The Plumas County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution on June 10, adopting new fire hazard severity maps that substantially increase the number of private parcels classified as being in “very high” fire hazard zones. This decision, made with a 3-1 vote—Supervisor Jeff Engel dissenting and Supervisor Dwight Ceresola absent—affects areas including Quincy, East Quincy, Chester, and the Beckwourth Peak Fire District, marking 93% of the parcels in these zones as having a fire hazard severity ranging from “moderate” to “very high.”
The maps, developed by the state fire marshal, are intended for planning and preparedness purposes and indicate that 75% of the county’s parcels remain unrated under the current designations. The Board directed Planning Director Tracey Ferguson to inform property owners about these changes, impacting 2,695 parcels.
With the new designations, homeowners in high and very high zones are subject to disclosure requirements when selling properties, which includes informing potential buyers about the fire hazard severity. Ferguson noted that the increased responsibilities for homeowners are significant.
During discussions prior to the resolution’s adoption, the supervisors considered the option of taking no action but expressed frustration with state law, which allows them to raise fire hazard severity levels but not lower them. Engel suggested that if the board chose not to adopt the maps, it would effectively communicate their discontent with the process.
The resolution included a clause stating Plumas County should have the authority to lower fire hazard severity levels based on local data. Additionally, the board plans to draft an amendment to the government code with state legislators to provide counties more flexibility regarding these designations. This effort is supported by local Assemblymember Heather Hadwick and Senator Megan Dahle.
