Sacramento, CA — CAL FIRE - Office of the State Fire Marshal this month marked a milestone in community wildfire preparedness, announcing completion of the first five-year cycle of the Subdivision Review Program.
The statewide program identifies communities at higher wildfire risk due to limited evacuation options.
“By giving our communities detailed, neighborhood-level insights, this initiative strengthens our ability to help local leaders and residents improve evacuation planning in some of California’s most vulnerable areas,” State Fire Marshal Daniel Berlant said. “Completing this first five-year cycle is a significant milestone in improving safety for families who live in high fire-risk regions and reflects our strong partnership with local governments across the state.”
The program identifies neighborhoods in high fire-risk areas with only one access route. Communities without a secondary road face increased danger during fast-moving wildfires.
Every five years, beginning in 2021, the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection works with the state fire marshal to survey cities, counties and fire districts. The program focuses on developments with more than 30 homes that lack a second evacuation route, as required by Public Resources Code 4290.5, established by AB 2911 (Friedman, 2018).
“The Subdivision Review Program reflects the state’s commitment to safeguarding California communities,” board member J. Lopez said. “By identifying neighborhoods with limited evacuation routes and partnering with local agencies, we are helping ensure the resources and planning tools needed to protect families in high fire-risk areas.”
The final survey of the initial cycle was recently completed in Newport Beach. Berlant joined CAL FIRE staff in the field, observing how the program evaluates community access and wildfire risk.
“This program reinforces the importance of coordinated planning between local fire agencies and the state,” Newport Beach Fire Marshal James Gillespie said. “The insights gained help us better understand evacuation challenges and continue improving protections for our residents. We urge every household to take simple preparedness steps: know your routes, have a go-bag ready and follow official alerts during emergencies.”
Since the program began, CAL FIRE has completed 2,430 in-person fire safety surveys statewide. In 2025 alone, 202 surveys were conducted in partnership with 30 local jurisdictions, demonstrating strong coordination to enhance wildfire preparedness.
Completion of the first five-year cycle strengthens California’s ability to identify vulnerable communities, support local planning and reduce wildfire risk in some of the state’s most fire-prone areas.
Learn more about CAL FIRE’s Subdivision Review Program here.
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