Cal Fire releases new fire hazard maps impacting entire state

Cal Fire released new maps on March 24 showing fire hazard severity zones for the entire state including Mission Viejo. 

The 2025 Local Responsibility Area (LRA) Fire Hazard Severity Maps developed by Cal Fire use the latest climate data, fire history, topography, and wildfire modeling to classify areas as very high, high, or moderate fire hazard zones.   

While the maps are not a measure of immediate fire risk, they are used to update the City’s building codes, defensible space requirements, and fire safety policies. 

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, the City of Mission Viejo must adopt a finalized map and ordinance that aligns with state regulations and local wildfire mitigation efforts within 120 days.  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. The City cannot downgrade the wildfire severity zones of any areas identified by Cal Fire. The City may, however, upgrade hazard levels when justified, based on local risk assessments and community input. 

Public review and input for the draft maps is available and feedback can be submitted via cd@cityofmissionviejo.org regarding the revised fire hazard severity map. Public comments will be collected and considered during the implementation process. 

To view fire hazard classifications for specific areas, residents can zoom in to see a particular area or enter an address into the search bar. 

Over the next few months, the City Council will hold a public hearing to review the draft map, consider public feedback, and discuss the City’s next steps. Residents are encouraged to sign up for the City's eNewsletter and follow the City's official social media sites for updates.