municipal Code, Chapter 8.22 – VERY HIGH FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES.
Local jurisdictions are required to designate the updated very high fire hazard zones within 120 days after receiving recommendations from CAL FIRE.
City of San Clemente Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map (JULY 2025) CLICK HERE for City of San Clemente VHFHSZ map
Additional Wildfire Information is available at:
CAL FIRE
Wildland Hazard/Building Codes
Fire Hazard Zoning and New Building Code FAQs
Fire Hazard Severity Zone Fact Sheet
Wildland-Urban Interface Building Code Fact Sheet
ORANGE COUNTY FIRE AUTHORITY
Are You Prepared For A Wildfire?
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