Lincoln Council adopts state-mandated fire hazard severity maps after debate over accuracy

The Lincoln City Council on a unanimous vote adopted an ordinance designating fire hazard severity zones in the city in accordance with maps from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Deputy Fire Chief Anthony Mejia told the council the maps—based on fuel loading, topography and fire behavior modeling—identify moderate and high hazard areas and that state law (Government Code section 51178 and related provisions) requires local agencies to adopt the maps within 120 days of receipt. Mejia said the maps measure ‘‘fire hazard, not fire risk’’ and that they do not incorporate local mitigation such as defensible-space work on individual properties.

The maps, Mejia said, expand state attention beyond very-high zones to include moderate and high categories and could affect local requirements for defensible space, insurance underwriting and utility shutoffs on extreme fire-danger days. He recommended adopting the maps because state law leaves cities no authority to downgrade zones and because failing to adopt could expose the city to liability if a wildfire occurred in an area the state model classifies as higher hazard.

Council members and members of the public repeatedly criticized the maps’ methodology. Mayor Andreatta said she and staff ‘‘don’t agree with the maps’’ and that the state process relied too heavily on remote review rather than field checks: "all they did was do Google Earth, and they didn't really come out to look at anything," she said. Several residents and HOA representatives told the council the maps do not reflect on-the-ground conditions and urged better modeling and more state collaboration. Deputy Chief Mejia and council members said the city has attempted outreach: staff posted an interactive map online, presented to homeowners associations, matched grazing maintenance to mapped zones and increased preplanning and training in affected areas.

Councilmember discussion led to a clerical revision requested by council to change wording in the ordinance from "recommended" to language reflecting the statutory mandate; city attorney staff indicated that change would be made as a clerical edit. After the revision was agreed, the council moved, seconded and approved the ordinance by roll call vote: Councilmembers Pearl, Brown, Reedy, Eklund and Mayor Andreatta all voted yes.

City staff said the maps currently identify no ‘‘very high’’ severity zones inside Lincoln; most mapped areas are on the city’s outskirts and are classified as moderate or high. Mejia said the modeling is expected to evolve and that the department will continue regional advocacy for improved state modeling accuracy.

The council opened a public hearing and took public testimony; speakers thanked staff for outreach while expressing frustration at the modeling and at the limited options available under state law. The council recorded a unanimous vote to adopt the ordinance and directed staff to file the adopted ordinance with the state board of forestry as required by statute.

The city will continue public outreach and stated it will pursue regional coordination—through the California Fire Chiefs Association and related channels—to ask for more frequent updates and field-validated modeling from CAL FIRE.