Beginning February 2025, CAL FIRE, through the Office of the State Fire Marshal or OSFM, initiated the roll out of its 2025 Recommended Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps for Local Responsibility Areas or LRA’s across the entire state.

These maps are typically updated every 10 years and are based on science driven models that evaluate fire likelihood and behavior, wildfire history, fuels, vegetation, weather, and terrain. The maps categorize areas as being at moderate, high, or very high risk for wildfire.

On March 24, 2025, the Office of the Fire Marshal issued the 2025 Recommended Local Responsibility Areas Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps which includes areas impacted in the City of Torrance. These Zone maps are available for public review at OSFM.Fire.Ca.Gov and can be viewed at the first link below.

The Torrance Fire Department has reviewed the 2025 CalFire LRA Fire Hazard Severity Zone map and identified an area where parcels will be affected. The Torrance Fire Department anticipates future building and vegetation management requirements as a result.

In compliance with State law, the City must now take the following actions:

Within 30 days of the issuance or April 23, 2025, the updated fire hazard maps must be made available for public review and comment.

Within 120 days of the issuance or July 22, 2025, the City must formally adopt the maps through an ordinance process.

To support community understanding and transparency, the Torrance Fire Department will be initiating a series of community engagement efforts, including Torrance Fire webpage, on social media and in-person, which will focus specifically on the neighborhoods impacted by the changes. Following, the Torrance City Council will conduct a public hearing to consider CALFire’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone Ordinance and Maps.

We’ve already begun internal planning for a strong public outreach and education campaign. Our goal is to ensure that property owners are fully informed, especially those who may now be subject to California Building Code Chapter 7A and defensible space requirements under Public Resources Code 4291.

In light of recent LA wildfires, we recognize this can be an unsettling process. While this is a State-mandated process, the City’s role is to ensure full transparency, public access, and compliance with all required steps.

Public hearing will be scheduled in the near future.

Please see the links below for further information:

Find Your Fire Hazard Severity Zone

2025 CAL FIRE Severity Zone Map (Compare Old and New)

CAL FIRE Factsheet (Legislation and Frequently Asked Questions)

California Department of Insurance Q&A

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