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January 2026

Why Some Homes Burn — and Others Don't

The key to preventing wildfires from becoming disasters is to keep them from entering and spreading into the built environment. CAL FIRE's partners at the Institute of Business and Home Safety (IBHS) have identified key vulnerabilities for suburban neighborhoods and communities. These insights build on findings published by the fire protection community and the best experimental and field research to date.

Learn More About Home Hardening

Honing Skills and Staying Sharp with Continued Professional Trainings

Earlier this month, Sonoma Lake Napa Unit firefighters sharpened their skills through Continued Professional Training (CPTs), ensuring they meet annual requirements and stay ready for any emergency. The training focused on both structural and wildland firefighting, along with the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

One Year Since the LA Fires

This month marks one year since the Southern California wildfires that forever changed lives, communities, and landscapes. We honor those lost, stand with those still healing, and recognize the first responders who answered the call. We remember. We reflect. We remain committed.

Stories of LA Fire Recovery

Get LA Recovery Resources

Connection through Trees: Inside CAL FIRE's Urban & Community Forestry Program

Discover how CAL FIRE is helping make California’s cities greener, healthier, and more resilient. Through grants, community partnerships, and science-based planning, the Urban and Community Forestry Program supports tree planting, urban canopy expansion, climate resilience, and improved air quality in neighborhoods across the state. Learn how these efforts benefit public health, protect our climate, and build stronger, more sustainable communities.

Learn More About the Program

What is Community Risk Reduction

No matter the size, type, or location of a department or community, Community Risk Reduction (CRR) strategies can be used to identify risks, prevent emergencies, and strengthen community resilience. How is this broken down? CRR is more than a strategy, it is a proactive approach to identify hazards through strategic action and evaluation. The five 'E's make up the core principles of CRR and below you can learn more about how the CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) can help.

Get CRR Resources Now

CRR Toolkit

Effective emergency responses can mitigate the loss of an unintentional injury and save lives.

CAL FIRE - Office of the State Fire Marshal works hard to ensure our first responders are fully and properly trained for all-hazards response, and that they have the appropriate equipment for every call for assistance – with the efficient use of resources and a timely response.

Education raises awareness and knowledge of fire safety and is the first step of producing low-risk behavior.

CRR is a multi-stakeholder process used to identify risk factors unique to your community and mitigate them using a coordinated, strategic approach.

Did you know that we have a CRR Toolkit that provides free educational materials from CAL FIRE? Tap the Resources link above to learn more

Engineering new products and technologies – or modifying products or environments – can help prevent or mitigate injury and death.

Did you know that smoke alarms, car seats, airbags, and helmets are all the results of engineering innovations? It wasn’t long ago that these everyday items weren’t the norm, but their creation has helped save countless lives.

Enforcement reduces risks (hazards) through legislation and enforcement. Enforcement is typically done through inspections with penalties for non-compliance.

The Fire and Life Safety Division is the main entity within the OSFM responsible for the application of laws and regulations related to fire and panic safety.

The OSFM has jurisdictional authority for enforcement of these laws and regulations in State-Owned buildings, Specified State-Occupied buildings, and State Institutions.

Here are some ways that you can use financial means, like rebates or grants, to encourage risk-reduction behaviors or technologies.

Forest Service and CAL FIRE renew statewide wildfire response agreement

The U.S. Forest Service's Pacific Southwest Region and CAL FIRE have renewed the California Fire Master Agreement — extending a long-standing framework for mutual wildfire response and cooperative risk-reduction work.

Learn More

CAL FIRE and Chile advance wildfire tech and safety strategies in renewed partnership

CAL FIRE recently renewed its Memorandum of Understanding with Chile’s National Forestry Corporation to enhance wildfire prevention and climate resilience efforts.

Learn More

Join Us; We're Hiring for a Heavy Equipment Mechanic

From fire engines and bulldozers to crew transports, these skilled professionals keep the equipment that protects California running strong. Without them, our crews couldn’t get where they need to go when every second counts. As a Heavy Equipment Mechanic, you’ll take on challenging and meaningful work—performing diagnostics, maintenance, and repairs on specialized vehicles and machinery that serve on the front lines of California’s wildfire response.

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