Los Altos Hills Finalizes Updated Fire Map

Los Altos Hills has finalized an updated fire map that adds approximately 17 properties to high fire risk zones and 30 more to very high risk zones. This change, totaling about 50 properties, met the minimum requirement from CAL FIRE for map updates. The town now has roughly 170 properties in the high-risk zone area and over 500 in the very high-risk zone area.

The new designations necessitate stricter building codes, increased defensible space, and disclosure requirements during property sales. However, residents were informed that CAL FIRE maps do not affect insurance risk management or home values. Councilmember Linda Swan stated that insurance representatives indicated their risk modeling and mapping are more detailed than the fire zone maps.

The measure passed 3-1, with Vice Mayor Rajiv Bhatja voting against it and Kavita Tahnka abstaining.