2024 Fire Year Outlook
The state of California experienced a hotter than normal June, combined with an excess of fine fuels from unusually wet winter and spring seasons. This has resulted in the vegetation being more susceptible to ignition and fire spread than has been observed in previous years. In addition, the vegetation is much more dense below 3,000 feet, which can result in rapid fire growth during initial attack, especially in areas where wind and topography align. These observations and predictions match the fire behavior that has been observed during the first half of the fire year. These conditions are widely considered to be indicative of a longer and more intense fire year, especially when compared to the last 3 fire years.
July – September months are expected to be more influenced by grass and fine fuels rather than large timber, which are less prone to ignition due to the wet spring season. However, the propagation of fire through the understory and ladder fuels of timber, based on incident activity in the first half of the fire year, indicates that vigorous and rapid fire spread is likely, even in the timber fuel model. While the number of fires in the state is keeping pace with the five-year average, the number of acres burned is much higher than the five-year average. Climate predictions are indicating above normal temperatures for all of California, resulting in an abnormally high fire risk for the remainder of the year.
Information presented on the departments website is a representation of the existing wildfire situation, based on the information readily available to CAL FIRE. We make every effort to provide accurate and complete information, however the data is subject to review and change. This site provides general information concerning an incident. All of our information comes from the firelines and must be approved by the Incident Commander in charge of managing the incident prior to release. As battling a fire, or handling any other disaster is the priority, updates to these sites cannot be guaranteed on a set time schedule. Please use the information on these pages only as a reference. The sites are not meant to provide up-to-the-minute evacuation or fire behavior information. Please refer to the fire information phone numbers provided on this site, and website links for additional information, and monitor your local radio stations for emergency broadcasts. If you live in a wildland area always have an evacuation plan in place. Fires occur throughout the State within CAL FIRE jurisdiction on a daily basis during fire season. However, the majority of those fires are contained quickly and no information will generally be provided on these incidents at this site if the fire burns less than 10 acres. If you would like to obtain information about a CAL FIRE fire burning in your area that is not included on this web site, please contact the CAL FIRE Unit that services your county.
