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Everyone in Northern California knows about our risks of wildfire.
Some local governments are taking forward‑thinking steps to keep their residents safe.
The Board of Forestry recently adopted its 2026 Fire Risk Reduction Community List. This is a group of standout counties‚ cities‚ and special districts that have taken extra steps through their zoning‚ planning and preparation to grow with the potential for wildfire top of mind. These include ensuring new subdivisions are fire‑ready‚ setting building and defensible‑space standards tougher than the state minimum‚ and otherwise planning for safety.
This year‚ the cities of Shasta Lake and Nevada City‚ as well as Nevada County‚ were newly added to the list. They join Butte and Placer counties‚ which were already listed in 2024‚ as well as the Placer and Shasta Valley resource conservation districts.
Taking the steps to be included on the list has practical benefits for these communities and their residents. CalFire grant programs for wildfire prevention give higher priority to areas on the list‚ and the Department of Insurance requires insurers to factor the designation into their rates‚ potentially cutting premiums.
The list is updated every two years. If your city or county would like to start planning ahead for the 2028 update‚ you can learn more about the criteria on the Board of Forestry’s website.