Fire Hazard Severity Zones

Local Responsibility Area Fire Severity Zone Maps

View the New East Bay Fire Severity Zone Maps

On February 24, 2025, CAL FIRE released the 2025 Local Responsibility Area (LRA) Fire Hazard Severity Maps. CAL FIRE, in coordination with the Office of the State Fire Marshal, is required to periodically update these maps and severity zones and notify local governments before releasing updated severity zone maps for both the State Responsibility Areas (SRA) and LRA.

Maps

 

Check out the Interactive Map Viewer, where you can enter your address and check which zone your property is in. To search for your address, click the magnifying glass icon in the upper left-hand corner and enter your address. You can also navigate through the map by double-clicking on Phase 2 (the blue area) and zooming in on Emeryville.  Note: Emeryville's zone has not been designated as moderate, high or very high on the Fire Hazard Severity Maps. 

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FHSZ and LRA Legislation Key Points

  • Changes to the FHSZ classifications DO NOT affect how fire services are provided - our firefighters will continue to respond as always.
  • FHSZ Classification: Properties are categorized as Moderate, High, or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones based on terrain, vegetation, fire history, and climate conditions.
  • Fire Hazard vs. Risk: The maps indicate hazard potential, not immediate risk, and do not account for mitigation efforts like defensible space or fire-resistant construction.
  • Impact on Property Owners:
  • New construction and renovations in designated zones must adhere to Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) building codes.
  • Property sellers must disclose FHSZ designations during real estate transactions.
  • Will these changes affect homeowners' insurance?
  •  Insurance companies use risk models, which differ from hazard models because they consider the susceptibility of a structure to damage from fire and other short-term factors that are not included in the hazard modeling. Insurance risk models incorporate additional factors that change more frequently than those that CAL FIRE includes in its hazard mapping, which is built to remain steady.

For more information visit the CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zones website

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