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Board adopts Cal Fire hazard severity maps, seeks inclusion on state’s Fire Risk Reduction Community list
Summary
Supervisors unanimously adopted an ordinance adopting Cal Fire’s Very High Fire Hazard Severity maps for state responsibility areas; board members said inclusion on the state’s Fire Risk Reduction Community list improves grant competitiveness and insurer review.
The Mariposa County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted an ordinance on Sept. 2 formally accepting California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) maps designating Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in state responsibility areas.
The adoption—acted on at second reading—authorizes the county to submit the ordinance and associated maps to the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection under state regulations (14 CCR 1280.02). County staff said acceptance is required to complete one of the criteria for applying to be on the state’s Fire Risk Reduction Community list, which helps communities receive favorable consideration for wildfire-mitigation grants and prompts insurer review of local wildfire risk reduction.
Supervisor Smallcomb noted the county’s contract with Cal Fire for local fire protection since 2016 and said the maps were developed by Cal Fire and are used by the county fire department. "We have to have pulled all of our together by Oct. 1 when the application period ends for this cycle," she said, urging staff to complete the application to be included in next year’s list.
The board found the ordinance not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act and directed staff to file a notice of exemption. The motion to waive the second reading and adopt the ordinance carried 5–0.
Supervisors and staff discussed insurance-market pressures and catastrophe modeling in general terms; the board did not adopt local insurance regulation but noted the Department of Insurance is collecting information on mitigation work for insurer review.
This action aligns the county’s code with Cal Fire mapping and positions Mariposa County to apply for grant programs that prioritize communities on the Fire Risk Reduction Community list.
