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

matt.damon@fire.ca.gov

 

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

melinda.pritchard@fire.ca.gov

Work Phone: (916)-261-3977

 

Travis Bott

Research Data Analyst II - GIS 

travis.bott@fire.ca.gov

 

Our Program Goals:

The Subdivision Review Program is a resource that provides CALFIRE Units and local jurisdictions support in fire hazard planning. 

  1. 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. 
  2. Provide guidance on the Subdivision Map Act related to Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ's). 
  3. Provide guidance and support to group leaders with the application process in becoming Firewise USA communities. 
  4. Assist local CAL FIRE Units to work cooperatively with local governments and stakeholders with the development and creation of more fire resilient communities.