On Monday, officials with Cal Fire released updated fire maps for Southern California to show where wildfires are most likely to happen in the next 30 to 50 years.
It's been 14 years since the last release of these fire maps.
The new maps show about 1.4 million acres in high and very-high fire zones, up from about 800,000 acres before. It helps people understand which areas are more at risk and shows where certain rules, like fire-resistant building codes, apply to homeowners.
The maps are also based on things, such as vegetation, terrain, and past fires.
State Fire Marshal Daniel Berlant told L.A.’s Morning News the maps show an increase in areas that are designated as fire hazard severity zones, but that it’s not a surprise for firefighters.
“These are conditions that we have been experiencing over the last several years,” he said. “These maps are now really more reflective of the conditions that our firefighters have been experiencing for a number of years.”
He added that residents who find themselves in very high fire hazard zones are required to maintain 100 feet of “defensible space.”
“[This] means removing dead or dying vegetation, making sure that you don't have anything flammable right up against the home,” he said.
L.A. County Kathryn Barger told KNX News’ Craig Fiegener that the map is used “as a tool to protect property and lives.”
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"This is actually driven by the state and it's statewide, so it's not just Los Angeles County, it's up and down the state,” she said. “ All counties will have to adopt within 120 days the map as presented.”
She added that public hearings will be held regarding the maps.
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