CAL FIRE

Wildfires are changing. So is the way California prepares for and responds to them.   As hotter, drier conditions continue to drive larger and more complex wildfires, California is investing in the technology, people, and partnerships needed to meet the challenge.   Today, CAL FIRE joined @CAgovernor Gavin Newsom, @Cal_OES Director Caroline Thomas Jacobs, and @CalNatResources Secretary Wade Crowfoot to highlight continued investments in advanced technology, wildfire response, including expanded staffing, faster initial attack capabilities, @ALERTCalifornia cameras, and the recently launched FireSat satellites that will help improve wildfire detection.   Protecting California is a shared effort. Local, state, tribal, and federal partners work together every day to strengthen emergency response, improve coordination, and keep communities safe.   As California faces heightened wildfire activity, preparedness remains one of our strongest tools. Create defensible space, have an evacuation plan, and stay informed so you're ready before an emergency happens. Learn more at: ReadyForWildfire.org   #ReadyForWildfire #CALFIRE #Partnerships #WildfirePreparedness @EarthFireAll

🚁 Expanded air power for Southern California. ✈️ We’ve expanded our aviation resources in San Diego County with the addition of a C-130H airtanker and an S-70i CAL FIRE HAWK helicopter, giving firefighters more tools to respond quickly when wildfires start. The C-130H can deliver thousands of gallons of fire retardant to help slow a wildfire’s spread, while the CAL FIRE HAWK can make rapid water drops, transport firefighters into remote or rugged terrain, and assist with rescue missions. These aircraft are stationed at CAL FIRE’s Ramona Air Attack Base, strategically positioned to support wildfire response throughout San Diego County and across Southern California. Together, they strengthen California’s ability to keep new fires small and protect lives, property, and natural resources. Investments like these are part of our continued effort to ensure we’re ready to respond to California’s year-round wildfire risk. #CALFIRE #Ramona #SanDiegoCounty #FireAviation #WildfirePreparedness @CALFIRESANDIEGO

Today I was at the Ramona Air Attack Base celebrating a significant expansion of aerial firefighting capabilities and formally establish Ramona as the state’s 11th CAL FIRE Helitack base.

🚩 RED FLAG WARNING 🚩 A Red Flag Warning remains in effect until 6:00 PM today for Interior Humboldt County, Trinity County, and southwestern Siskiyou County. Isolated dry thunderstorms are possible this afternoon, with the potential for gusty, erratic outflow winds up to 30 mph. While confidence in thunderstorm development is low, any fire that starts could spread rapidly under these conditions. Avoid ALL activities that could spark a wildfire and stay alert if you're in or near the warning area. #ReadyForWildfire #RedFlagWarning #OneLessSpark #CAwx @CALFIRE_HUU @CALFIRESKU @CALFIRESHU

Our strike teams are officially back from Colorado.   After several days supporting wildfire response through mutual aid, our personnel have safely returned to California. During their deployment, they worked on the Aspen Acres Fire and assisted on other incidents as conditions evolved, providing critical firefighting support wherever they were needed most.   Thank you to our partners in Colorado for their collaboration and coordination throughout this deployment. Mutual aid is built on strong partnerships, ensuring we can support one another across state lines when wildfire activity increases.   To our crews, thank you for your dedication, professionalism, and commitment to protecting communities.   👏  Welcome home!   #CALFIRE #MutualAid #ColoradoFires2026 #CoFire @CALFIRELNU @CALFIREMMU @CALFIRESKU @CALFIREBEU @CALFIRETCU @COStateFire @COPublicSafety

🔥 HOT. DRY. BUSY. All across California, we have been responding to hundreds of wildfires as fire activity continues to increase. From aircraft to crews on the ground, every response is a coordinated effort to keep fires small and protect lives, property, and natural resources. Hot temperatures, dry vegetation, and low humidity mean any new ignition has the potential to spread rapidly. Help reduce the risk: 🔥 Don't park on dry grass. 🚗 Secure trailer chains so they don't drag. 🌾 Don’t mow during the hottest and/or windiest parts of the day. 🏕 Follow local fire restrictions and fully extinguish campfires. 🏡 Prepare your home for wildfire. #ReadyForWildfire #OneLessSpark #CALFIRE #WildfireSafety #PreventWildfires

