CA AB642

Director must identify areas as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones based on fuel loading, slope, fire weather, and wind patterns, with local agencies required to make information available for public review and comment within 30 days.

State Fire Marshal must appoint a cultural burning liaison to advise the department on increasing cultural burning activity, engage with Native American tribes and cultural fire practitioners, and serve on the State Board of Fire Services.

State Fire Marshal must develop a proposal by July 1, 2023 to establish a prescribed fire training center in collaboration with universities, tribes, and cultural fire practitioners.

Department must consider availability of nondepartmental contingency resources when issuing burn permits, employ unit-level burn suspensions rather than state/regional suspensions, and develop an automated system for issuing burn permits.

Department must make recommendations by July 1, 2023 on how to understand and model wildfire risk for communities and parcels through an advisory workgroup, with recommendations to be posted on the department's website and repealed January 1, 2025.