Wildfire hazard severity in Plumas County just skyrocketed, according to new state maps rating it across California. The new assessment maps are out for local review now with an approval deadline of June 10. The maps can impact everything from insurance rates to home values.
Just how different are the new assessments?
In Chester, the proposed new maps identify 657 parcels as vulnerable to “very high” severity fire — nearly 40 times as many as the current maps, which were created between 2007 and 2011.
In Quincy and East Quincy, 99% of parcels are designated “very high” severity fire hazard zones under the proposed maps.
In Sierra Valley, none of the 163 parcels included in the state’s current fire hazard evaluations were considered “very high” severity zones. The new designations rate 45% “high” or “very high.”
Overall, the proposed assessments put 93% of Plumas County parcels included in the proposed maps in a fire hazard severity designation ranging from “moderate” (yellow on the maps) to “high” (orange) to “very high” (red), Plumas County Planning Director Tracey Ferguson told The Plumas Sun. Under the current maps, 75% of county parcels are not rated at all.
The new assessments pertain only to areas designated Local Responsibility Areas, where mostly-volunteer fire departments have responsibility for fire protection. Specifically, the areas involved are within the towns of Chester, Quincy and East Quincy, and in Sierra Valley.
While fire severity maps for these local jurisdictions are more than a decade old, hazard maps for the 31 million acres under the responsibility of Cal Fire — almost a third of the state’s total area — were updated last year. Most of Plumas County is in zones where the state has responsibility for fire.
The Plumas County Board of Supervisors has until June 10 to adopt the proposed new fire zones. It can increase the fire hazard severity of parcels, Ferguson said in her March 11 presentation to the board. It can, “at its discretion,” include areas not identified as “moderate” and “high” <zones> as “moderate” and “high.”
The supervisors cannot decrease the severity of any zones, said Ferguson. That leaves them very little room to change fire hazard severity designations. They are responsible for contacting as many parcel owners as possible to participate in finalizing the fire zone maps by the June 10 deadline.
Fire severity increasing statewide
Plumas County is part of the state’s rollout of new fire hazard maps released Feb. 10. The new maps will replace the current ones, released from 2007 through 2011. They reflect the growing intensity of wildfires in the West. Climate-driven droughts and longer, more dangerous wildfire seasons are increasing fire vulnerability throughout California. Statewide 2.3 million acres of local land are now facing designations of “high” or “very high” danger of wildfires.
In February, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order citing the increasing threat of wildfire. “We are living in a new reality of extremes. Believe the science — and your own damn eyes: Mother Nature is changing the way we live and we must continue adapting to those changes,” Newsom said in a press release announcing the executive order.
Many areas where fire was previously considered a “moderate” hazard have been reassessed as “high” hazard areas.
What do the changes mean?
The new designations give homeowners increased responsibility for fire protection. In a “high” zone they are required to disclose the level of fire hazard severity to potential buyers and others. Other required real estate disclosures include a natural hazards disclosure statement reporting if the property is in a “very high” hazard zone. The new maps also add that responsibility to homeowners in a “high” zone, Ferguson said.
Owners of parcels in “high” and “very high” zones must now follow Chapter 7A requirements of the California Building Code. Among them are standards for materials and construction methods specific for exterior wildfire exposure in high-severity hazard zones,
A “very high” zone adds several requirements: complying with the state subdivision and environmental quality acts. It can trigger changes in the county’s general plan, Ferguson said.
Much of the focus for homeowners in “very high” zones is focused on defensible space. CalFire enforces fire safety standards within a 100-foot perimeter of homes, requiring vegetation to be removed in varying degrees: The closer to the house itself, the more stringent the standards for vegetation. The most intense fuels’ reduction is closest to the house.
The changes put pressure on homeowners, said Supervisor Tom McGowan. “Now a homeowner has to prove to an insurance company all the things they are doing to reduce their insurance premium,” said McGowan, who represents the Chester area.
The maps are intended to drive local planning decisions, not insurance decisions, Ferguson said.
McGowan emphasized that the maps refer only to parcels in areas protected by local fire protection agencies. “If the state is responsible for putting out the fire, none of this would be necessary,” he said.
Getting the word out
To comply with the June 10 deadline for approving final maps, the supervisors are contacting as many parcel owners as possible. “Our responsibility is to support an outreach program,” said Supervisor Mimi Hall.
The supervisors discussed possibilities that ranged from direct mail to individual property owners to town hall meetings. Ferguson estimated the cost of sending mailings directly to owners of all the 2,695 parcels impacted by the changes at $1,500 for postage and materials. She plans to will present her full findings to the supervisors at a future meeting.
Ferguson met March 13 with the Plumas County Firesafe Council to share the new designations. She has asked to be on the council’s April 10 agenda to make a more formal presentation. Meanwhile, the Firesafe Council will begin disseminating information about the proposed fire hazard severity maps, Ferguson said.
The supervisors’ outreach should include local Cal Fire representatives, said Supervisor Dwight Ceresola.
Plumas County has established a website, making the information available for public review and comment. Hard copy maps for viewing and further information are available from the planning department at 555 Main Street, Quincy, or by emailing Ferguson at [email protected] or calling 530-283-6214.