Belmont presentation explains new state wildfire hazard maps and what ‘moderate’ designation means for residents

Fire Marshal Carissa Workman of San Mateo Consolidated Fire told the City of Belmont Council on May 13 that the California Office of the State Fire Marshal released updated Local Responsibility Area (LRA) fire hazard severity zone maps in February 2025 and that Belmont contains areas classified as "moderate" hazard but no "high" or "very high" zones.

Workman said the updated maps require local jurisdictions to adopt all three hazard classes (moderate, high and very high) for LRAs within 120 days of receiving the maps, and that Belmont staff have proposed modifying the city's fire code to add the moderate classification to local requirements.

Why it matters: the designation affects land-use and building standards, defensible-space enforcement and real-estate disclosures. Workman explained that adopting the maps lets the city enforce Chapter 7A of the California Building Code in applicable areas — a set of exterior,…