This is What We Do

Safeguarding California through fire prevention and protection, emergency response, and stewardship of natural resource systems

All-Hazard Response

We are on the scene for floods, fires, earthquakes, medical aid, hazardous materials spills, search and rescue missions, and other disasters.
We answer the call

Initial Attack

Our Fire Protection services operate throughout the State with responsibility for over 31 million acres of California's privately-owned wildlands. Initial attack aircraft can reach even the most remote corners of California within 20 minutes, with the goal of keeping 95% of fires contained at 10 acres or less.

Learn more about Fire Protection

OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL Training for Tomorrow

California State Fire Training is one of the many OSFM (Office of the State Fire Marshal) divisions supporting CAL FIRE. OSFM establishes, develops, and delivers standardized training and education for the California fire service.
Learn More about OSFM

Preventing Wildfire

We’re mitigating the risk of devastating wildfire through proven fire-prevention strategies. Crews create fuel breaks and controlled burns to reduce fuel in forests, and partner with local agencies to manage vegetation.

LEARN HOW YOU CAN PLAY A ROLE

NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT Maintaining the Balance

Our work aims to protect and increase healthy forests. We conduct research, enforce regulations, and restore ecosystems.

Explore our Stewardship Programs

We all have a role to play Fire Safety Outreach

How you handle campfires and fireworks can keep all of us safe. Prepare your home and family for wildfire season with home hardening and evacuation plans. Find trusted fire safety information from CAL FIRE.

WE HAVE YOU COVERED

Our Impact $500M in wildfire prevention grants

Unprecedented State investments are powering wildfire resilience and forest health. Our grants provide training to rural fire departments, bolster the forest sector workforce, and support prevention and preparation in fire-threatened communities.

EXPLORE GRANTS

MORE Programs

Fuels Reduction

Fuels reduction activities are a key tool for fire fighters, land managers, and property owners. These activities include the removal or reduction of overgrown vegetation through the use of prescribed fire, tree thinning, pruning, chipping, and roadway clearance. Learn more about our ongoing Fuel Reduction Projects.

Innovation in Biomass

Repurposing excess woody material can provide revenue to landowners and decrease fire risk. And, it is a carbon-neutral fuel source that can reduce our dependence on foreign oil. We are facilitating conversations to bring biomass energy from research stages to larger-scale utilization.

Mobile Equipment Program

CAL FIRE operates a fleet of more than 3,000 mobile equipment vehicles, which includes: Fire engines, bulldozers, crew carrying vehicles, administrative vehicles, mobile kitchen units, mobile communications units, trailers, forklifts, construction equipment, all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, and even insect control vehicles.

All Programs

CAL FIRE’s high standards of operations are maintained through key organizational programs.