If you live along San Joaquin County’s southern or eastern edges, you’re likely living with moderate to high fire danger, according to updated fire severity maps from the state.
Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered the state fire marshal to update the Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps earlier this month. His executive order added 1.4 million acres across California to higher fire severity areas.
The latest outgrowth comes after wildfires that devastated cities in both Northern and Southern California. The 2018 Camp fire destroyed Paradise and other towns and killed 85 people in the state’s deadliest conflagration. And last month, wildfires destroyed more than 13,000 homes and hundreds of businesses in the Palisades and Eaton fires in the Los Angeles area in what experts believe will be the costliest disaster in U.S. history.
The update of the fire-severity maps is one of several steps that Newsom ordered in areas prone to fire, including tougher fire-resistant homebuilding standards, more firefighting helicopters and air tankers and increased spending on wildfire prevention.
There are two reasons why the fire severity zone maps are important for California residents. They can signal to home- and business owners they are in fire-prone areas, prompting them to take extra precautions with their structures. They also could play a significant role in determining whether insurance companies will charge higher rates for policies in those areas.
As for the latest San Joaquin County map, Stockton and the central part of the county aren’t considered high risk for wildfire. But a swath along the southern edge, not far from Tracy, and the eastern edge have an elevated risk. For the most part, the risk is considered moderate, but some areas in the south are considered high fire risk.