Vacaville officials review new state wildfire-hazard maps as residents press insurance, mitigation concerns

Vacaville officials spent more than an hour on April 8 detailing newly issued state fire-hazard severity zone maps and answering residents’ questions about how the designations could affect insurance, building requirements and neighborhood safety.

Chief Chris Concepcion and Fire Marshal Jill Childers led the session, telling the City Council that the maps were produced by Cal Fire using updated weather grids and a model that emphasizes fuel, weather and topography — and now includes ember-cast risk. Concepcion said the state’s methodology means the maps identify a hazard “without considering mitigation measures such as home hardening, recent wildfires, and fuel reduction.”

Why it matters: The state’s updated map adds moderate, high and very-high classifications in parts of Vacaville where earlier maps showed none. A local designation of high or very-high hazard triggers California building-code 7A requirements for new construction in those zones, including ignition-resistant exterior materials and vents designed to reduce ember intrusion. Residents fear the designations could raise insurance costs or lead to coverage loss, and several urged the council to pursue additional clarity or legal options.

What the council heard and discussed

- How maps were made: Concepcion said the new maps use specific two-kilometer weather grids over a multi‑year period and that the model’s focus on embers and flame behavior produced different boundaries than earlier maps, which often stopped at city limits. He noted the state’s maps are intended to be stable for a decade and do not reflect local mitigation such as grazing, recent weed abatement or home hardening. “The science has changed a little bit — they take ember cast much more into consideration than they used to,” Concepcion said.

- Insurance and risk: Staff cited published statements from Cal Fire and the California insurance commissioner that differentiate hazard maps from insurance company risk models. As the presentation summarized, “Insurance companies use risk models which differ from hazard models because they consider the susceptibility of a structure to damage and other short-term factors.” The city attorney’s office also told council members the insurance commissioner promulgated regulations in 2022 directing insurers to consider mitigation when setting rates and that those rules are codified in state law.

- What the city can (and cannot) do: Childers and staff emphasized that state law requires local jurisdictions to adopt the recommended maps within 120 days after receipt, and that local governments may only increase a mapped hazard level or add areas — they cannot lower or remove an area designated by the State Fire Marshal. Childers said the city had published the state-provided map online and provided an interactive look‑up so residents could check parcels.

- Public comment and next steps: The city encouraged residents to submit comments and said it will send those public comments to the State Fire Marshal even though Cal Fire has declined to accept direct public submissions in this round. City staff also described planned local efforts: expanded outreach on wildfire preparedness (Ready, Set, Go), door‑to‑door education in neighborhoods adjacent to open space and continued enforcement of annual weed‑abatement notices. City staff said it will return to council with an update at a later date and will coordinate with county, state and insurance officials as questions continue.

Residents’ concerns

Dozens of residents attended and several spoke. People living near canals and in new subdivisions argued that water features, grazed pastures and cleared canal corridors function as defensible space and should be reflected in map decisions; others reported elevated noise and quality‑of‑life effects related to living near development riparian corridors. Several speakers urged the council to press state authorities for a transparent methodology, and to pursue avenues to ensure residents’ mitigation efforts are recognized by insurers.

Legal and policy context

Staff and the city attorney cited recent state legislation that expanded local responsibilities for fire hazard maps, including Senate Bill 63 (2021) and Assembly Bill 211 (2022), and said the city received the State Fire Marshal’s recommendations on Feb. 20, 2025. Staff also referenced new Cal Fire mapping methods and noted the Insurance Commissioner adopted regulations in 2022 to encourage insurers to account for mitigation in underwriting decisions (staff cited Government Code section 11349.3 and implementing Title 10 regulations when explaining the state framework).

Where this goes next

City staff said they will: (1) collect and forward public comments to the State Fire Marshal, (2) continue public education and local mitigation programs (including door‑to‑door Ready, Set, Go outreach and ongoing weed‑abatement enforcement), and (3) pursue legislative and administrative avenues for additional state-level transparency on mapping methodology. City officials repeatedly told residents that 7A building-code requirements apply to new construction in mapped high and very‑high zones but are not retroactive for existing homes.

Ending

Council members thanked staff for the briefing and several asked staff to continue outreach to state officials, Cal Cities and Sacramento lawmakers. Multiple council members also urged using the city’s existing mitigation programs — from weed abatement to defensible-space assistance — to reduce risk on the ground while the state’s map and implementation questions continue to be resolved.