Cal Fire's new maps for Southern California added 3.5 million acres into fire-hazard zones, increasing the acreage in the highest hazard zone by 26%.

Cal Fire said the maps are proactive, to be used in wildland-urban interface building standards for new construction and natural hazard real estate disclosures at the time of sale.

For the first time in at least 14 years, state officials will release updated fire maps for Southern California on Monday, March 24, showing where wildfires are most likely to occur within the next several decades. With the acrid memories of January’s Palisades and Eaton fires still fresh, the new maps couldn’t be more timely.