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Wildfire 16.3.3 Environment All natural resources and habitats in mapped fire hazard severity zones are exposed to the risk of wildfire. 16.4 VULNERABILITY 16.4.1 Population All people exposed to the wildfire hazard are potentially vulnerable to wildfire impacts. Persons with access and functional needs, the elderly and very young may be especially vulnerable to a wildfire if there is not adequate warning time for them to evacuate if needed. In addition, people outside the mapped risk areas are susceptible to health hazards associated with smoke and air pollution from wildfires, especially sensitive p opulations including children, the elderly, and those with respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, wildfires threaten the health and safety of those fighting the fires. An analysis was performed using Hazus and the SoVI ratings (see Section 7.2.2) of the population living in high or very high fire hazard severity zones. Detailed results by jurisdiction are in Appendix E. Table 16-2 summarizes results for the overall planning area. Table 16-2. Distribution of Population Exposed to Wildfire Hazard by SoVI Rating SoVI Rating Population Living in Exposed Areas Having the SoVI Rating Shown Number of People % of Total Exposed Population Very High 0 0 Relatively High 3,400 9.16% Relatively Moderate 8,287 22.32% Relatively Low 6,345 17.09% Very Low 19,099 51.43% 16.4.2 Property All property exposed to the wildfire hazard is vulnerable. Structures that were not constructed to standards designed to protect a building from a wildfire may be especially vulnerable. As of 2008, California State Building code requires minimum standards be met for new buildings in fire hazard severity zones. Most housing in the planning area—84 percent—was built prior to this code requirement. It is unknown how many of these structures are in fire hazard zones. Estimates were developed to indicate the loss that would occur if wildfire damage were equal to 10, 30 or 50 percent of the exposed property value, as summarized in Table 16-3. Damage in excess of 50 percent is considered to be substantial by most building codes and typically requires total reconstruction of the structure. 16.4.3 Critical Facilities Critical facilities not built to fire protection standards, utility poles and lines, and facilities containing hazardous materials are most vulnerable to the wildfire hazard. Most roads would not be damaged except in the worst scenarios, although roads and bridges can be blocked by debris or other wildfire-related conditions and become impassable. 16-11