Fire History
Calaveras County experienced the devastating 2015 Butte Fire (70,868 acres), which burned across Calaveras and Amador counties, destroying over 800 structures and killing 2 people. The 2017 Bear Fire and 2018 Donnell Fire also burned in the county's forested terrain. Calaveras County's mix of oak woodland, pine forest, and chaparral in the Stanislaus National Forest boundary creates significant seasonal fire risk throughout its foothill and mountain communities.
Local Compliance Notes
CAL FIRE Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit serves unincorporated SRA areas. Communities along Highway 49 from San Andreas to Murphys, the Arnold and Bear Valley mountain communities, and Valley Springs area face Zone Zero compliance obligations. The density of older structures in the Highway 49 corridor makes early assessment particularly important.
Neighborhoods in Zone Zero
High-FHSZ communities in Calaveras County include San Andreas, Murphys, Arnold, Vallecito, Copperopolis, Valley Springs, Mokelumne Hill, West Point, Railroad Flat, and communities in the Stanislaus National Forest boundary area.
Local FAQs
Are Arnold and Bear Valley mountain communities subject to Zone Zero? Yes — these mountain resort communities are in Very High FHSZ areas and Zone Zero requirements apply fully. Contact CAL FIRE Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit for Phase 2 timeline information.