Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wildfire Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council Introduces Ordinance To Adopt CAL FIRE Moderate Fire Hazard Map; 56 Parcels Newly Covered
Summary
Corte Madera introduced an ordinance to designate a moderate fire hazard severity zone under state maps published Feb. 24, 2025; staff said most property owners already comply with similar Wildland-Urban Interface rules but 56 parcels will newly fall under the rules.
The Corte Madera Town Council voted May 6 to introduce an ordinance designating the town’s moderate fire‑hazard severity zone in response to new CAL FIRE maps, a step that starts the required local adoption process and will return for a second reading and final vote.
Deputy staff and fire inspector Chris Jewell presented the item after noting Fire Chief Ruben Martin was ill and absent. They said CAL FIRE published updated Local Responsibility Area (LRA) hazard maps Feb. 24, 2025 and that state law (California Government Code section 51179(a)) requires local jurisdictions to adopt ordinances designating fire hazard severity zones within 120 days of receiving the state fire marshal’s recommendations.
Staff said the science‑based maps classify areas by the probability of burning and expected fire behavior under extreme conditions. The maps, staff said, reflect hazards based on vegetation, terrain and historical fire behavior and do not incorporate localized mitigation such as home hardening or recent fuel reduction.
The town’s staff said most property owners already comply with comparable Wildland‑Urban Interface (WUI) rules adopted by Corte Madera in February 2008, and that the practical effect will be limited for a large portion of the town. However, staff and the fire inspector said the CAL FIRE designation will newly apply to 56 parcels (a mix of residential, commercial and some vacant lots), and those parcels will become subject to defensible‑space vegetation rules and ignition‑resistant construction standards for certain new development or substantial remodels.
Council members asked about coordination of the town’s WUI maps with the state maps and about whether the new designation could affect homeowners’ insurance. Staff said the town plans to update its WUI maps in the next code‑adoption cycle, noted the technical differences between hazard and risk models used by insurers, and said insurers use separate risk models that already incorporate multiple factors.
Council member Jim moved to introduce the ordinance; the motion passed unanimously. Staff said the ordinance will return for a second reading and adoption at the May 20 meeting.
Quotes in this article are from Chris Jewell and town staff during the May 6 public hearing.
