On Wednesday, April 23, 2025, the Southern Marin Fire Protection District (SMFD) Board of Directors held the First Reading of an Ordinance to designate Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) in Local Responsibility Areas (LRAs), as required by the State of California under Government Code Section 51178.
This follows the release of updated LRA Fire Hazard Severity Maps by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire) on February 24, 2025. These maps identify wildfire risk categories—Moderate, High, and Very High—within the communities served by SMFD, including the City of Sausalito, City of Mill Valley, Town of Tiburon, and unincorporated Marin County.
Purpose of the Ordinance
California law requires local agencies to adopt the State Fire Marshal's map recommendations by ordinance within 120 days. Local agencies may not downgrade hazard severity classifications, though they may upgrade zones based on local conditions.
Public Review and Comment
- Draft Maps Available: March 26, 2025
- Comment Period Ends: April 28, 2025
- Public Hearing for Ordinance Adoption: May 26, 2025
- Submit Comments:
- Online: HERE
- Mail: SMFD, Attn: LRA PC, 28 Liberty Ship Way, Ste. 2800, Sausalito, CA 94965
What the Community Should Know
- These maps are created by CalFire under direction of the State Fire Marshal.
- SMFD is required to share them for community review and feedback.
- The maps provide vital guidance for safety, building standards, and wildfire preparedness.
Additional Resources
· SMFD LRA Ordinance Adoption Calendar 2025 (Updated)
· Video: Fire Hazard Severity Zones Frequently Asked Questions
· Video: Methods for Creating Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps
· CalFire Fire Hazard Information Page
· CalFire Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map Viewer
For questions or more information, please contact the Southern Marin Fire Protection District at info@smfd.org or visit www.smfd.org.
