Council introduces ordinance adopting Cal Fire hazard severity map for Chico; staff flagged additional local high‑risk areas to revisit when state guidance is明确

The City Council introduced an ordinance adopting the fire hazard severity zones mapped by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) for areas inside Chico. Fire Department staff explained that state law (Government Code §51178) requires local jurisdictions to make the Cal Fire maps available and adopt them or add areas where local analysis supports higher hazard designations.

Cal Fire provided revised severity maps to the city earlier in the year. Staff said the state process allows local jurisdictions to increase the mapped geography (for example by adding high or very high designations) but does not permit lowering the state’s designation. The chief and staff noted the city’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) and Vegetation Fuels Management Plan identify additional high‑ and very‑high hazard areas — such as Lindo Channel, parts of Lower Bidwell Park and Chico Creek — that Cal Fire did not designate as high or very high in its mapping. Staff recommended adopting the state map now and not adding areas until the state issues more detailed implementation guidance on fire‑related building code, defensible space verification and potential insurance impacts.

The council voted to introduce the ordinance (first reading) and directed staff to submit the adopted ordinance and required documentation to Cal Fire within the statutory timeline. Members asked staff to continue to monitor state guidance and to consider adding city‑identified high‑risk areas when the state issues clearer rules for building requirements and defensible‑space verification.

No immediate change to building codes was enacted at introduction; the council’s action begins the local adoption process required under state law.