Weather Insider: Update CAL FIRE hazard maps
Earlier this week CAL FIRE released their final updated hazard maps. This comes as Governor Newsom signed an executive order expediting the release of the maps after the devastating LA wildfires. These maps show the wildfire hazard for local and state jurisdictions. The areas are broken down into three hazard categories: moderate, high, and very high. Since the last maps were made in the late 2000s, the amount of area categorized as a very high hazard in Southern California has skyrocketed. In Riverside County alone, it has grown by more than 54%.
The maps were created by determining the hazard for a given area. This was done by examining the physical conditions that create a likelihood for wildfires and their expected behavior. They also considered factors like fire history, potential fuels, terrain, and weather conditions.
The new maps show increased areas of hazard even here in the Coachella Valley and are useful tools for cities to determine wildfire hazard for areas of potential growth and expansion.
You can view the maps and learn more here: https://osfm.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/community-wildfire-preparedness-and-mitigation/fire-hazard-severity-zones