Wildfire safety starts long before there’s smoke in the air. 🔥 This guide gives you simple steps to prepare your home, your family, and yourself before wildfire strikes. 🏡 READY: Prepare your home for wildfire, sign up for emergency alerts, and pack a go bag. 🎒 SET: Move flammable items away from the house, notify someone of your evacuation plan, and park your vehicle facing the road. 🚗 GO: Evacuate to a safe location. Let emergency contacts know where you’re going. Leave early when evacuation warnings or orders are issued. Waiting puts you, your family, and first responders at risk. Preparedness isn’t one big action. It’s a series of small steps that make a major difference when wildfire threatens. #ReadySetGo #WildfirePreparedness #CALFIRE #ReadyForWildfire

Cleaning up underbrush. Installing mesh. Learning which plants are highly flammable and which aren't. Easy, right? Not even close. But over time, Hugh Council shows us that defensible space and curb appeal aren't mutually exclusive. Progress can be made, and your yard can still look good doing it. Work in progress doesn't mean unfinished. It means moving forward, one task at a time. 📹 Full video: youtu.be/hiPrTtWWyKg?si… #CAWildfires #DefensibleSpace #WildfirePreparedness #ReadyForWildfire

☀️ California, let’s do our part to keep our communities safe this summer. Outdoor cooking is a summer favorite, but grills can quickly become a wildfire risk if they’re not used safely. Place grills well away from homes, decks, fences, and anything that can burn, and never leave them unattended. A few simple precautions can help protect your home, your neighborhood, and California. #CALFIRE #SummerSafety #WildfirePrevention #OneLessSpark #ReadyForWildfire

🚩 RED FLAG WARNING 🚩   A Red Flag Warning is in effect today from 2 PM – 8 PMfor Central Siskiyou County, eastern Siskiyou County, and portions of Modoc County.   Strong, gusty south to southwest winds, very low humidity (7 to 12%), and dry fuels will create conditions that can cause a wildfire to spread rapidly.   Avoid activities that can create sparks, including mowing dry grass, welding, or using equipment that could ignite vegetation.   One less spark can make all the difference.   #ReadyForWildfire #RedFlagWarning #OneLessSpark #CAwx @CALFIRELMU @CALFIRESKU

Wednesday marked another step forward in the future of wildfire response. CAL FIRE’s Fire Innovation Unit, FireWERX, and Seneca came together to demonstrate next-generation autonomous UAS technology that has the potential to transform wildfire operations.   Through a first-of-its-kind partnership, CAL FIRE and FireWERX are accelerating innovation by bringing together public, private, academic, and nonprofit partners to rapidly advance emerging technologies from concept to the field.   Together, we’re building the next generation of tools to improve firefighter safety, strengthen community resilience, and enhance California’s wildfire response. 📷 @Seneca_Systems   #CALFIRE #Innovation #FIU #FireWERX #Wildfire #UAS #Technology

⚽ Colombia and the United States may not be meeting on the soccer field anytime soon, but firefighters from Colombia recently took the field with CAL FIRE.   The training field, that is.   Firefighters from Colombia visited CAL FIRE’s Columbia Helitack Base near Sonora, CA to learn more about how CAL FIRE uses helicopters for aerial firefighting, water drops, and rescue operations.   Colombia recently purchased multiple helicopters for firefighting and rescue missions and reached out to CAL FIRE to learn from one of the largest aerial firefighting programs in the world.   #CALFIRE #InternationalPartnership #WildfireResponse #Aviation

🚒 HEADED TO OREGON. Ten CAL FIRE personnel have deployed to Oregon to support firefighting efforts on the East Evans Creek Fire. This marks California's first deployment under the Northwest Compact, a mutual aid agreement that enables western states to rapidly share firefighting personnel and resources during emergencies. While supporting our partners in Oregon, we remain fully staffed and prepared to respond to incidents across California. Thank you to our personnel for their continued commitment to protecting lives, property, and natural resources wherever they're called to serve. #CALFIRE #MutualAid #Wildfire #NorthwestCompact #Oregon #EastEvansCreekFire

