11 months ago
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FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – CAL FIRE has rolled retired an updated representation of the state's Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
This representation identifies areas astatine hazard for wildfires, categorized into "moderate, high, and precise high" occurrence zones. Across Fresno, Kings, Madera, and Tulare counties, determination are much than 150-thousand acres in these 3 zones.
The past CAL FIRE hazard severity representation was released 14 years ago, and overmuch has changed.
CAL FIRE Chief Daniel Berlant explains that these maps are designed to past betwixt 30 to 50 years. So, wherefore bash we request an updated 1 truthful soon?
"A batch has changed successful our climate. We're seeing hotter temperatures, much utmost upwind events," Berlant said.
Two of the 3 zones are caller to the map. In 2011, CAL FIRE lone released areas successful the highest risk.
"The representation is chiefly a readying instrumentality we marque disposable for section cities and counties to assistance them arsenic they marque decisions of wherever they enactment successful caller subdivisions of homes, caller neighborhoods, caller communities" Berlant said.
From 2011 to 2025, the "very high" occurrence portion has grown by astir 400,000 acres, present totaling implicit 1.1 cardinal acres wrong the state.
"The factors we usage to make this representation see terrain, vegetation type, upwind conditions, past occurrence history. All of this to fto america cognize what's the likelihood and past what is the expected occurrence behavior," Berlant added.
Most of the Central Valley lies successful the "moderate" and "high" occurrence zones, mostly, the unincorporated areas. However, successful Tulare County, more than 480 acres are successful the "very high" occurrence zone, located adjacent Kings Canyon National Park and Lemon Cove.
CAL FIRE says determination is nary longer a occurrence season, but alternatively a occurrence year. This makes it important to support 100 feet of defensible abstraction astir your spot year-round.
"Reducing the fig of trees per acre, removing a batch of different fuels from that country you're liable for tin dilatory fires down if determination is simply a wood occurrence that's burning towards your property," said Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig.
As Chief Berlant mentioned, these models are expected to past up to 50 years. However, helium said they volition revisit this successful 5 years, due to the fact that the clime is changing faster than ever before, and they are perpetually looking for caller ways to utilize subject and technology.
