A Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) is a mapped area that designates zones
(based on factors such as fuel, slope, and fire weather) with varying degrees
of fire hazard (i.e., moderate, high, and very high). FHSZ maps evaluate
wildfire hazards, which are physical conditions that create a likelihood that
an area will burn over a 30- to 50-year period. They do not take into account
modifications such as fuel reduction efforts.
While FHSZs do not predict when or where a wildfire will occur, they do
identify areas where wildfire hazards could be more severe and therefore are of
greater concern. FHSZs are meant to help limit wildfire damage to structures
through planning, prevention, and mitigation activities/requirements that
reduce risk. The FHSZs serve several purposes: they are used to designate areas
where California’s wildland urban interface building codes apply to new
buildings; they can be a factor in real estate disclosure; and local
governments consider fire hazard severity in the safety elements of their
general plans.
This service includes proposed Fire Hazard Severity Zones for State
Responsibility Area lands and separate draft Very High Fire Hazard Severity
Zones for Local Responsibility Area lands. Moderate, high, and very high
FHSZs are found in areas where the State has financial responsibility for fire
protection and prevention (SRA). Only very high FHSZs are found in Local Responsibility
Areas (LRAs).This service represents the latest release of FHSZ. It will be
updated when a new version is released. As of August 2018, it
represents fhszl11_1 and fhszs06_3.