Fire Hazard Severity Zones Maps

Fire Hazard Severity Zones Logo Image for Website and Weekly 411 275x200

On February 24, 2025, CAL FIRE released the 2025 Local Responsibility Area (LRA) Fire Hazard Severity Maps. CAL FIRE, in coordination with the Office of the State Fire Marshal, is required to periodically update these maps and severity zones and notify local governments before releasing updated severity zone maps for both the State Responsibility Areas (SRA) and LRA.

As a local government, we are required to adopt, by ordinance, updated Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) in our jurisdiction within 120 days of being published. As a result of these maps being released, there have been local changes to the Very High Fire Severity Zones and the addition of High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. We anticipate that these maps will be formally adopted sometime in early June.

Check out the Interactive Map Viewer, where you can enter your address and check which zone your property is in. To search for your address, click the magnifying glass icon in the upper left-hand corner and enter your address. You can also navigate through the map by double-clicking on Phase 2 (the blue area) and zooming in on Morgan Hill.

Morgan Hill's 2025 Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map is available as a PDF below.

2025 FHSZ MAP

2025 Morgan Hill Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map



For comparison, Morgan Hill's 2008 Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map is available as a PDF below.

2009 FHSZ MAP


2009 Morgan Hill Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map

FHSZ and LRA Legislation Key Points

  • Changes to the FHSZ classifications DO NOT affect how fire services are provided - our firefighters will continue to respond as always.
  • FHSZ Classification: Properties are categorized as Moderate, High, or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones based on terrain, vegetation, fire history, and climate conditions.
  • Fire Hazard vs. Risk: The maps indicate hazard potential, not immediate risk, and do not account for mitigation efforts like defensible space or fire-resistant construction.
  • Impact on Property Owners:
    • Homeowners in Very High FHSZ must comply with stringent defensible space requirements. 100-foot defensible space clearance is mandatory around structures in these zones. (Gov Code 51182)
    • New construction and renovations in designated zones must adhere to Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) building codes.
    • Property sellers must disclose FHSZ designations during real estate transactions.
    • Will these changes affect homeowners insurance?
      •  Insurance companies use risk models, which differ from hazard models because they consider the susceptibility of a structure to damage from fire and other short-term factors that are not included in the hazard modeling. Insurance risk models incorporate additional factors that change more frequently than those that CAL FIRE includes in its hazard mapping, which is built to remain steady.

Next Steps and Community Involvement

  • Public Outreach: The City of Morgan Hill and the Morgan Hill Fire Department will further communicate with our community about what the new maps' adoption means locally, including holding a community meeting—more information to come.
  • Evaluate and Address Impacts: MHFD and our  Development Services Department are reviewing how this update affects building codes and development standards.
  • Evaluate Our Local WUI Area: City staff will evaluate the need to modify our existing WUI area to align with these newly updated FHSZ maps.
  • Community Map Review and Comment: We ask that the community review the updated maps and provide comments to firemap@morganhill.ca.gov. The comment period is open through Friday, May 23, 2025. The City cannot lower the Fire Hazard Severity; feedback can only suggest a higher severity. (Gov Code 51179)
  • City Council Review and Ordinance Adoption: The maps are anticipated to be presented to the City Council for review and adoption in early June 2025.

Mapping & Compliance

  • The State Fire Marshal is responsible for updating FHSZ maps, which are used to enforce fire safety standards across the state.
  • Residents can check their property's FHSZ status online: osfm.fire.ca.gov/FHSZ.
  • Local jurisdictions are required to review and adopt the updated maps, ensuring communities are better prepared for wildfire threats.

Resources and Background Info

CAL FIRE DHSZ Rollout Video, including the Science Behind the Maps

Legislative Updates

  • Senate Bill 63 (2021) now requires FHSZ classifications to include Moderate and High zones in addition to Very High, expanding fire hazard oversight.
  • Assembly Bill 337 (1992) originally mandated the identification of Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones following devastating wildfires.
  • Assembly Bill 211 (2022) requires local agencies to adopt Moderate, High, and Very High FHSZ designations within 120 days of state recommendations. However, local governments cannot downgrade hazard levels identified by the state but may increase them if justified.