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Yuba City Council adopts ordinance adopting CAL FIRE fire hazard severity zone maps for local responsibility areas
Summary
After a presentation from Fire Chief Alexander, the council introduced by title and waived the first reading of an uncodified ordinance adopting CAL FIRE’s updated fire hazard severity zone maps for Local Responsibility Areas (LRA). Council members discussed the difference between hazard and risk and the ordinance’s procedural requirements.
YUBA CITY — The City Council introduced by title an uncodified ordinance adopting CAL FIRE’s updated fire hazard severity zone maps for Local Responsibility Areas and waived the first reading after a presentation by Fire Chief Alexander.
Chief Alexander told the council the state’s maps identify moderate, high and very high fire hazard areas and that the maps released in February 2025 include portions of Yuba City designated as moderate, notably along river-bottom areas near Shanghai Bend and River Oaks. “These maps evaluate hazard, not risk,” Chief Alexander said, adding that hazard reflects physical factors that predict fire behavior over a long-term period while risk models used by insurers consider structure vulnerability and short-term mitigation such as defensible space and ignition‑resistant construction.
City staff said the maps were posted on the city and fire department websites on Feb. 13 to meet the public‑access requirement, that local responsibility areas must adopt ordinance designations within 120 days of the maps’ release, and that the city then has 30 days after ordinance adoption to upload the ordinance to CAL FIRE’s portal. Chief Alexander said LRAs cannot request decreases to state‑designated severity areas but may propose increases. He also said there should be no immediate change to the fire department’s ISO rating.
Councilmembers asked procedural questions and raised concerns about local control. City Attorney Mike Chaffin confirmed the council could amend the ordinance later if adjustments were needed, though state law limits certain local changes to fire safety standards. No members of the public spoke during the council’s public hearing on the item.
The council then voted to introduce the ordinance by title, waive first reading and proceed with the adoption process. The motion carried unanimously.
