Portola Evaluating Fire Hazard Severity Zones Mandates

PORTOLA — In response to email inquiries about the City of Portola’s plans in response to new state requirements tied to wildfire hazard severity zones, City Manager Ryan Bonk wrote that the city is “actively engaged with Beckwourth Peak Fire Protection District and Cal Fire to gain a comprehensive understanding of the broader implications of the state mandate.” He said city staff met with representatives of Cal Fire and Beckwourth Peak Fire on March 3rd to discuss the mandates and added that the city and Beckwourth Peak Fire have also sought guidance from legal counsel.

Maps and information from Cal Fire about fire hazard severity zones and their implications are posted in the Notices section of the Portola city website (https://www.cityofportola.com/cal-fire-fire-hazard-severity-zones-in-local-responsibility-area). The maps show that virtually all of the City of Portola has been classified as very high or high severity zones. The text accompanying the information from the state notes that the city was not involved in developing the hazard maps and cannot change the zones assigned by the State Fire Marshall. The public is invited to send comments to admin@cityofportola.com.