California’s firefighting agency unveiled its fourth and final set of color-coded hazard maps. The maps reveal the extent of the state’s wildfire-prone areas and highlighting how much these computationally-modeled danger zones have expanded since the last set of local hazard maps was released, over a decade ago. The updated maps include data on terrain, fire weather patterns, flame lengths, wildfire history, and vegetation types.
What are fire hazard maps?
Fire hazard maps are a tool created by CalFire to identify areas at risk of wildfires. These maps use computer models to analyze factors like vegetation, topography, and weather patterns to predict wildfire danger. They are often color-coded to show varying levels of risk and help guide community planning, firefighting strategies, and public awareness efforts to reduce wildfire impacts.
Which neighborhoods were added to the new fire hazard map?
With the release of the updated 2025 version of the map, it’s clear that new areas and neighborhoods have been added, while others that were previously classified as low or moderate risk have now been designated as very high risk.
For instance, Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks now show a larger very high-risk region, as do Beverly Hills, parts of West Hollywood, Pasadena, and Glendale. Meanwhile, Chino Hills is now entirely marked as a high-risk zone. You can check the changes on the map directly through this link.
How can the new fire hazard map can affect insurance?
Regarding insurance impacts, Cal Fire emphasizes that the new maps should not lead to higher rates. Insurance companies already use advanced risk models that account for climate and fire conditions when determining premiums.