Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ)

A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, or VHFHSZ, is the highest of California’s Moderate, High, and Very High classifications of long-term fire hazard based on physical conditions.

Why it matters

Appendix G’s wildfire section applies if a project is located in or near an SRA or land classified as a Very High FHSZ. The classification is therefore an important location fact to retain with the exact state or local source, its effective or adoption date, and the date checked.

In an LRA, Government Code section 51179 directs the local agency to designate zones by ordinance after receiving State Fire Marshal recommendations. Verify the applicable local record rather than relying on the recommendation alone.

What it does not establish

A Very High FHSZ label describes hazard, not the potential damage under all existing project and site conditions. It does not establish whether a project is “near” a zone, whether an evacuation plan would be impaired, whether the project would exacerbate wildfire risk, or how infrastructure and post-fire conditions should be analyzed.

Primary source

The Office of the State Fire Marshal explains fire hazard severity zone classifications and wildfire risk. Government Code section 51179 supplies the local designation framework, and the Appendix G wildfire section supplies the CEQA checklist context.

Related terms

• Fire hazard severity zone (FHSZ)
• State Responsibility Area (SRA)
• Local Responsibility Area (LRA)

Published 2026-09-10 · Last materially reviewed 2026-09-10