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LRA Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) Map
Local Responsibility Area (LRA) Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) Official Hazard Map/Ordinance Adoption
Notice of Adoption of Ordinance - posted 6/24/2025
FINAL ORDINANCE No. 25-1159 (including Exhibit "A")
FINAL RESOLUTION No. 25-9023 (including Exhibit "A")
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Notice of Public Hearing - Plumas County Board of Supervisors
Tuesday, June 3, 2025 and continued to Tuesday, July 10, 2025
11:00 AM at the Board of Supervisors, Room 308, Courthouse, 520 Main Street, Quincy, CA
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Official hazard map entitled “Plumas County – Unincorporated LRA Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zones as Identified by the State Fire Marshall” (dated January 22, 2025)
6.3.25 Board of Supervisors Staff Report
DRAFT Ordinance with Exhibit "A"
On June 3, 2025, Planning Department staff recommends the Plumas County Board of Supervisors receive a staff report on the proposed Ordinance, introduce and waive the first reading, open the public hearing and receive public comment, and continue the public hearing to the next regularly scheduled Board of Supervisors meeting on June 10, 2025, for consideration of adoption of the Ordinance by adoption of a Board of Supervisors Resolution. Pursuant to Government Code Sec. 51179(a), Plumas County must adopt the 2025 LRA Moderate, High, and Very High FHSZs in the unincorporated area of the County by ordinance, with an associated map, within 120 days of receiving the maps on February 10, 2025, or no later than June 10, 2025. Then, Plumas County must transmit a copy of the ordinance/map adopted by the Board of Supervisors to the State Fire Marshall within 30 days of adoption, or no later than July 10, 2025.
CLICK HERE TO LINK TO THE STATE'S FHSZ WEBSITE
LRA FHSZ Process
The Office of the State Fire Marshal (State Fire Marshall) is mandated by Government Code Sec. 51178 to identify levels of fire hazard in the Local Responsibility Area (LRA) based on consistent statewide criteria and the expected severity of fire hazards, and Government Code Sec. 51179 requires the State Fire Marshal to make recommendations of fire hazard severity zones to local agencies (Sec. 51177(e)), for city and county designation and adoption by ordinance.
On December 19, 2024, Tracey Ferguson, Planning Director, attended a State Fire Marshall Fire Hazard Severity Zones Mapping webinar to learn more about the requirements and obtain resource information, including:
On January 22, 2025, Daniel Berlant, State Fire Marshal, CAL FIRE – State Fire Marshal, sent a letter to Tracey Ferguson, Planning Director, via email transmittal, that served as the official notification, as Plumas County has been identified as having Moderate, High, Very High or a combination of Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) within the unincorporated County area.
FHSZ State Fire Marshall Rollout Plan
The State Fire Marshall FHSZ Rollout Plan includes Plumas County in “Phase 1” starting February 10, 2025, which is the date the County received the 2025 LRA FHZS maps that evaluate “hazard,” not “risk” to include areas or zones of Very High, High, and Moderate fire hazard based on consistent statewide criteria and the severity of fire hazard that is expected to prevail in those areas (Government Code Sec. 51178).
“Hazard” is based on the physical conditions that create a likelihood and expected fire behavior over a 30 to 50-year period without considering mitigation measures such as home hardening, recent wildfire, or fuel reduction efforts.
“Risk” is the potential damage a fire can do to the area under existing conditions, accounting for any modifications such as fuel reduction projects, defensible space, and ignition resistant building construction.
LRA Areas in Unincorporated Plumas County
LRA areas in Plumas County are those where the “local government” is responsible for wildfire protection, which in the case of Plumas, is the responsibility of the local fire protection special districts.
Specifically, the areas of LRA in unincorporated Plumas County are within the Town of Chester, Town of Quincy, Town of East Quincy, and Sierra Valley.
Local fire protection special districts affected include Peninsula Fire Protection District (Chester), Quincy Fire Protection District (Quincy/East Quincy), and Beckwourth Peak Fire Protection District (Sierra Valley).
Make the LRA FHSZs Information Available to the Public
Pursuant to Government Code Sec. 51178.5 within 30 days (or no later than March 12, 2025) after receiving a transmittal from the State Fire Marshal that identifies fire hazard severity zones pursuant to Government Code Sec. 51178, Plumas County must make the information available for public review and comment, and the information must be presented in a format that is understandable and accessible to the general public, including, but not limited to, maps.
Plumas County must also post a notice (Government Code Sec. 51179(g)) at the office of the County Clerk/Recorder, County Assessor, and County Planning Department identifying the location of the map provided by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Government Code Sec. 51178.
This website has been established, making the information available for public review and comment:
APPROXIMATE PARCEL DATA TABLE (DATED 3.12.25 SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
Quincy / East Quincy LRA FHSZ Map
Science, Method, and Definitions for Geospatial LRA/SRA Model
FHSZ maps are developed from a geospatial model that is designed to describe relative wildland and urban-interface fire hazard potential over the long-term for all areas of the state. Different steps were taken for modeling FHSZ in wildland areas, defined as those where a fuel model can be applied, and non-wildland areas. Non-wildland includes urban, agricultural and barren lands, and water or wetlands. Wildland areas were scored directly based on data inputs within the wildland, and non-wildland areas were scored using a buffering routine that builds zones based on proximity to wildland as well as factors that reflect how conducive the non-wildland area is to fire spread. In addition, slightly different rules apply for zoning in State Responsibility Area (SRA) vs Local Responsibility Area (LRA) and Federal Responsibility Area (FRA). The modeling methods for building FHSZ are divided into five modules.
