California reclassifies many fire hazard zones

More than 4 million acres of California wild land have been downgraded from the highest level of threat in the first remapping of statewide fire hazard zones since 1985.

More precise modeling technology has enabled state fire officials to reclassify the land from very high to high hazard, said June Iljana, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Despite the statewide decrease in very high hazard areas, Los Angeles and Orange counties had increases in the acreage classified in this category.

The difference can be significant for builders or homeowners needing to replace their roofs. Under new building codes that take effect Jan. 1, those in very high hazard areas would have to install the most fire-resistant materials.

The acreage rated high hazard increased statewide by about 4 million acres partly because of new science on the potential for flying embers to ignite structures far from a fire, Iljana said.

The acreage in the third category, moderate hazard, also increased, reflecting the growth of the area under state fire jurisdiction.

Maps covering the portions of the state under local fire jurisdiction are being updated, and should be released next year.

The remapping was prompted by adoption of the new building codes by the California Building Standards Commission in 2005. The maps are based on a statistical model taking into account vegetation, topography, weather, crown-fire potential, and ember production and movement.

In the 1985 version, the fire model was applied to chunks of 10,000 acres. An area received the highest classification if any portion of it rated very high hazard.

The new maps are based on 200-acre units.

The tighter focus allowed many parcels to be reclassified, Iljana said.

Any property falling within the map area, whatever its classification, will be subject to the new building code.

Disclosure of the fire hazard status will be required during sales.

Other than the roofing requirements, the code generally does not make distinctions among the three levels. However, local planning and building agencies may use the state maps as the basis for more stringent codes.

After a series of public hearings over the last two months, public comment on the maps will remain open via the Internet through Aug. 1. Then Forestry and Fire Protection Director Ruben Grijalva will either adopt the maps or ask for amendments based on comments.

The agency has provided a variety of fire safety information online as well as an interactive map that allows individual property owners to determine whether their land is in any of the fire zones: www.fire.ca.gov/wildland_zones.php

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doug.smith@latimes.com

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Fire hazard zones

For the first time since 1985, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has updated fire hazard levels for areas in its jurisdiction, which does not include areas under local firefighting jurisdiction. Homeowners and developers in the shaded areas below will be subject to tougher building-materials requirements effective Jan. 1. Public comment is being taken online through Aug. 1. More information is available, including fire-hazard zones for individual properties, at www.fire.ca.gov/wildland_zones.php. Related story, B3.