City of Orange Wildfire Fuel Management Project

The vegetation clearing project reduces fire risk across 284 acres within high and very high fire hazard severity zones in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) of Orange, California. Removal of flammable vegetation (grass: 45%, brush: 45%, canopy: 10%) and creation of fuel breaks protect approximately 258,816 residents (based on 80,880 parcels within a 2-mile buffer × 3.2 persons/household) and 95,203 structures, including neighborhoods like Serrano Heights and Orange Hills, critical infrastructure (e.g., WEROC North Emergency Operations Center, Southern California Edison power lines, communication towers), and evacuation routes (e.g., Santiago Canyon Road). The project enhances community resilience, improves emergency access, and aligns with the city’s FEMA-approved Local Hazard Mitigation Plan.