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About every ten years, Calfire releases a new map that outlines exactly which areas of California are within the fire hazard zone. The mix of fuel, terrain and weather faces the possibility of increased fire conditions.
The state’s map was last revised in 2011, but after the devastating Palisade and Eton fires this January, Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered a rapid update to the map.
As you can imagine, the new map is a bit darker, with thousands of additional acres being considered fire risk compared to 14 years ago. You can see a complete, interactive version of the maps on the Calfire website, an overview below and an overview of what you need to know.
Courtesy Calfire2025 Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map Provided
What the new LA Fire hazard map shows
First of all, it measures “hazard” rather than “risk.” This means that the possibility that an area may see the fire does not indicate how much damage a fire can cause.
Additionally, the 2011 map version simply identifies “very high” hazard areas, but the 2025 revision also adds “medium” and “high” categories. According to ABC, LA County alone is up 29% in “very high hazard” areas alone, plus thousands of additional acres designated as one of the lower tiers.
Which areas face the highest severity of fire risk?
Essentially, mountainsides and hillsides in Los Angeles County are considered “very high” risk, and since the 2011 edition of the map, these areas have been slightly swollen with fringes in the “high” and “medium” areas.
Almost all of the Santa Monica Mountains and Hollywood hills are considered “very tall.” Like the foothill community along the San Gabriel Mountains, most of the areas affected by the Pallisard fire are combined, but only the northernmost edge of the Eaton Fire is the northernmost edge of the Altadena (these maps make sure they are not inflicting potential and damage). Everything in Malibu is labelled “very expensive” as is Silver Lake, Echo Park and Northeast LA
The most notable changes on the map are heading towards Lancaster and Palmdale on the other side of San Gabriel. There, most of the Antelope Valley are listed as “moderate”, while some of the desert areas near the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve are currently listed as “very high.” In Ventura County, almost every community along the Santa Clara River is currently in the Hazard area.
There are a few small changes here and there throughout the map. Several patches have been added to the western hills of Granada Hills and Whittierna Rose, but the area between Playa del Rey and Barona Creek has been removed. While Palos Verdes is still considered dangerous, the affected areas of the peninsula are more targeted than the 2011 version.
What does this mean for homeowners and tenants?
With Calfire releasing the map, local governments are potentially adding areas to new zones for a 120-day recruitment. Regardless of local law, the state requires homeowners in “very high” hazard areas to clear or trim within 10 feet of native brushes, weeds, grasses, trees, and flammable fences or roads within 200 feet of a building or building.
Why the map was changed in 2025
In addition to the legal explanation for “why” (an executive order previously mentioned by Newsom), the map has been updated to reflect the reality of the impact of climate change on California. Calfire states that its hazard mapping process “incorporating new science into local climate data and improving fire assessment modeling” in its 2025 assessment.
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