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)?
In general, the state-wide FHSZ map is completed at coarse spatial and temporal scales, and does not include structures. This means that an area of the FHSZ map gives a more general depiction of baseline or underlying hazard – for example, the hazard posed by living in an area that has steep topography or is highly forested. However, this does not mean that there aren’t things you can do to mitigate hazard on your property – indeed, if your community is in a hazard zone, it is even more important that structures are as fire safe as possible. Completing a parcel-based assessment for your community is complementary to the statewide work being completed by CALFire – the FHSZ map is useful for understanding hazards at a larger scale, and a parcel-specific assessment can help local communities to target areas for hazard reductions.
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)?
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