Fullerton Adopted Updated Fire Hazard Severity Zones: What Residents Needed to Know

By Staff on May 12, 2025

The Fullerton City Council officially adopted updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps on May 6, 2025, which have implications for residents regarding fireworks use and building regulations. Fire Marshal Chief Jon Fugitt confirmed that while professionally permitted public fireworks displays remain unaffected, all personal fireworks, including safe and sane options, are now prohibited within designated hazard zones.

The revisions, which were incorporated into the Fullerton Municipal Code 13.19, follow an extensive update from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). The state agency released its revised FHSZ maps for Local Responsibility Areas on March 24, 2025. City Manager Eric Levitt noted that the new designations will significantly impact properties within these revised zones.

Although the city will not incur direct costs from adopting the updated maps, officials highlight that expanding designated hazard areas in the future may require additional resources, particularly for the Fire Prevention Division’s inspection and enforcement efforts. City staff will assess these resource needs and provide updates to the City Council as necessary. It is anticipated that adherence to fire hazard mitigation requirements will reduce wildfire risks and mitigate future damages and costs associated with fires.

The updated CAL FIRE maps significantly expand upon the previous designations from 2011, which classified hazard zones solely as “Very High.” The 2025 update categorizes approximately 4.6 million acres in Southern California into three levels of risk: “Moderate” (MFHSZ), “High” (HFHSZ), and “Very High” (VHFHSZ). In Fullerton, the area classified as VHFHSZ has increased by 28%, rising from 1,186 acres to 1,516 acres, which aligns with a 26% increase observed regionally. The new designations include 426 acres classified as MFHSZ and 419 acres as HFHSZ, particularly focusing on expansions in areas like the West and East Coyote Hills, where risks are heightened due to flammable vegetation.

Properties within the HFHSZ and VHFHSZ will now be subject to enhanced state-mandated building requirements. Under California Building Code Chapter 7A, new construction or major renovations in these zones must adhere to fire-resistant building standards, such as ember-proof venting and ignition-resistant materials. Homeowners in VHFHSZ areas must also comply with new vegetation management regulations and defensible space measures established under Assembly Bill 38 (2021) and Assembly Bill 3074 (2020). These legislative measures include requirements for brush clearance inspections and the maintenance of an “Ember Resistant Zone” extending five feet from structures to minimize fire risks.

Adopting the updated FHSZ maps does not directly affect residents’ ability to secure insurance coverage. California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara emphasized that insurance providers do not base their rates or underwriting decisions solely on these maps. Instead, insurers rely on comprehensive models that evaluate various factors, including local Fire Department resources and historical claims.

As the city moves forward, Fire Department staff will collaborate with other city departments to ensure cohesive public messaging regarding the updated fire hazard maps to educate residents and improve community safety amidst increasing wildfire risks.

Updated City Fire Hazard Mitigation Webpage