December 2024

Tribal Oak Woodland Restoration Project Promotes Traditional Ecological Knowledge 

Explore the efforts of the Hoopa Valley Tribe, as they utilize a CAL FIRE Forest Health Grant to promote a healthier and culturally significant landscape in Humboldt County. Their cultural burning and fuel reduction practices are a deeply respectful and appreciative approach to managing ancestral lands. CAL FIRE is proud to support California Native American Tribes, in implementing and promoting Traditional Ecological Knowledge in wildfire resilience and establishing wildfire safety for tribal communities. Learn more about CAL FIRE's Forest Health and Tribal Wildfire Resilience grant programs below. 

Firefighters in Action: Dramatic Rescue Training with Cars

CAL FIRE firefighters hone their auto extrication skills with trainings like one recently hosted by CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department. The training prepares our firefighters to safely and efficiently rescue individuals trapped in vehicles following an accident. Research shows that patients rescued and treated within the first hour after a severe injury have a higher chance of survival.  

Reducing Wildfire Risk, Increasing Community Safety



State leaders recently visited a San Diego County neighborhood to showcase a home that was retrofitted as part of the California Wildfire Mitigation Program. The California Wildfire Mitigation Program partnered with San Diego County to offer home-hardening grants to low and moderate-income residents in high fire risk areas. Home hardening is one part of California’s multilayer personal/community defense against wildfire. 

The Journey of the California Capitol Christmas Tree

Ever wondered how the California Capitol Christmas Tree gets to Sacramento? This video showcases the famous tree’s journey from the CAL FIRE LaTour Demonstration State Forest in Shasta County to the front lawn of the Capitol where it is decorated in all of its festive holiday glory. Learn more about LaTour Demonstration State Forest by following the link below.   

Smoke Alarms Save Lives – Captain Cal Helps Explain



Approximately two-thirds of home fire fatalities occur in homes without working smoke alarms. Since most fatal fires occur at night, it’s essential that every home has working smoke alarms to provide an early warning. It’s never too early to start teaching children the basics of home safety. Here is a kid-friendly lesson on smoke alarm safety. 

PASS the Safety this Holiday Season – Know How to Use Your Fire Extinguisher

This holiday season, it's essential to be fire ready. This involves learning and understanding how to use a fire extinguisher properly. Under the CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal, there's a program that ensures fire extinguishers sold in the state meet the highest standards to be a life-saving devices; click on the graphic to learn tips on using a fire extinguisher and remember to PASS this vital resource to your friends and family, as it could save lives in an emergency. 

Spread Joy, Not Fire this Holiday Season: Essential Christmas Tree Safety

Keep your holiday festivities safe and fun this year with these helpful tips. Flammable trees, decorations and even gifts can become real hazards if the proper care is not taken so make sure to check out the video above and two fact sheets below. 

What it Takes to Prepare a Home for Wildfire



As California wildfires become more frequent, people will need to fireproof their homes. This article from CNN helps to explain what it takes to do it and some cost saving measures you can take.

CAL FIRE Prevention Grant Work Helps Contain Remote Wildfire in Santa Barbara County

Maintaining access to hard-to-reach areas is essential for quickly containing wildfires. Here’s a project in Santa Barbara County that was effective in doing just that. 

Celebrating a Great Year for the CAL FIRE Training Program

This has been a great year for CAL FIRE’s training academies. Whether it is new Firefighter I trainees or seasoned firefighters learning new skills such as incident management training or dozer training, CAL FIRE's training facilities serve as the foundation for developing a highly skilled and versatile all-risk firefighting workforce. Check out photos from this year’s Training Program graduations or click the ‘Join-Us’ link to learn how you can join the over 12,000 CAL FIRE employees keeping California safe. 

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