FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                          

March 3, 2025

Public invited to review and comment on

CalFire wildfire hazard severity maps

SANTA ROSA, CA – The public is invited to review and comment on newly published Fire Hazard Severity maps, which CalFire has updated to show areas of Sonoma County with the greatest wildfire risks.

The maps show areas of Sonoma County that have moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity, defined as having physical conditions that create expected fire behavior over a 50-year period. Sonoma County Fire Districts can recommend changes to the maps during a 120-day adoption period. Local fire districts must adopt these maps per Government Codes 51179 and 51177(e).

The adopted fire hazard severity maps impact development by dictating the materials and construction methods for exterior wildfire exposure, requiring a natural hazard disclosure during a real estate transaction, mandating a 100-foot defensible space buffer around a property, and triggering development standards regarding road width, water supply, signage, and other features.

These maps guide local planning and policy, not insurance decisions. You can view the California Department of Insurance response on their website.

For more information can be found on the following websites:

Sonoma County Fire Prevention and Hazardous Materials Division’s Fire Safe Regulations page.

Office of the State Fire Marshal Map Local Response Map 2025:

https://fire-hazard-severity-zones-rollout-calfire-forestry.hub.arcgis.com/

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 Media Contact:

Genevieve Bertone, Ed.D.

Permit Sonoma, Outreach Manager

genevieve.bertone@sonoma-county.org

(707) 565-1231