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Residents flag expanded Cal Fire hazard zones, landlocked neighborhoods and evacuation concerns
Summary
Public commenters said Cal Fire’s Feb. 25, 2025 update places more than half of Calistoga in moderate-to-very-high fire hazard zones, raising insurance and infrastructure concerns and calling attention to landlocked streets and mobile‑home park exits.
Several residents used the March 18 public‑comment period to urge the City Council to consider recently updated Cal Fire hazard maps and to address local evacuation bottlenecks as the city reviews housing and development projects.
What was said: Dan Herndon, speaking from High Rock Drive, told the council that Cal Fire released updated fire hazard severity zone maps for Local Responsibility Areas on Feb. 25, 2025, and that those maps now place “over half of the city of Calistoga” in “moderate, high, or very high hazard severity zones.” He listed proposed or planned developments that now fall inside those zones, including the Grama Street subdivision, Quarterm Ranch, Cinnabar Grove, Lincoln Avenue apartments and Silverado Terrace housing. Herndon warned that growing hazard designations could affect insurance availability and costs for new homeowners.
Additional safety concerns: Cindy Ant described existing landlocked neighborhoods with limited exits — including Grant Street, Emerald Drive, Cyrus Creek and Centennial Circle — and said mobile‑home parks such as Chateau Calistoga face blocked or constrained exits that could impede evacuation in an emergency. She urged the council to consider access and second‑exit requirements as projects come forward.
Related public remarks: Rose Leclerc thanked the council for vegetation management on Mount Washington (noting that goats and sheep have been used to reduce fuel) and welcomed a planned crosswalk on Lincoln and Brannon, citing senior and school‑age pedestrian safety.
Why it matters: Commenters tied the hazard mapping to planned housing projects and urged council members to weigh fire risk, insurance availability and infrastructure (especially water and sewer capacity) when evaluating development proposals.
Ending: Council members acknowledged the comments and signaled they would consider hazard maps and evacuation access during project reviews. The city manager noted that many regulatory demands now come from state agencies and regional boards, and staff said they will assemble additional facts for council review.
