Plumas County publishes updated LRA fire-hazard maps; board directs outreach ahead of June ordinance deadline

Planning Director Tracy Ferguson told the Plumas County Board of Supervisors on March 11 that the Office of State Fire Marshal’s updated 2025 Local Responsibility Area (LRA) fire-hazard maps will affect about 2,695 parcels in unincorporated Quincy, East Quincy, Chester and Sierra Valley and that the city of Portola’s limits are wholly within the LRA. The maps, posted to the county planning website, add “high” and “moderate” hazard categories to the LRA where previously only “very high” and non‑wildland (gray) existed.

Why it matters: parcels newly designated LRA‑high trigger material regulatory changes — most notably Chapter 7A of the building code for Wildland‑Urban Interface construction standards and an expanded natural‑hazard disclosure requirement for sellers — while LRA‑moderate carries few immediate code changes. Ferguson said the state’s methodology maps hazard (physical conditions over a multi‑decade horizon) rather than risk (which accounts for mitigation such as defensible space), and urged property owners to review the parcel‑level maps to determine site‑specific effects.

At the meeting, Ferguson explained the timetable and next steps: the maps must be made available for public review within 30 days of the county’s receipt, staff have posted GIS pages and supporting FAQ material, and the county is required to adopt an ordinance to implement the LRA by June 10, 2025 and transmit the adopted maps to the Office of State Fire Marshal by July 10, 2025. “We can’t go less restrictive; we can go more restrictive,” Ferguson told the board, summarizing statutory constraints on local changes to state maps.

Board members pressed staff on outreach and parcel‑level issues. Supervisor Mimi urged targeted, hands‑on outreach in Indian Valley, Taylorsville and Greenville and suggested working with Michael Baker International and local chambers to reach potential applicants and property owners. Several supervisors proposed town halls in Chester, Quincy and Sierra Valley, direct mail postcards to affected owners and coordination with Firewise and the Fire Safe Council to explain defensible‑space measures and Chapter 7A requirements.

Ferguson described examples of likely owner impacts: a parcel elevated to LRA‑high may require ignition‑resistant materials, changes to eaves and siding, and inclusion of the hazard designation on seller disclosure forms; LRA‑very‑high parcels remain subject to existing state minimum fire‑safe regulations. She also noted parcel splits and edge cases where a single parcel may intersect multiple hazard categories and said staff would compile a refined parcel‑level table and cost estimate for a direct‑mail notification program.

What’s next: staff will bring cost estimates and an outreach plan back to the board, schedule public meetings and coordinate with local fire chiefs and Cal Fire staff where possible; the board indicated it will consider a formal ordinance for adoption at or before the June 10 hearing deadline. The county’s planning pages now host the public maps and FAQs for immediate review.

Quote: Planning Director Tracy Ferguson said the state’s mapping is hazard‑based and “we can go more restrictive, we cannot go less restrictive,” urging property owners to examine parcel details and participate in the public review process.

Ending: The board received the information and provided direction on outreach; staff will return with cost estimates and a public‑engagement schedule ahead of the June ordinance hearing.