Marin County residents are bracing for potential changes following the release of updated fire hazard severity maps by Cal Fire, which aim to clarify the wildfire risks across the Bay Area. These long-awaited maps, published on February 28, 2025, encompass local regions and highlight areas under significant threat from wildfires.
Cal Fire’s updated maps reveal patterns already known to officials, yet they possess the potential to shape future enforcement of state fire safety laws. Todd Lando, president of Fire Safe Marin, expressed his satisfaction with the release, noting its importance for informing local decisions on fire hazard management.
“My initial feeling is one of relief; these maps have been long overdue,” Lando said. “They will provide leverage to move forward on necessary decisions based on fire hazard information.”
The maps were mandated by the state to identify wildfire hazards within “local responsibility areas,” which include communities with their own fire agencies. Jason Weber, chief of the Marin County Fire Department, underscored the maps' ability to promote awareness around fire risks both locally and statewide.
“The maps bring attention to the wildfire issues we face, whether one lives in suburban areas or hillside communities,” Weber stated. “This overarching message is the biggest takeaway from this release.”
The updated maps support the enforcement of the so-called “zone zero” law, which requires homeowners to remove flammable materials from within 5 feet of their properties. While the law is yet to come fully online, the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection is working on developing its regulations. Lando highlighted the law's potential to lead to significant changes for many properties, seeing it as one of the most effective measures to mitigate wildfire damage.
“It’s likely to create serious modifications to numerous properties,” Lando explained, advocating for broader compliance with fire safety codes as the wildfires grow more intense across the state.
Another piece of legislation, Assembly Bill 38, mandates inspections and disclosures for wildfire hazards whenever real estate transactions occur, affecting buildings located within the high and very high hazard zones identified by the maps. Lando added, many jurisdictions have already voluntarily reached higher standards for wildfire prevention, paving the way for easier enforcement of fire regulations.
Amongst local municipalities, San Rafael exemplifies proactive strategies, with city officials already implementing stricter vegetation standards for wildfire safety on the over 5,900 parcels identified as being at moderate to high risk.
“We understand fire does not respect boundaries,” said Quinn Gardner, director of emergency management for San Rafael. “By implementing good defensible space and home hardening initiatives, we can help protect our residents against wildfire threats.”
According to the mapped data, some areas of Marin County are categorized as having moderate risk, whereas locations such as Mill Valley and Sausalito are designated as high or very high hazard zones. These classifications hold considerable consequences, particularly as local communities adjust to comply with state regulations.
“This map reflects our knowledge of the existing fire risks,” Weber said. “Many areas of the county have high or very high risk classifications, and when strong winds are involved, it increases those risk levels significantly.”
Cal Fire’s mapping methodology involved analyzing factors such as burnable vegetation, terrain, and weather conditions, particularly accounting for the influence of wind. Nonetheless, the agency acknowledged the limitations of the maps, stating they do not factor recent wildfire mitigation efforts and home hardening, which may impact actual on-ground conditions.
Mark Brown, executive director of the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority, raised concerns about the state’s broad classifications. He stressed the need for specificity, cautioning against oversimplifying risky areas based on average weather conditions instead of modeling extreme weather scenarios, which often lead to devastating wildfires.
“We are using more specific data to analyze fire prevention efforts, focusing on extreme weather conditions, as those factors are pivotal during wildland-urban interface incidents,” Brown remarked.
Lando acknowledged the subjective nature of hazard classification, reflecting the varied interpretations of fire risk across jurisdictions. While the maps aim to facilitate the assessment of wildfire hazards, he cautioned against expecting them to reveal previously unknown risks.
“There was never any surprise; we understood our fire risks,” Lando stressed, emphasizing the political will required to address fire safety proactively through legislative means.
Historically, Marin's fire agencies leaned on earlier fire hazard maps relying heavily on defined wildland-urban interface boundaries for developmental codes and maintenance regulations. Over time, fire experts extended urban interface definitions to encompass wider at-risk areas.
The importance of recognizing increased risk areas remains at the forefront of fire prevention strategies, with Weber advocating for adapting local ordinances to reflect current realities and respond dynamically to firefighting needs.
“Fire doesn’t care whether it’s labeled as high or moderate risk; it will burn with destructive force,” Weber stated. “Our ordinances should reflect this reality.”
The updated fire hazard severity maps will officially go live on April, following incomplete feedback from the local municipalities. These maps will be publicly accessible on Cal Fire’s official website, facilitating community engagement and advocacy around mitigation efforts and fire prevention strategies.