Two months after probably the most harmful wildfires in Los Angeles historical past, Cal Hearth has launched up to date Hearth Hazard Severity Zone maps for the county. The surveys use varied standards to establish wildfire hazard areas and rank them on a three-tiered scale.
The maps, usually up to date each decade, can impression constructing and clearance necessities in areas deemed to be particularly hazard areas.
In accordance with Cal Hearth, the willpower of “hazard” is predicated “on the bodily circumstances that create a chance and anticipated hearth conduct over a 30- to 50-year interval, with out contemplating mitigation measures akin to house hardening, current wildfire or gas discount efforts.”
Recognized hazard zones are divided into three ranges — reasonable, excessive and really excessive. The willpower is made based mostly on quite a lot of components, together with terrain, hearth historical past, climate patterns and the presence of fireplace fuels akin to thick vegetation.
Regardless of the lethal Palisades Hearth, the West L.A. zones of Very Excessive Hazard in pink on the brand new map beneath — and particularly within the Palisades and Malibu — are largely unchanged.
2025 Hearth Hazard Severity Zones
Some areas across the Eaton Hearth, nevertheless, have been moved out of the Very Excessive Hazard Zone, whereas others have been moved into it. See beneath for the Hearth Hazard Severity Zones from 2007-2011, with the hash marks indicating zones of Very Excessive Hazards.
2007-2011 Hearth Hazard Severity Zones
As soon as the hazard zone maps are launched by the state, native jurisdictions can undertake them or amend them by rising the hazard stage for specific areas. Native jurisdictions can’t scale back the hazard ranges from these advisable by the state.
In accordance with the Los Angeles County Hearth Division, the company is just not recommending any additions or will increase within the Cal Hearth hazard zone map. The company famous that the up to date maps seemingly imply a rise within the variety of native parcels falling inside hazard zones.
“These modifications could affect constructing and vegetation administration necessities for properties positioned inside newly labeled hearth hazard zones,” in keeping with LACFD.
For an interactive map that may be manipulated to spotlight particular addresses and their zones, click on right here.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors should act inside 120 days to undertake the maps, that are used to information land-use selections and constructing requirements. The county is predicted to schedule public hearings for folks to touch upon the proposed maps, however particular dates haven’t but been decided.
Metropolis Information Service contributed to this report.
