Reflecting intensifying wildfires and updated science, new state maps designate more than 2.3 million acres of local land in California as facing high or very high danger of wildfires.

Fire hazards in California have grown, in part, because of climate-driven droughts and a longer, more dangerous fire season.

Fires have been unusually active so far this year, with 359 fires and nearly 58,000 acres burned, compared to a 5 year average of 175 fires and 500 acres.

They have also been deadly.

29 people have died in fires since January.

Statewide, 800,000 acres of land with local responsibility were classified in 2007 as very high hazard, the only category used at the time.

The new maps now designate 1.16 million acres as high and an additional 247,000 acres as very high.

Fire marshal officials say they cannot estimate what percentage of local acreage that encompasses until local authorities review and adopt the new maps.

Newsom's order also directed the State Board of Forestry to adopt regulations requiring a 5 foot ember-resistant zone around structures in the highest severity fire areas.

So-called Zone 0 state regulations are currently under development and would apply to new and existing buildings in the highest severity zones.

Newsom's order said the ember zone regulations are likely to apply immediately to new construction but would be phased in over three years on existing homes.

The ember-resistant zone is intended to address the threat of firebrands carried by winds from igniting a home that may be miles away from the firefront.

For CalMatters, I'm Julie Cart.