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Council delays adopting state's updated fire hazard severity map to review ordinance language
Summary
Staff said state maps designate the entire city very high fire hazard severity (including the airport); after public concern about insurance and exemptions, council voted to table the ordinance to review code language and possible local standards.
Staff presented the state's updated fire hazard severity zone maps and said the new maps designate the entire city of Dunsmuir, including the airport, as a very high fire hazard severity zone. "These maps are set by CalFire ... it is state law that we have to adopt the new map," staff explained.
A member of the public raised concerns about ordinance language and potential effects on homeowner insurance and exemptions. The commenter pointed specifically to recently amended code sections and asked the city to examine possible local exemptions under section 51182 and 511a3. Council members explained that adoption of the state map is required but that local building codes and exemption processes interact with state treatment and that more legal and technical review was needed. The council voted to table the ordinance to the next meeting to allow staff and the city attorney to examine the ordinance text and related building code implications.
Council members noted that the map itself has little change for the city but that the local regulatory and insurance consequences merit careful review before formal adoption by ordinance.
