REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BILLY P. ALCORN, Fire Chief
Fire Department
SUBJECT
Title
Action 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. ***BILL B-23 (Introduced July 30, 2026) (For Adoption) - Adopting the 2025 Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map as recommended by the California State Fire Marshal (Subject to Mayor's Veto)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends City Council adopt BILL B-23 (Introduced July 30, 2026) (For Adoption) 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 r...
Click here for full text