REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BILLY P. ALCORN, Fire Chief
Fire Department
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the 2025 California State Fire Marshal - Fire Zone Severity Map in the City of Fresno as required per California Government Code §51179(a):
1. Adopt the finding that this project is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to CEQA Guidelines, Section 15061(b)(3) common sense exemption, since it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the adoption of the 2025 California State Fire Marshal - Fire Zone Severity Map will have a significant adverse effect on the environment.
2. BILL (For Introduction) - Adopting the 2025 Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map as recommended by the California State Fire Marshal
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends City Council approve the following 1) adopt the finding that this project is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to CEQA Guidelines, Section 15061(b)(3) common sense exemption since it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility the adoption of the 2025 California State Fire Marshal - Fire Zone Severity Map will have a significant adverse effect on the environment; and 2) BILL (For Introduction) - Adopting the 2025 Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map as recommended by the California State Fire Marshal.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
California Government Code (CGC) §51178 requires the California State Fire Marshal (CSFM) to identify and recommend areas within the state as moderate, high, or very high fire hazard severity zones based on consistent statewide criteria. The CGC also requires the City to adopt these maps when the California State Fire Marshal has designated a local responsibility area (LRA) as a moderate, high, or very high fire hazard severity zone.
Even though the City does not have any high, or very high fire hazard severity zones, the CSFM has designated certain areas within the City’s LRA as being in a moderate fire hazard severity zone. With this designation, the City is required to adopt CSFM - Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map for the City of Fresno.
After review of the CSFM - Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map, the City Attorney’s Office has determined that the CSFM - Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map does not involve any physical change to the environment, but rather revises the City’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map and does not conflict with the existing City of Fresno Bluff Protection Overlay District (Fresno Municipal Code Chapter 15, Article 16, §15-1603) or San Joaquin River and Bluff Protection Initiative (Fresno Municipal Code Chapter 10, Article 15, §10-1501).
BACKGROUND
California Government Code §51178 requires the CSFM to identify and recommend areas within the state as moderate, high, or very high fire hazard severity zones based on consistent statewide criteria. It also requires the City to adopt the CSFM - Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map when these state designations fall in an LRA.
These maps are available for public review on the website of the California State Fire Marshal, and the specific map for the City of Fresno was published on the Fresno Fire Department’s website on May 19, 2026.
The Fire Department also posted the required notices at the office of the county recorder, county assessor, and county planning agency, identifying the location of the map provided by the California State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 51178 on May 19, 2026.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This item is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to CEQA Guidelines, Section 15061(b)(3) common sense exemption.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented because this item is not an award of a construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
Acceptance and approval of this resolution will have no fiscal impact.
Attachments:
Ordinance - Adopting the 2025 Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map for the City of Fresno.
Notice of Exemption