Fire Hazard Severity Zones –
Introduction May 14th, 2025
Government Code Section 54957.5
SB 343 Item 20 Agenda: 05/14/2025
REGULAR CC
Fire Hazard Severity Zones – History
History of California's FHSZ Maps
1982 PRC 4201 CAL FIRE Develops
FHSZ for the SRA
1992 AB 337 Requires FHSZ for VH
in the LRA
2009 First FHSZ Maps Release with
VH for the LRA
2021 AB642 and SB 63 Require
FHSZ to Include M and H in the LRA
2022 AB 211 Requires Jurisdictions
to Adopt via Ordinance FHSZ Maps
2024 FHSZ Maps for South San
Francisco Published
Fire Hazard Severity Zones – Defined
• Created by CALFIRE under the direction of the State
Fire Marshal
• Local jurisdictions are required to review and adopt the updated maps, ensuring communities are better
prepared for wildfire threats.
• Land Use Planning Maps that reflect a "hazard"
classification with respect to wildfire
What are FHSZ Maps?
Fire Hazard Severity Zones – Classifications
• All lands within a FHSZ are classified by one of three (3) ways:
• Moderate - Yellow
• High - Orange
• Very High – Red
• The updated maps are based on a science-driven and fieldtested model that evaluates multiple factors influencing fire likelihood and behavior
What are the FHSZ Classifications?
Fire Hazard Severity Zones – SSF Impacts
What Does it Mean for South San Francisco?
2025 FHSZ Map - SSF 2006 FHSZ Map - SSF
Fire Hazard Severity Zones – SSF Impacts
What Does it Mean for South San Francisco?