The State Fire Marshal FHSZ Rollout Plan includes the City of Duarte in “Phase 4” starting March 24, 2025, which is the date the City received the 2025 LRA FHSZ maps that evaluate “hazard,” not “risk” to include areas or zones of Very High, High, and Moderate fire hazard based on consistent statewide criteria and the severity of fire hazard that is expected to prevail in those areas (Government Code Sec. 51178).

“Hazard” is based on the physical conditions that create a likelihood and expected fire behavior over a 30 to 50-year period without considering mitigation measures such as home hardening, recent wildfire, or fuel reduction efforts. “Risk” is the potential damage a fire can do to the area under existing conditions, accounting for any modifications such as fuel reduction projects, defensible space, and ignition resistant building construction.

The zones must be based on fuel loading, slope, fire weather, and other relevant factors including areas where winds have been identified by the State Fire Marshal as a major cause of wildfire spread. These map updates are intended to enhance California’s approach to wildfire preparedness.

LRA areas in Duarte are those where the “local government” is responsible for wildfire protection, which in the case of Duarte, is the responsibility of the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The City of Duarte contracts with the Los Angeles County Fire Department for fire protection services.

Pursuant to Government Code Sec. 51178.5 within 30 days after receiving a transmittal from the State Fire Marshal that identifies fire hazard severity zones pursuant to Government Code Sec. 51178, the City of Duarte must make the information available for public review and comment, and the information must be presented in a format that is understandable and accessible to the general public, including, but not limited to, maps.

The City of Duarte must also post a notice (Government Code Sec. 51179(g)) at the office of the City Clerk identifying the location of the map provided by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Government Code Sec. 51178.

This website has been established, making the information available for public review and comment.

To make a public comment, obtain hard copy maps for viewing, and for further information, please visit Duarte Public Safety (1042 Huntington Drive), call the department at (626) 357-7938, or contact:

• Larry Breceda, Public Safety Director

• Bryan Ariizumi, Public Safety Manager

Government Code Sec. 51179(b)(1) allows for the City of Duarte, at its discretion, to include areas not identified as Very High FHSZs, as Very High following a finding supported by substantial evidence in the record that the requirements of Government Code Sec. 51182 (i.e., defensible space) are necessary for effective fire protection within the area.

Further Government Code Sec. 51179(b)(2) allows for the City of Duarte, at its discretion, include areas not identified as Moderate and High FHSZs, as Moderate and High.

Furthermore, Government Code Sec. 51179(b)(3) directs that the City of Duarte cannot decrease the level of fire hazard severity zones for any area and may only increase the level.

Pursuant to Government Code Sec. 51179(d) any changes made by the City of Duarte to the 2025 LRA FHSZ maps provided by the State Fire Marshal are final and are not rebuttable by the State.

How will the updated CAL FIRE maps affect insurance availability and affordability? 

CAL FIRE’s maps are intended to drive local planning decisions, not insurance decisions. Under Commissioner Lara’s new regulation, Safer From Wildfires, finalized in October 2022, insurance companies must provide discounts for wildfire safety actions such as community mitigation and home-hardening, which CAL FIRE’s maps do not assess. In addition, insurance companies are already using risk analysis tools and models that go beyond CAL FIRE’s proposed maps in determining what properties they will underwrite.

Commissioner Lara’s new wildfire safety regulation will help increase access to insurance by promoting wildfire safety across the state. Reducing wildfire risks throughout the state is the primary way we can make insurance more available and affordable, and our regulation is a major step towards that goal. CAL FIRE’s maps support that goal through improving public education about hazard and the need for safety preparation.

For many years, insurance companies have been using alternate wildfire risk tools for determining where they will write and renew policies, and how much premium to charge a policyholder, not the Fire Hazard Severity Zones maps. Therefore, a change in designation on the maps for a single homeowner is unlikely to affect their insurance. The reality is that more accurate risk information enables homeowners and communities to reduce their wildfire risks, and Commissioner Lara’s new wildfire mitigation regulation clarifies what actions you should take to reduce wildfire risks. Once that regulation is fully implemented, if a homeowner or business owner takes those risk mitigation actions, they will be able to see a discount in their insurance premium.

Pursuant to Government Code Sec. 51179(a), the City of Duarte must adopt the 2025 LRA Moderate, High, and Very High FHSZs in the city by ordinance, with an associated map, within 120 days of receiving official notice of the maps availability.