Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Cal Fire maps add acreage in Chino to wildfire hazard zones; city opens 30‑day public comment
Summary
The Chino Valley Fire Marshal presented newly released Local Responsibility Area fire hazard severity zone maps from Cal Fire showing about 1,000+ acres designated very high, 85 acres high and 321 acres moderate within city limits; public comments are open through April 30 and local ordinance adoption is required within 120 days.
Danielle O'Toole, fire marshal for the Chino Valley Fire District, briefed the City Council on newly released Cal Fire Local Responsibility Area (LRA) fire hazard severity zone maps and what they mean for property owners and city planning.
O'Toole explained that state law directs Cal Fire to map areas by estimated fire hazard (very high, high, moderate) using factors such as fire history, vegetation, flame length, ember exposure, proximity to wildland, terrain and weather. She said the city received its phase‑4 LRA maps on March 24 and that the map identifies roughly just over 1,000 acres in “very high,” 85 acres in “high,” and 321 acres in “moderate” within Chino’s boundaries; she noted much of the designated acreage is in the preserve and contains few structures.
The fire marshal said the map was posted to the fire district’s web page and that the city opened the maps for public review and comment on April 1; the public comment window runs through the end of April. O'Toole said state law requires local agencies to adopt maps by ordinance within 120 days of receiving them and to submit the adopted ordinance to the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection within 30 days of local adoption.
O'Toole outlined likely impacts for properties inside very high and high hazard zones: planning and development requirements such as updates to the safety element of the general plan, subdivision and CEQA considerations, adherence to building standards for new structures and property-owner obligations for defensible space and hazard disclosure at the time of sale.
Council members asked whether the acreage figures reflect vacant land rather than structures; O'Toole confirmed the maps identify acreage and not individual structures. The presentation was informational; council did not take legislative action that evening but staff indicated an ordinance would be scheduled for board/council consideration in the coming months in order to meet state timelines.
