Council adopts first reading of updated wildfire hazard maps; new ‘high’ and ‘moderate’ zones added

The Richmond City Council introduced, on first reading, an ordinance to adopt updated Local Responsibility Area (LRA) fire‑hazard severity zone maps released by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) and the State Fire Marshal.

Fire Chief Aaron Osorio and Fire Marshal Dante Wiley briefed the council on the 2025 map update, which incorporated new weather and fire‑behavior modeling and added three tiered levels — very high, high and moderate — to refine local mitigation policy. The updated modeling used 30 years of fire history, terrain, vegetation fuel models and more specific extreme‑weather inputs, the chief said.

The new maps will not change Richmond’s existing annual defensible‑space inspection program for parcels already in the very‑high zone; staff said the updated mapping actually reduces the number of parcels subject to current very‑high inspections while adding a smaller number of parcels in the city’s East Richmond Heights area to the very‑high category. The maps also add high and moderate zones in certain parts of the city, and staff said those lower zones carry fewer mandatory inspection requirements.

Chief Osorio told the council that point‑of‑sale requirements would continue for properties in the very‑high zone, noting that Assembly Bill 38 requires a defensible‑space inspection prior to sale in very‑high zones. The council discussed outreach the department has done, including mailed postcards, community meetings and a public portal where residents could view mapped results.

The council voted to introduce the ordinance on first reading and scheduled a second reading/adoption. The vote on the introduction was recorded as unanimous with Mayor Martinez absent.