This dataset shows the geospatial extent of the Strategic Fire Management Zones for the Sierra National Forest Land Management Plan 2023 with pertinent metadata. The purpose of strategic fire management zones is to support decision-making before a fire ignition occurs, by pre-assessing the risk and benefits from wildland fire (both wildfire and prescribed fire) to areas on the landscape. Forest plan guidance aids wildland fire management decisions to meet the full range of forest plan objectives and use the most appropriate wildfire response within all the zones. Wildfire responses include a spectrum of strategies that include full suppression, confine and contain, monitoring, and management to meet resource objectives. The entire spectrum of strategies is available in all the zones, and all wildland fires will be actively managed using a strategy, or combination of strategies, from this spectrum. The boundaries of the fire management zones are determined by conditions on the ground and have the potential to be influenced as the result of development or natural disturbances. Adjustments to the fire management zone maps may be made with an administrative change to the plan to reflect changes on the ground. Within all zones, active management through fuel reduction treatments such as thinning and prescribed fire reduces fuels and fire hazard while mitigating safety hazards for firefighters within all zones.

Community Wildfire Protection Zone: This zone identifies the areas with the highest risk to communities and community assets. This zone assists with preparedness decisions, communication and outreach to high-risk communities, and prioritization of fuel treatments within and near communities.

• General Wildfire Protection Zone:This zone identifies areas with a moderate to high risk to communities and assets as well as natural resources. This zone assists in prioritizing fuel treatments and fire management activities where targeted ecological restoration and hazardous fuel reduction will be needed to contribute to the protection of communities.

• Wildfire Restoration Zone: This zone identifies the areas with a low to moderate risk, mostly to natural resources and some risk to assets. This zone assists with prioritization of fuel reduction treatments to create more opportunities under a wider range of conditions to manage wildfires to meet resource objectives and achieve forest plan desired conditions.

• Wildfire Maintenance Zone: This zone identifies the areas with very low risk, mostly to natural resources and some risk to assets. Wildfires that occur in this zone will likely maintain or help achieve forest plan desired conditions. The management of wildfires to meet resource objective is encouraged when conditions allow and when it can be done in a safe manner.