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Residents tell council Cal Fire map changes are affecting home insurance; city staff to follow up
Summary
Homeowners from Turkey Creek Estate and 12 Bridges told the council that Cal Fire’s recent fire‑severity mapping has led to nonrenewal notices and higher insurance costs; staff said it is coordinating with Cal Fire and state lawmakers and will hold a Zoom meeting to answer neighborhood questions before formal map adoption.
Residents from Turkey Creek Estate and nearby neighborhoods told the council that new Cal Fire fire severity mapping is affecting mortgage insurance renewals and prospective buyers’ ability to obtain insurance.
Rhonda Linsek, a Turkey Creek Estate resident active on the Budget and Investment Committee, said several homes in her neighborhood received nonrenewal notices from mortgage‑insurance carriers and that homeowners are already seeing rate increases: she gave one example of a household paying roughly $7,500 after the change versus prior premiums of about $2,300.
Linsek said she and neighbors have been working with Councilmember Richard Pearl and that staffer Sean Scully has reached out to Cal Fire contacts and planned a Zoom call to allow residents to ask detailed questions. Scully told the council staff was exploring legal and procedural questions — including whether the city’s adoption steps are discretionary — and noted the city may have limited authority to contract the zones after submission; he said council would likely have a clearer update around the time of formal map consideration in about 30 days.
Scully said some short‑term mitigation might come from work required of developers in adjacent areas, and he and staff will continue communications with Cal Fire captains and state officials.
Why it matters: Changes in fire‑severity mapping can affect insurance costs and real estate transactions for homeowners; residents want clarity on impacts and immediate mitigation options.
