FIRE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT FOR MENDOCINO COUNTY ____________________________________________ _________________________________________ May 2020 Mendocino County Fire Vulnerability Assessment ________________________________________________________________________________________ TABLE OF CONTENTS Page SECTION I- OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................... 6 A. Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 6 B. Project Objectives ...................................................................................................................... 6 C. Mendocino County Description and Demographics ................................................................ 7 D. Planning Area Basis .................................................................................................................. 8 SECTION II- COUNTY WILDFIRE ASSESSMENT ............................................................ 9 A. Wildfire Threat ......................................................................................................................... 9 B. Weather/Climate ........................................................................................................................ 9 C. Topography ............................................................................................................................. 10 D. Fuel Hazards ........................................................................................................................... 10 E. Climate Change ...................................................................................................................... 10 F. Historical Data ........................................................................................................................ 11 G. Recent Major Emergencies within the County ...................................................................... 14 H. Cascading Effects .................................................................................................................... 17 I. Plan and Programs in Place ..................................................................................................... 19 J. Laws, Ordinances and Codes .................................................................................................. 21 K. Future Development Trends ................................................................................................... 22 L. Communications Systems ....................................................................................................... 23 M. County Road Issues ................................................................................................................ 24 ➢ Population Density Map .......................................................................................................... 26 ➢ Wildland Fire History Map...................................................................................................... 27 ➢ CAL FIRE Fuel Ranking Map ................................................................................................ 28 Category Five Professional Consultants, Inc.-Fire Vulnerability Assessment for Mendocino County-May 2020 2 Mendocino County Fire Vulnerability Assessment ________________________________________________________________________________________ ➢ Fire Vegetation Map ................................................................................................................ 29 ➢ Fire Threat Map ....................................................................................................................... 30 ➢ Wildland Urban Interface Zone Map ...................................................................................... 31 ➢ Fire Hazard Zones Map ........................................................................................................... 32 ➢ Fire Protection District Map .................................................................................................... 33 ➢ Fire Responsibility Areas Map ................................................................................................ 34 ➢ Wildfire Reduction Treatment Priority Map ........................................................................... 35 SECTION III- JURISDICTIONAL ASSETS AT RISK ....................................................... 36 SECTION IV- COMMUNITY THREAT ASSESSMENTS ................................................. 54 ➢ Planning Area Map .................................................................................................................. 55 PLANNING AREA 1: NORTH AND NORTHEAST .......................................................... 56 A. Population ................................................................................................................................ 56 B. Climate ..................................................................................................................................... 56 C. Topography .............................................................................................................................. 57 D. Fuel Hazards ............................................................................................................................ 57 E. Fire History .............................................................................................................................. 59 F. Fire Protection ......................................................................................................................... 59 G. Transportation Corridors ......................................................................................................... 60 H. Special Concerns ..................................................................................................................... 61 I. Critical Assets at Risk for Wildfire ........................................................................................ 63 PLANNING AREA 2: SOUTHEAST AND CENTRAL ...................................................... 65 A. Population ................................................................................................................................ 65 B. Climate ..................................................................................................................................... 65 C. Topography .............................................................................................................................. 66 Category Five Professional Consultants, Inc.-Fire Vulnerability Assessment for Mendocino County-May 2020 3 Mendocino County Fire Vulnerability Assessment ________________________________________________________________________________________ D. Fuel Hazards ............................................................................................................................ 66 E. Fire History .............................................................................................................................. 67 F. Fire Protection .......................................................................................................................... 67 G. Transportation Corridors ......................................................................................................... 68 H. Special Concerns ..................................................................................................................... 69 I. Critical Assets at Risk for Wildfire ......................................................................................... 70 PLANNING AREA 3: SOUTHWEST .................................................................................... 72 A. Population ................................................................................................................................ 72 B. Climate ..................................................................................................................................... 72 C. Topography .............................................................................................................................. 73 D. Fuel Hazards ............................................................................................................................ 73 E. Fire History .............................................................................................................................. 73 F. Fire Protection .......................................................................................................................... 74 G. Transportation Corridors ......................................................................................................... 74 H. Special Concerns ..................................................................................................................... 75 I. Critical Assets at Risk for Wildfire ......................................................................................... 76 PLANNING AREA 4: WESTCENTRAL AND COASTAL................................................ 78 A. Population ................................................................................................................................ 78 B. Climate ..................................................................................................................................... 78 C. Topography .............................................................................................................................