Kern County fire officials brief Taft on state fire‑hazard maps; council told adoption will trigger AB 38 disclosures and building changes

Kern County Fire officials told the Taft City Council in June 2025 that updated state fire‑hazard severity zone maps created by CAL FIRE must be adopted locally and will trigger real‑estate disclosures and building standards in some parts of the city.

The presentation, delivered by Kerry Wright of the Kern County Fire Department and Deputy Fire Marshal Sean Riley, explained that CAL FIRE used fire history, vegetation, terrain and weather data through 2020 to redraw hazard zones. Riley said the state issues the maps and local jurisdictions must adopt them under state law; some new requirements would apply immediately to sales and new construction in areas mapped as “high.”

Why it matters: Adoption will require sellers in newly designated high‑severity areas to provide the AB 38 hazard disclosure and could change building requirements for new construction in those zones. Council members asked how adoption might affect insurance rates, which properties will be subject to new building standards, and whether the city can challenge or amend the state maps.

Riley summarized how the maps are used. “The state actually creates the maps,” he told the council, adding that CAL FIRE’s models incorporate fire history through 2020 and factors such as predicted flame lengths and ember transport. He said the maps identify three severity levels — moderate, high and very high — and that the 2021 state law (Senate Bill 63, as cited in the presentation) extended local adoption requirements beyond very high zones to include high and moderate zones in the local responsibility area (LRA).

What changes for property owners: The presenters said AB 38 inspections and disclosures will be required for sales in high zones once the city adopts the maps into local ordinance. Riley explained that most building‑code changes affect properties in the very high and high zones and that the changes primarily apply to new construction: “Anything that’s existing is going to be preexisting nonconforming,” he said. He and others noted that moderate zones require map adoption but do not automatically carry disclosure or new building‑standard requirements.

Insurance and risk: Council members and residents raised concerns that the map designations could reduce insurance availability or raise premiums. County and fire officials told the council that the hazard maps are different from the risk maps insurance underwriters use. “These maps are not going to be utilized for any type of insurance rate hikes,” Riley said, summarizing conversations he and county staff said they’d had with the insurance commission and CAL FIRE; he added that insurers generally use underwriting tools that consider local fire stations, water supply and home hardening.

Timelines and appeals: Officials said the state issues and maintains the maps and that a full reevaluation is generally done on a five‑year cycle. Riley said the county intended to adopt the updated maps in its jurisdiction by July 3, and that local adoption takes effect once the city ordinance is adopted; he also said the state provided roughly a 160‑day local adoption window after map initiation for cities to act. Council members asked about the process to request changes; Riley directed residents to state channels (the state fire marshal FAQ and contact links provided via QR code) and said local fire agencies do not have authority to change the state maps.

Local code and guidance: City Planning and Building Director Mark Staples told the council the city has adopted the California Building Code and California Residential Code standards now in effect and that staff will update local code references when statewide code changes take effect (the city expected to adopt the 2025 code cycle by the end of the year). Staples said staff would overlay the state map layers on local GIS to review edges and provide more precise local detail for council consideration.

Next steps and direction: Council members requested that the city manager reach out to a CAL FIRE representative and invited the city manager to attempt to get CAL FIRE or other state representatives to brief the council. The council also discussed inviting an insurance‑industry representative for a future session to explain how underwriting interacts with published hazard maps. City Manager Craig Jones was asked to begin outreach to CAL FIRE.

Ending: County fire officials recommended property owners reduce vegetation and create defensible space as the most economical step residents can take now. The council did not vote on map adoption at the meeting; the discussion closed with staff direction to pursue further briefings and local mapping overlays.

Votes at a glance: At the same meeting the council approved several routine items by roll call (each 4‑0): the consent calendar (minutes, a $340,000 payment of bills, a transit audit receipt, a Federal Transit Administration application resolution, and parade street‑closure resolution), a $5,000 contribution to the Chamber of Commerce for the city’s July 4 fireworks show, and reimbursement of $1,694.73 to the mayor for airfare and lodging to attend an America’s Rural Energy Coalition meeting in Washington, D.C. (Roll call recorded yes votes by Council member Kreier, Mayor Pro Tem Bryant, Council member Waldrop and Mayor North.)