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Council introduces ordinance adopting updated fire-hazard severity zone maps from Cal Fire
Summary
San Marcos city staff presented updated Local Responsibility Area (LRA) fire hazard severity zone maps developed by the California Office of the State Fire Marshal; council introduced an ordinance to adopt the maps (no reductions proposed), and staff explained effects on defensible space and building code Chapter 7A requirements.
The City Council introduced an ordinance on May 12 to adopt updated Local Responsibility Area (LRA) fire hazard severity zone maps issued by the California Office of the State Fire Marshal.
“Cal Fire...came up with these maps,” said Kenneth Kim, deputy fire marshal, explaining that the updated maps incorporate vegetation, slope, wind patterns and newer fire-science modeling. He said the city is required to adopt the maps and is not proposing decreases; local jurisdictions may increase mapped severity zones but cannot reduce the state’s designation. The SRA maps became effective April 1, 2024, and LRA maps including San Marcos were released March 24, 2025.
Dan Barron, San Marcos fire chief, joined the presentation and noted the adoption itself has no immediate fiscal impact but could lead to future public education, planning-review, and infrastructure costs. Kim explained practical implications for residents: properties newly within a mapped fire-hazard severity zone become subject to defensible-space guidelines (for example, the 100-foot defensible-space principle) and, for major exterior building work, certain wildfire-resistive construction standards such as those in Chapter 7A of the California building code could apply. He said Department of Insurance rules prohibit insurers from using the maps to set rates.
Council members thanked staff and affirmed public outreach needs. Arcela Nunez of Universidad Popular provided written public comment endorsing the public release of the maps and offering partnership to increase preparedness among elders and non-English-speaking residents.
A motion to introduce the ordinance passed unanimously; the ordinance introduction adopts the LRA hazard designations as released by the state and does not add or remove areas locally.
