The Fire Department presented an update on Riverside's wildfire preparedness efforts at Tuesday's City Council meeting, highlighting defensible space requirements, free inspections and the Firewise Communities program.
A 2025 state fire map update added 13,356 Riverside parcels to high-risk zones, bringing the total to 24,110 parcels and 17,796 buildings citywide in fire hazard severity zones.
The presentation came 19 months after the July 2024 Hawarden Fire burned 588 acres through Hawarden Hills, destroying six structures — the largest fire in Riverside's history.
The city requires homeowners in fire hazard severity zones to maintain 100 feet of defensible space around their properties — clearing brush, dry vegetation and other flammable materials that could fuel a wildfire. Residents can apply for a free home assessment through the city's 311 app, which dispatches a fire inspector to provide personalized guidance.
Homeowners face an additional requirement when selling: an AB 38 Fire Inspection must be completed before escrow closes, or sellers must agree in writing to complete it afterward.
Officials also encouraged residents to take wildfire mitigation steps that could reduce the cost of fire insurance. California law allows homeowners who complete approved wildfire safety measures to request discounts from their insurance providers.
The Firewise Communities program, a National Fire Protection Association initiative, organizes neighbors to reduce wildfire risk. Riverside has no recognized Firewise sites yet, though one community has begun the application process.
To become a Firewise community, a neighborhood must register at firewise.org, establish a boundary and develop a three-year risk assessment. Residents must also host at least one wildfire education event and participate in a community defensible space workday. Recognized communities receive certificates they can present to their insurance provider to request a discount.
During the council discussion, Councilmember Cervantes raised concerns about wildfire mitigation responsibility for open space not owned by the city. A fire official said the city's defensible space ordinance includes a "good neighbor" provision — if a property owner's 100-foot buffer extends beyond their property line, the adjacent landowner shares responsibility for maintaining that clearance. The city can pursue abatement action against non-compliant adjacent landowners.
Councilmember Steven Robillard flagged an access issue near Tequesquite Canyon, where homeowners on bluffs above the Santa Ana River bed cannot easily reach the edges of their properties. He said the city is working with the City Attorney's Office, city manager's office and Fire Department to open a locked access point on Tequesquite Avenue. He called for a citywide policy to address property access barriers like it.
Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson noted the city is also working with state legislators to revisit fire hazard severity zone maps, which she said may not accurately reflect conditions in some neighborhoods.
Residents can check whether their address falls within a fire hazard severity zone by visiting riversideca.gov/wildfire and using the interactive map tool. They can also call 311 to request a free home assessment or sign up for Riverside Alert to receive emergency notifications.
