To determine the hazard level for an area, factors such as fire history, existing and potential vegetation, predicted flame length and ember-dispersion distances, terrain and weather patterns are

Several locations in the Bay Area are considered very high fire hazard severity zones, according to new maps released this week by the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

For the first time in more than a decade, Cal Fire is reassessing wildfire risk in Bay Area cities. New fire hazard severity maps show dramatic increases in some areas of Sonoma and Napa counties and around San Jose. In Contra Costa County, the fire hazard severity level decreased for some but increased for others.