Subdivision Review Program
Mission Statement
CAL FIRE has a long history of knowing the importance of wildfire prevention and the significant importance to wildfire safety and risk mitigation. The Subdivision Review Program was formed because of Assembly Bill 2911 (Friedman), and fulfilling several goals of CAL FIRE's 2019 Strategic Plan.
AB 2911 added Section 4290.5 to the Public Resource Code, which requires the CA Board of Forestry and Fire Protection (the Board), in consultation with the State Fire Marshal and the local jurisdiction to identify existing subdivisions with more than 30 dwelling units located in the State Responsibility Area (SRA) or Local Responsibility Area (LRA) Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, identified pursuant to Section 51178 of the Government Code, without a secondary means of egress route that are at significant fire risk.
Additionally, the Board in consultation with the State Fire Marshal and the local government that identified the subdivisions shall develop recommendations to improve the subdivision’s fire safety.
California Public Resource Code (PRC) 4290.5 requires the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection (the Board), in consultation with the State Fire Marshal, to identify existing subdivisions located in the State Responsibility Area (SRA) or a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, identified pursuant to Section 51178 of the Government Code, without a secondary means of egress route that are at significant fire risk.
Program Contacts
State Program Administrator
Matt Damon
Deputy Chief
Program Staff
Carmel Barnhart
Assistant Chief
carmel.barnhart@fire.ca.gov
Jeff Hakala
Battalion Chief
jeff.hakala@fire.ca.gov
Rudy Baltazar
Battalion Chief
rudy.baltazar@fire.ca.gov
Melinda Pritchard
Staff Services Analyst
Work Phone: (916)-261-3977
Travis Bott
Research Data Analyst II - GIS
Fire Safety Legislation that Directly Addresses Emergency Evacuations
Fire Safety Legislation
Assembly Bill No. 2911 (Friedman)
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180AB2911
Assembly Bill No. 747 (Levine)
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220AB747
Senate Bill No. 99 (Nielsen)
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200SB99
Our Program Goals:
The Subdivision Review Program is a resource that provides CALFIRE Units and local jurisdictions support in fire hazard planning.
- Work collaboratively with CAL FIRE Units, Land Use Planning Program, and local jurisdictions in providing technical assistance related to specific fire hazard planning within the Safety Element of the General Plan.
- Provide guidance on the Subdivision Map Act related to Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ's).
- Provide guidance and support to group leaders with the application process in becoming Firewise USA communities.
- Assist local CAL FIRE Units to work cooperatively with local governments and stakeholders with the development and creation of more fire resilient communities.