FHSZ Model Methods Describing Five Modules
FHSZ Model List of Sources and Documents
Methods for Creating FHSZ Maps (Video)
The zones must be based on fuel loading, slope, fire weather, and other relevant factors including areas where winds have been identified by the State Fire Marshall as a major cause of wildfire spread. These map updates are intended to enhance California’s approach to wildfire preparedness.
What are the key elements of the Fire Hazard Severity Zone model?
The fire hazard severity model for wildland fire has two key elements: probability of an area burning and expected fire behavior under extreme fuel and weather conditions. The zones reflect areas that have similar burn probabilities and fire behavior characteristics. The factors considered in determining fire hazard within wildland areas are fire history, flame length, terrain, local weather, and potential fuel over a 50-year period. Outside of wildlands, the model considers factors that might lead to buildings being threatened, including terrain, weather, urban vegetation cover, blowing embers, proximity to wildland, fire history, and fire hazard in nearby wildlands. FHSZs are not a structure loss model, as key information regarding structure ignition (such as roof type, etc.) is not included.
Definitions:
- Vegetation: Fire hazard considers the potential vegetation over a 30- to 50- year time horizon. Vegetation is “fuel” for a wildfire and it may vary over time.
- Topography: Fire typically burns more quickly and intensely up steep slopes.
- Climate: Fire moves faster and is more intense under hot, dry, and windy conditions.
- Crown Fire Potential: Under extreme conditions, fires burn to the top of trees and tall brush.
- Ember production and movement: Burning embers, known as firebrands, spread fire ahead of the flame front and can ignite buildings up to a mile away from the main fire.
- Fire History: Past fire occurrence of an area over several decades
Review and Comment by Local Government, Fire Protection Districts, the Public, and Others
To make a public comment, obtain hard copy maps for viewing, and for further information please visit the Planning Department at 555 Main Street, Quincy, or call or email Tracey Ferguson, Planning Director, at traceyferguson@countyofplumas.com or 530-283-6214.
Plumas County Board of Supervisors March 11, 2025
Agenda Item 4.E.1
STAFF REPORT
Receive and make available for public review and comment the updated 2025 Local Responsibility Area (LRA) Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) Map from the Office of the State Fire Marshall for the unincorporated areas of Plumas County within the Town of Chester, Town of Quincy, Town of East Quincy, and Sierra Valley; informational item and possible staff direction.
Plumas County Board of Supervisors April 14, 2025
Agenda Item 4.A.1
STAFF REPORT
PRESENTATION
Update Board of Supervisors and public on the proposed 2025 Local Responsibility Area (LRA) Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) Map from the Office of the State Fire Marshall for the unincorporated areas of Plumas County within the Town of Chester, Town of Quincy, Town of East Quincy, and Sierra Valley; discussion and possible action.
Comments:
Government Code Sec. 51179(b)(1) allows for Plumas County, at its discretion, to include areas not identified as Very High FHSZs, as Very High following a finding supported by substantial evidence in the record that the requirements of Government Code Sec. 51182 (i.e., defensible space) are necessary for effective fire protection within the area.
Further Government Code Sec. 51179(b)(2) allows for Plumas County, at its discretion, include areas not identified as Moderate and High FHSZs, as Moderate and High.
Furthermore, Government Code Sec. 51179(b)(3) directs that Plumas County cannot decrease the level of fire hazard severity zones for any area and may only increase the level.
Pursuant to Government Code Sec. 51179(d) any changes made by Plumas County to the 2025 LRA FHZS maps provided by the State Fire Marshall are final and are not rebuttable by the State.
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara’s Statement
How will the updated CAL FIRE maps affect insurance availability and affordability?
CAL FIRE’s maps are intended to drive local planning decisions, not insurance decisions. Under Commissioner Lara’s new regulation, Safer From Wildfires, finalized in October 2022, insurance companies must provide discounts for wildfire safety actions such as community mitigation and home-hardening, which CAL FIRE’s maps do not assess. In addition, insurance companies are already using risk analysis tools and models that go beyond CAL FIRE’s proposed maps in determining what properties they will underwrite.
California Insurance Commissioner Safer From Wildfires, weblink:
https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/200-wrr/Safer-from-Wildfires.cfm
Commissioner Lara’s new wildfire safety regulation will help increase access to insurance by promoting wildfire safety across the state. Reducing wildfire risks throughout the state is the primary way we can make insurance more available and affordable, and our regulation is a major step towards that goal. CAL FIRE’s maps support that goal through improving public education about hazard and the need for safety preparation.
For many years, insurance companies have been using alternate wildfire risk tools for determining where they will write and renew policies, and how much premium to charge a policyholder, not the Fire Hazard Severity Zones maps. Therefore, a change in designation on the maps for a single homeowner is unlikely to affect their insurance. The reality is that more accurate risk information enables homeowners and communities to reduce their wildfire risks, and Commissioner Lara’s new wildfire mitigation regulation clarifies what actions you should take to reduce wildfire risks. Once that regulation is fully implemented, if a homeowner or business owner takes those risk mitigation actions, they will be able to see a discount in their insurance premium.