Santa Clara County Fire presents new LRA fire-hazard severity maps, outlines local impacts and timeline

Santa Clara County Fire Assistant Chief Hector Estrada told the Cupertino City Council on April 15 that the state—9s updated Local Responsibility Area (LRA) fire hazard severity maps, released to local governments in February 2025, require cities to post the maps for public comment and adopt them locally by June 24, 2025.

Estrada said the maps classify areas as moderate, high or very high based on modeled fire behavior and factors including vegetation, slope and historic winds. He emphasized that the maps identify hazard under existing conditions rather than the later, controllable measure known as "risk." "The maps are primarily focused on identifying fire hazard," Estrada said, adding that steps such as home hardening and defensible space can reduce risk even in high-hazard zones.

The assistant chief outlined the maps' legal and technical background: early statewide mapping was prompted by the 1980 Panorama fire and later by the Oakland Hills and CZU Lightning Complex fires; state laws and bills since the 1980s and 1990s (which he cited during his presentation by name and year) shaped the current mapping and the requirement for local adoption. He also cited Government Code 51179 as limiting local governments from reducing mapped hazard levels and noting that any local increase would require significant justification and coordination with CAL FIRE.

Estrada said Cupertino's previous adopted map dated to a 2007 baseline. The new 2025 LRA map is more comprehensive and uses updated modeling and vegetation data; the larger mapped footprint prompted substantial public questions after the maps were released. "People were very surprised by seeing such a stark change," he said, noting improved data, growth in vegetation and methodological updates as likely contributors to the larger hazard footprint. He encouraged the city and residents to seek the technical documentation CAL FIRE used and said staff is working with CAL FIRE to obtain more details.

Estrada walked through practical implications for property owners: potential WUI (wildland-urban interface) building standards for new construction, requirements for defensible space and annual fuel inspections in some areas, and hazard real estate disclosures at point of sale. He also flagged potential insurance-market consequences and pointed to guidance from the California Department of Insurance and its commissioner on how insurers use risk models. He offered links and public-facing FAQs and urged residents to pursue Firewise community organization and phased approaches to home-hardening for existing structures.

Council members asked procedural questions about the local adoption timeline and the city—9s ability to request parcel-level adjustments, and Estrada said the council may propose additions but any upward change requires "significant justification" and CAL FIRE cooperation. He encouraged staff and residents to use the 120-day adoption window to gather data and, if warranted, pursue limited map refinements in coordination with state officials.

Estrada said staff will publish the presentation and update the FAQ to reflect new information. He also offered to answer follow-up questions routed through city staff. The presentation drew no formal council action; it was provided as information to prepare Cupertino for the coming local-adoption process.

Ending

Estrada closed by stressing resident preparedness and neighborhood organization: creating Firewise communities, pursuing defensible space and incremental home-hardening measures are practical ways to reduce the local risk that follows from the static hazard designation on the state map. The city and county will continue to coordinate with CAL FIRE and post additional technical materials for public review.