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Council introduces ordinance adopting updated CAL FIRE hazard severity maps, omits 'moderate' from some building-code requirements
Summary
The council introduced Ordinance 14-83 adopting CAL FIRE's 2025 fire hazard severity zone maps for local responsibility areas, amended to apply Chapter 7A ignition‑resistant building requirements to 'high' and 'very high' zones but not 'moderate' areas, and to use CAL FIRE's parcel geographic‑center designation for parcel-level determinations.
The Sierra Madre City Council on May 27 introduced Ordinance 14‑83 to adopt updated CAL FIRE wildfire hazard severity zone maps for lands within the city’s Local Responsibility Area (LRA), and amended staff’s draft to limit Chapter 7A ignition‑resistant building requirements to the 'high' and 'very high' zones while clarifying parcel‑level mapping methodology.
Why it matters: CAL FIRE’s 2025 maps reclassify lands that had previously been broadly designated “very high,” introducing three bands — moderate, high and very high — that affect defensible‑space and construction standards under the California Building Code and California Fire Code.
Presentation and council questions: Fire Chief Bartlett explained the maps are based on fire behavior modeling, fuel loads, terrain and ember exposure and tie to state code chapters including Building Code Chapter 7A and Fire Code Chapter 49. He said CAL FIRE’s map is the basis for state wildfire mitigation policy and that adoption enables consistent local enforcement of state‑mandated wildfire risk measures.
Council amendment and rationale: During discussion, councillors sought clarity about parcel‑level determination when a parcel overlaps multiple bands. Staff explained CAL FIRE’s public mapping tool provides an address‑based result; council members asked that the ordinance explicitly rely on CAL FIRE’s parcel geographic‑center method to resolve cross‑parcel ambiguity. Council also instructed staff to omit “moderate” from the Chapter 7A requirements in the ordinance so that Chapter 7A (ignition‑resistant construction) and related building‑code mandates apply to the ‘high’ and ‘very high’ zones only. Chief Bartlett and council members discussed implementation burdens and inspection scheduling; staff said the planned community‑risk reduction officer position will handle inspection scheduling once funded and that the department will coordinate with planning to manage the inspection workload.
Action: The council voted to introduce Ordinance 14‑83 as amended for first reading and scheduled final adoption for the June 10 meeting. Staff will return with a revised ordinance incorporating the edits to the map reference and Chapter 7A language.
