Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wildfire Resilience And Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board adopts joint strategy for wildfire resilience and sets hearing on state fire-hazard map
Summary
Supervisors adopted California joint strategies for sustainability, outdoor recreation and wildfire resilience as a guiding document and voted to set a July 1 hearing on adopting the state—s local responsibility very-high fire-hazard severity map—both passed 5-0.
The Madera County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution adopting the California Joint Strategies for Sustainability, Outdoor Recreation and Wildfire Resilience as a guiding document and separately accepted staff recommendation to introduce an ordinance adopting the state-recommended local responsibility area (LRA) very-high fire hazard severity zone map.
Supervisor McCauley, who led the wildfire-resilience item, told the board the strategy outlines four goals: integrating forest health with outdoor recreation, advancing inclusion and access, promoting health and well-being through outdoor recreation, and supporting economies tied to sustainable recreation. He said adopting the strategy is voluntary but makes the county more competitive for grant funding and aligns local partners behind shared goals. He said the county has discussed the strategy with the Connecting Yosemite Communities coalition and the Sierra Nevada Conservancy.
On the fire-hazard map, Community and Economic Development staff member Jamie Vaxx briefed the board that the map was delivered by the state fire marshal and implements California Code section 51179 (the local responsibility area map). Assistant Chief Justin McComb of CAL FIRE said there is no substantial change countywide to areas designated moderate or yellow range land and that the county does not have LRA areas placed into a “high” hazard designation that would change construction requirements.
Supervisor McCauley noted adopting the map is required to be listed on the Department of Insurance—s Fire Safe Community list, a status that helps with grant competitiveness and may influence insurance company considerations; McCauley said Firewise participation already yields savings and that the county—s inclusion would be positive for premium considerations. The board waived the reading of the ordinance and set the formal ordinance reading for July 1, 2025.
Both items passed by a 5-0 roll call. Staff said adopting the strategy is not a regulatory change but a policy guide to align county efforts on vegetation management, trails and recreation; adopting the ordinance on the mapped hazard zones will be considered at the July 1 hearing.
