How have the Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps changed?
Statewide, the acreage designated as very high Fire Hazard Severity Zones is reduced by 25 percent, the acreage designated as high Fire Hazard Severity Zones is increased by 57 percent, and the acreage designated as moderate Fire Hazard Severity Zones is increased by 33 percent. For detailed information on acreage changes by county, visit Publications. These changes are largely due to the ability to be more precise. In the previous map version, typically a minimum 10,000-acre zone size was used resulting in large areas of land being designated based on the highest hazard level found in that entire area. Refined modeling techniques and new, more precise data describing the potential fire environment has enabled the use of 200-acre parcel sizes in many cases which makes mapping more spatially refined. In addition, improved mapping science and a thorough model allowed for more consistency in how zones are rated.
Related Questions
- How is your assessment different from the Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) map completed by, and currently being updated by, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFire)?
- What is the History of the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone?
- How have the Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps changed?
