That the City Council APPROVE THE FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. CC 2025-__ ENTITLED: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA HABRA, CALIFORNIA, DESIGNATING FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES.

On March 24, 2025, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFIRE) released its 2025 Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps for Local Responsibility Areas (LRA) throughout the state, including the City of La Habra.  The State Fire Marshal is responsible for periodically updating FHSZ maps for both the State Responsibility Area and Local Responsibility Areas as part of ongoing statewide efforts to reduce wildfire risk and improve public safety.  The purpose of the update is to more accurately identify areas at higher risk of wildfire exposure and to better inform local land use planning, emergency response, and building standards.  In accordance with Assembly Bill 211, local governments are required to adopt these maps by ordinance and designate the severity zones within their jurisdiction.

The updated maps identify areas within the City of La Habra based on the severity of fire hazards, with zones categorized as Moderate, High, and Very High risk.  According to the 2025 FHSZ map, there are two areas in La Habra that were identified by the State Fire Marshal as Moderate, High, or Very High Risk: a portion of the northeast section of La Habra, otherwise known as the North Hills, and along the southern border adjacent to the West Coyote Hills in the City of Fullerton (see Attachment 1, FHSZ 2025 map).  When compared to data from the 2007-2011 FHSZ maps, those two same areas were identified as “Very High” risk, and did not indicate “Moderate” or “High” risk zones.  This change occurred in 2021 with the adoption of Senate Bill 63 that now requires the distinction of all three FHSZ areas in the LRA.  Previously, only Very High FHSZs were required for adoption in LRAs.  

Under California Government Code Section 51179 (b)(3), cities and counties may not decrease the level of hazard designated by the Office of the State Fire Marshal. Also pursuant to California Government Code Section 51179, as amended by AB 211, the City Council is required to formally adopt the revised maps by Ordinance within 120 days of receipt.  The Los Angeles County Fire Department has reviewed the maps and does not recommend further expansion of the boundaries already established by the State-recommended map.

As required by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFIRE), the City of La Habra facilitated a public review and comment period for the updated 2025 FHSZ maps for the period of April 23, 2025, to July 11, 2025.  The City created a dedicated webpage on the City’s website (https://lahabraca.gov/1568/Fire-Hazard-Severity-Zone-maps) to inform residents of the updated FHSZ maps, the public review process, and next steps.  The webpage included links to a fact sheet created by CalFIRE and an interactive map wherein residents could enter their address to learn if their property is located in a FHSZ, and if so, at which level.  The information was also posted to the City’s social media pages and included a link to the City’s website.  The public review and comment period was open for 81 days, but no public comments were received. 

Therefore, it is recommended that the City Council adopt an Ordinance approving the updated 2025 CalFIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps for Local Responsibility Areas within the City of La Habra as required by state law. 

There is no direct fiscal impact associated with adopting the updated maps.