Security
Fire Risk
On March 10, 2025, the State Fire Marshal released fire hazard maps that placed most of Trilogy Monarch Dunes in a high or very high fire hazard severity zone (FHSZ). The State Fire Marshal used out of date GIS (Geographic Information System) maps that showed a large area of Trilogy was a eucalyptus forest. This was used to determine fire hazard. This area, shown on the 2015 Google map below, was cleared of trees in 2016 and replaced by homes. Trilogy homes built after 2016 and some neighboring homes are listed as very high fire because the fire map was never updated to replace eucalyptus trees with homes. This impacts more than 550 homes in Trilogy.
A new state law requires that homes with a very high hazard rating must remove combustible materials from within 5 feet of the home ( grass, plants, tree branches, wood mulch, etc.) and replace them with non-combustible materials like gravel or concrete within the next 3 years. If this is not done the state can levy a fine against the homeowner.
Most homes in Trilogy built before 2016 are listed as having a high fire hazard. The maps use by the State Fire Marshal shows eucalyptus trees covering a large section where these home were built and also lists some sections as wildlands.
The State Fire Marshal was contacted about the map errors. The State Fire Marshal stated that they initially used 2015 GIS maps and then updated the maps using 2022 and 2023 GIS data. This should of addressed the map errors. The Trilogy information was not updated. This was verified by a resident who worked with GIS data when he was an assessor with Kern County. The maps can be accessed on the State Fire Marshal website.
Current Fire Hazard Map
If your home is in the red area, it is listed as having a very high fire hazard rating. You can check your home’s fire hazard rating using the link below.
Below are Google Earth maps from 2015 and 2022. The 2022 map has an outlined area in red where the eucalyptus trees were removed and replaced with new homes. The very high fire hazard rating was never changed. Most of the remaining homes in Trilogy have a high fire hazard rating. The maps on the Fire Marshal site show that these areas were not updated.
Google Earth Global View 2015 Google Earth Global View 2022
You can use this link to determine the fire hazard rating for your home. Go to the section
Explore Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
Cal Fire Hazard Severity Zones
Impact on Homeowners
Feedback from local real estate offices is that while it's still too early to see the full impact of the fire maps in our area, buyers have pulled out of other areas listed as a high fire or very high fire hazard. If this issue is not addressed we expect this will impact home values and in the future it may impact home insurance.
As stated previously, if your home is listed as being in a very high fire area you will have to remove plants and flammable material within 5 feet of your home. You will have 3 years to do this in order to avoid being fined by the state.
Correcting the Fire Map
Multiple requests have been made to correct the fire hazard rating for these homes without success. This includes the following:
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The resident who worked for the Kern County assessor and used GIS maps contacted the State Fire Marshal and informed them that the GIS maps (shown on their website) for Trilogy were not updated. The State Fire Marshal did not correct the fire hazard rating. Fire Marshal response.
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Trilogy residents attended the SLO County Board of Supervisors meeting and requested that the Board speak to the State Fire Marshal and ask them to review their hazard maps. The State Fire Marshal position was that they do not accept requests from local government organizations. Further, on March 29th SLO County was forced to adopt these maps "as is" and there is no appeal process. The Board of Supervisors is attempting to change state law to allow a local review of these maps but so far, the state has refused to allow local review.
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The San Luis Obispo Tribune made this their lead story on May 21, 2025. Cal Fire State Fire Marshall Daniel Berlant told The Tribune that Cal Fire used the “best available data” held by the state to create the fire maps and though some of that data was out of date, Cal Fire will not change the map. San Luis Obispo Tribune Article
What Can You Do?
Jimmy Paulding, our 4th District Supervisor, recommends that we contact our state representatives and request that the law be changed to allow local review of FHSZ maps. If your state representative doesn't respond to electronic contact, try to use mail or direct contact.
Sacramento office: (916) 319-2037, Santa Maria Office: (805) 346-1237
Sacramento office: (916) 651-4021, Santa Maria Office: (805) 346-2845
Sign the Petition
If we get enough signatures we can bring attention to this issue. We will send this to our state representatives, the State Fire Marshal, and if this does not get a response, we can forward it to other state offices involved in this decision.
Your Neighbors: Speak to your neighbors and share this link. The effects most Trilogy residents. The more people we have bringing attention to this issue the better.
