City of Atascadero Announces Fire Hazard Severity Zones Workshop - May 7, 2025

The City of Atascadero invites the community to attend a workshop to review and provide comments on the new State Fire Hazard Severity Zone and local Wildland Urban Interface maps on Wednesday, May 7th from 3:30 to 5:30 at the City Hall front lobby, located at 6500 Palma Avenue.

At this workshop, City staff will share information about the State mapping process and invite comments about the draft maps for Atascadero! If you are unable to make the workshop and would still like to leave a comment, please visit https://www.atascadero.org/service/fire-hazard-severity-zones.  These updated maps can help property owners understand the hazards and take the necessary steps to reduce wildfire risks.

The recent updates to Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) in California provide a more accurate assessment of wildfire risks by incorporating modern climate data and advanced fire modeling. These updates consider factors such as ember cast, vegetation type, slope, and extreme fire weather conditions, among others. The updated maps apply to both State Responsibility Areas (SRA) and Local Responsibility Areas (LRA), impacting fire prevention strategies, building codes, and real estate disclosure obligations. Adoption of these new maps is required by CA Government Code 51179.

“Ensuring our community is prepared for wildfire starts with understanding the risks. These updated maps provide a clearer picture of the long-term hazards our community faces.” Said Dave Van Son, Battalion Chief. “By understanding where fire hazards are most severe, property owners can make informed decisions about defensible space, building materials, and other strategies to reduce wildfire risk. We’re empowering community members to take proactive steps to protect their homes, their families, and our city. This is a vital tool in building a safer, more resilient Atascadero.” 

For more information, please contact Dave Van Son, Battalion Chief Community Risk Reduction at (805) 470-3326 or dvanson@atascadero.org.