The opportunity to comment on the updates to the CalFire Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps for Santa Cruz County will be open until Feb. 3.
Some residents report they were unable to attend the Jan. 10 meeting at the Ben Lomond Training Center due to storm damages and downed trees.
CalFire Capt. Frank Rogers points out that the in-person public comment meetings are the legislated requirement for CalFire to receive comment from the public — not question and answer sessions.
Those with questions about the map updates, go to the Office of the State Fire Marshal’s website and click on the Fire Hazard Severity Zone link: https://osfm.fire.ca.gov/divisions/community-wildfire-preparedness-and-mitigation/wildfire-preparedness/fire-hazard-severity-zones/
You can watch videos and review information, and many of your questions may be answered there. If you have unanswered questions, email FHSZinformation@fire.ca.gov or call the automated phone line at 916-633-7655.
Rogers said the State Fire Marshal Office has a tight schedule for getting all 56 counties with state responsibility areas to have a meeting with in-person public comment so another meeting will not be scheduled in Santa Cruz County.
To make a spoken comment rather than a written comment, other meetings are scheduled: San Mateo County, Jan. 11 in Redwood City at 2 pm; Monterey County Jan. 18 in Monterey; San Benito County, Jan. 19 in Hollister. See details on the website, under the “Public Meetings.”
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How to Submit Written Comment
- Written comments may be submitted by U.S. mail to:
Office of the State Fire Marshal
C/O: FHSZ Comments
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
P.O. Box 944246
Sacramento, CA 94244-2460
- Written comments can also be hand delivered or sent by courier to:
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Office of the State Fire Marshal
C/O: Scott Witt
California Natural Resources Building
715 P Street, 9th floor
Sacramento, CA 95818
- Written comments may be sent via e-mail to: fhszcomments@fire.ca.gov