What is the VHFHSZ?

What are Fire Hazard Severity Zones?

The State Fire Marshal is mandated to classify lands within State Responsibility Areas into Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ).

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Fire Hazard Severity Zones fall into one of the following classifications:

• Moderate

• High

• Very High

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The entire Santa Monica Mountain area of unincorporated Los Angels county

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The Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps are developed using a science-based and field-tested model that assigns a hazard score based on   the factors that influence fire likelihood and fire behavior. The factors considered are

• fire history

• existing and potential fuel (natural vegetation)

• predicted flame length

• blowing embers

• terrain

• typical fire weather for the area

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Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps evaluate “hazard,” not “risk”. “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. 

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What are the uses of Fire Hazard Severity Zones?  The zones are used for several purposes including to designate areas where  California’s defensible space standards and wildland-urban interface building codes are required. They can be a factor in real estate disclosure, and local governments may consider them in their general plan. 

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