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Cloverdale council adopts state fire-hazard severity maps, officials warn of insurance and compliance effects
Summary
The Cloverdale City Council voted unanimously to waive the first reading and introduce an ordinance designating state fire hazard severity zones after staff and fire officials described large map expansions and described mitigation steps the city will take.
Cloverdale — The City Council on May 14 waived the first reading and introduced an ordinance adopting the state’s updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps for areas of state and local responsibility, after staff said the new maps place substantially more city land into the “very high” category.
Council members acted after a presentation by city staff and Cloverdale Fire District Chief Jason Jenkins explaining the practical effects and needed local mitigation. The council’s action to introduce the ordinance passed on a voice vote, 5-0.
The maps are produced by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) and the state fire marshal’s office; staff said the city is required to adopt the state maps by ordinance within 120 days of receiving the recommendation. Alex, a city staff presenter, told council the latest map “is a pretty dramatic change” from prior versions and estimated “basically 10 times more area within the city is within the highest level very high fire, very high severity zone.” Chief Jason Jenkins, Cloverdale Fire District chief, said the designation affects preventative programs and day-to-day operations, and urged continued local mitigation efforts.
Nut graf: The measure does not expand the state mapping but formally adopts it at the local level; council members and the fire chief stressed that local mitigation — weed abatement, inspections, grant-funded fuel-reduction work and homeowner “hardening” — will be the city’s primary tools to reduce hazard and to try to blunt any insurance impacts.
Chief Jason Jenkins described how the district will respond to the designation: “Some of the things with this high fire severity zone mapping that are really gonna affect Cloverdale, are our preventative programs,” and detailed weed abatement and DSI inspections. He also said the district plans to expand physical access for fire crews: “What I envision long term is having fire truck, fire crew access to slow down and stop firefighters. Imagine a ring around our community.”
City staff explained requirements that come with a very high designation, including stricter building-code standards for new construction, homeowner disclosure obligations when selling property, and defensible-space guidance. Alex emphasized that the state maps indicate hazards, not precise risk: “They will say, you know, that these are a reflect a hazard, not a risk. And that you can, you know, deal with hazard through mitigation and other efforts.” He also corrected a prior staff-report typo: the defensible-space guidance does not require removing all vegetation.
Several council members and residents raised concerns about insurance: Chief Jenkins said insurers “are using this map” but that companies also use their own models. Jenkins added that while mitigation is valuable, the state told him individual parcel mitigation will not necessarily change the map designation: “So I said, okay. So let's say we have a hazard parcel ... Is it gonna change the map? And they say no.”
Two residents described local fuel problems. Bill Wege said an old logging road near Josephine Drive has heavy fuels and slides that make access difficult, and invited the chief to inspect the site. Susie Cummings, speaking about Cloverdale’s Firewise efforts, said homeowners are already acting: “Home hardening is also a very, very important part of that.” She urged education and partnership with the fire district.
Council members asked questions about whether mitigation could prompt map revisions; staff said the state generally will not reduce mapped areas based on local work, though grant programs and mitigation funding exist. Council member discussion noted the designation is effectively mandatory: the city must adopt the state maps or risk noncompliance.
Ending: The council’s motion to waive the first reading and introduce the ordinance passed 5-0; staff and the chief said they will pursue local mitigation programs, support for Firewise work, and seek grants to help implement fuel-reduction and defensible-space efforts. The council also discussed exploring possible carve-outs or clarifications for accessory dwelling units and will bring additional information back to a future meeting.
