City of Orange Wildfire Fuel Management Project
Summary
SCH Number
2025100351
Public Agency
City of Orange
Document Title
City of Orange Wildfire Fuel Management Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
10/8/2025
Document Description
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.
Contact Information
Name
Arlen Beck
Agency Name
City of Orange
Job Title
Associate Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Orange
Counties
Orange
Regions
Citywide
Total Acres
284
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 15301 and Section 15304
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed project is categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per State CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Class 1 - Existing Facilities) and Section 15304 (Class 4 – Minor Alterations to Land) because the project involves ongoing fuel management and maintenance activities within developed and previously disturbed areas that are necessary to protect existing structures, infrastructure, and evacuation routes in high and very high fire hazard severity zones. Specifically, vegetation removal is limited to grasses, weeds, scrub, brush, and small trees under 18 inches in diameter, with no removal of healthy, mature, or scenic trees, ensuring that the project avoids significant adverse impacts to biological resources, scenic quality, or surface waters. The project reduces wildfire risk across 284 acres in the wildland-urban interface while also safeguarding critical facilities. The activities are minor in scope, environmentally protective in intent, and confined to fuel reduction consistent with public agency fire protection requirements.
County Clerk
Orange
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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