Cal Fire wants to increase the amount of land it classifies as “high” or “very high” hazards in the rural areas it covers.
For the first time, more than half of the rural and unincorporated areas in Marin County could soon be classified as “high” fire hazard severity zones, according to a proposed map from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
“What we’re seeing here is no surprise,” Marin County fire Chief Jason Weber said. “Based on the fire seasons the last 10 years or so, we know fire is spreading more rapidly and with greater intensity. The proposed maps are a more accurate representation of what we’ve been experiencing.” For comparison, more than half of California’s rural and unincorporated communities could soon be classified as “very high” fire hazard severity zones, according to the proposed map. That would place nearly 17 million acres under the worst ranking, a 14.6% increase since the map was last updated in 2007.
Among the counties with the biggest changes were Colusa, which had a 53% increase in its “very high” fire hazard areas; Yolo, which had a 51% increase; and Santa Clara, which had a 47% increase. According to Cal Fire, 12 of the state’s 20 largest blazes on record have happened since 2017. During 2020, the state’s worst fire year, more than 4.3 million acres burned.
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