The countdown to the California State Fair is on. 🐻 Camp Smokey returns July 17–Aug. 2 at Cal Expo with hands-on lessons about wildfire prevention, home fire safety, responsible recreation, and how fire plays a role in California’s natural landscapes. Bring the family, meet Smokey Bear, pick up a Camp Smokey passport, and learn simple steps that can help keep your home, community, and California safe. See you at the fair! #CALFIRE #CampSmokey #CAStateFair #FireSafety

🚩 RED FLAG WARNING 🚩 A Red Flag Warning is in effect from noon Wednesday until 9 AM Thursday for portions of Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties due to hot temperatures, low humidity, and gusty winds. These conditions can cause wildfires to start easily and spread rapidly. Do your part to prevent the next wildfire by avoiding activities that could create a spark. Stay aware of changing conditions and be ready to act if a wildfire starts nearby. #ReadyForWildfire #OneLessSpark #RedFlagWarning #CAwx @LACOFD @SBCFireInfo @VCFD

What does it take to fight wildfires from the air? Episode 3 of Airborne Firefighters follows the people behind CAL FIRE's aviation program: mechanics keeping aircraft mission-ready at McClellan Tanker Base, air attack crews on standby at Porterville, and a tanker pilot trainee working toward full certification. 🎥 Watch the full episode now on YouTube: youtu.be/Jaxg80i8THo #CALFIRE #AirborneFirefighters #Wildfire #Aviation #Firefighting

🔥 Keeping fires small starts with a fast, coordinated response. Our goal is to keep 95% of wildfires to 10 acres or less because every acre matters when it comes to protecting lives, communities, and California's natural resources. So far this year, California has already seen nearly 3,500 wildfires. That goal is made possible through: 🚁 Rapid air response, allowing us to reach most areas of the state within 20 minutes. 🛰 Advanced AI-assisted wildfire detection technology that helps identify new fire starts faster than ever. 🤝 A coordinated statewide response alongside our federal, state, local, and tribal partners to quickly attack fires before they have the chance to grow. Early detection. Rapid response. Strong partnerships. That's how we work to keep more wildfires small and protect California. #WildfirePrevention #ReadyForWildfire #OneLessSpark #Firefighters #California

🚩 Critical fire weather is expected across parts of California this week. A Red Flag Warning is in effect Tuesday afternoon through early Wednesday for portions of Trinity and Shasta counties, where isolated dry thunderstorms could produce lightning outside of rainfall, increasing the risk of new wildfire starts. A Fire Weather Watch is also in effect Wednesday afternoon through Thursday morning for the mountains and south coast of Santa Barbara County, the Ventura County Mountains, and the Interstate 5 Corridor. Forecast conditions include strong northwest to north winds, hot temperatures, and relative humidity as low as 10–25%. If a wildfire starts, these conditions can lead to rapid fire growth and extreme fire behavior. Prepare now by packing a go-bag, creating a wildfire action plan with your family, and avoiding activities that could spark a fire. #ReadyForWildfire #OneLessSpark #RedFlagWarning #FireWeatherWatch #CAwx

A wildfire scene can tell investigators where a fire started. You can help identify who started it. CAL FIRE law enforcement officers have made 61 arson arrests across California so far this year. If you have information about a suspected arson-caused fire, call the CAL FIRE Arson Hotline at 1-800-468-4408. Tips can be made anonymously. Details matter: vehicle descriptions, license plates, locations, and direction of travel can all help investigators. Arson puts lives, homes and communities at risk. Report suspicious activity. #SaySomething #ArsonArrests #CALFIRE #LawEnforcement

95 percent of wildfires in California are caused by human activity. That means every one of us has the power to prevent new fire starts. Simple steps—like mowing before 10 a.m. and securing tow chains—can lead to One Less Spark and One Less Wildfire. Together, we can make a difference, California.