A new piece of legislation being pushed through the California senate would completely overhaul their decades-old wildfire mapping system. The proposal is generating ample debate in the state with numerous reasons why it could lead to total disaster.
Critics say the bill could threaten the state’s fire and housing policies and increase development and infrastructure in deadly fire-prone areas. Without an amendment to the bill, new homes could be put at risk.
The Bill
Senate Bill 610 is a piece of legislation intended to repeal current rules that designate state and local lands into “moderate,” “high,” and “very high” fire hazard severity zones.
The process rates areas based on their likelihood of burning down in a wildfire. The classifications currently influence how development patterns and building safety standards are decided in the area.
What Would the Legislation Change?
The new bill would change the way that the state fire marshal would designate lands into “wildfire mitigation areas” and remove the tiered severity zones.
Homeowners and developers in a wildfire mitigation area would then be required to follow similar fire-hardening precautions. Currently, the precautions vary with each degree of assessed hazard.
Support For the Bill
There is a huge swell of support for the piece introduced by Senator Jim Costa (D).
Approval for the bill addresses the fact that the law would create a more consistent standard with one process for approval for building in new zones in California. It would allow for more public say and ensure that all developments meet minimum fire safety requirements.
Fire Marshall Gives His Support
The state fire marshal is on board with the decision to overhaul fire safety standards in newly built areas.
“While there are a lot of technical pieces to this, and a lot of thoughts and opinions, I truly believe that our ability to create a single wildfire code and apply it consistently in those areas that are at a hazard for wildfires will make a difference,” said Daniel Berlant, the state fire marshal.
Different Fire Hazard Assignments in the State
Many residents in California are familiar with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s fire hazard severity designation, which was implemented in the 1980s following a series of deadly fires across the large state.
Now, the hazard assignments are selected by different factors, such as vegetation, climate, and the potential for wind to cause a major wildfire spread. For example, invasive deer have eaten away necessary moist vegetation on Catalina Island, making the entire land mass a tinder box at risk for a devastating blaze.
What Opponents Have To Say
Opponents of SB 610 say the government is attempting to completely remove hazard rankings in an effort to increase housing development in high-risk areas.
They say that the importance of keeping the current system means that new houses retain their much-needed rules for roofing standards, siding materials, setbacks, and parking. The new bill could take authority away from local governments that take responsibility for fires in their areas.
Groups Slam the New Bill
J.P Rose, a policy director and senior attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity says, “This bill would put more people in harm’s way by making it easier to build in high-risk fire zones.”
Rose went on to say, “It’s disappointing that while scientists are sounding the alarm about further developing in these areas, our politicians are bowing to building industry pressure with this short-sighted bill.”
Environmental Groups Calling in Gavin Newsom
Part of a group of more than 90 environmental, housing, and land use organizations, Rose wrote a letter on their behalf to call on California Gov. Gavin Newsom to reconsider his support of the measure.
They also say that the bill is contrary to the governor’s own Strike Force on Addressing Wildfire Risk – a piece of legislation that urges California to “deprioritize new development in areas of the most extreme fire risk.”
The Fire Mapping System Needs to be Addressed
Despite the calls to abandon SB 610, the state has overwhelming support to overhaul the current fire mapping system.
Among other issues, the existing fire hazard designations are divided between state and local responsibility areas. The bill seeks to amend this issue to create a more cohesive system.
Critics of the Bill May Be Wrong
Although many critics say that the new bill would increase development in high-risk areas, the bill’s creators and backers say that they’re wrong.
Instead, proponents of the bill say that the new law does not change where and when people can build. That honor is given to the state’s zoning department, which allows people to build in certain areas for numerous reasons.
The Bill Could Make Life Safer
The bill is important because it would make life safer in a state that experiences heavy wildfires each year.
In the past, Gov. Gavin Newsom has been accused of diverting much-needed state funds into the homeless and mental health epidemic. However, this bill would add resources and funds to one of the biggest growing issues in the state.
