Perennial fire season
The first day of summer is Sunday, June 21.
And, while fire season is year-round in California, the vast majority of wildfires are in the summer months.
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Here’s a look at fire statistics from recent years.
Seasonal OutlookNorthern California: The area is expected to experience a steady warming and drying trend through early summer, with fuel receptiveness increasing as seasonal curing progresses.
Snow melt and continued spring green-up will help moderate fire spread potential in the near term, but curing herbaceous fuels across lower elevations during April and May will support increased fire activity.
Southern California: The area is expected to remain warmer and drier than normal through the period, supported by below-normal precipitation, above-normal temperatures, and a shallower-than-normal marine layer limiting inland moisture recovery.
Monsoonal moisture is expected to develop in mid to late July, slightly later than normal, with near-normal shower and thunderstorm activity anticipated once established.
You can see Cal Fire’s incident archive here.
So far in 2026:278,289 total emergency responses2,323 wildfires64,971 acres burned25 structures destroyed
A look at 2025
During 2025, wildfire firefighting agencies responded to 8,232 fires that burned 507,818 acres. For wildfire agencies, this represents a 2% increase in the number of fires and a 53% decrease in acres burned from 2024. Cal Fire, through state-funded and local government contracts, as well as contract counties, reported 6,392 wildfire incidents that burned 124,556 acres, which represents an 8% decrease in fires and a 79% decrease in acres burned from 2024.
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2025: The Palisades and Eaton fires in the Los Angeles area in January 2025 burned about 37,000 acres, which was about 18% of the state total in 2025. The number of structures lost in the fires was 16,246, which was 98% of the state total for 2025.
Hardening your homeHere are some tips to protect your home:
Use gravel, pavers or concrete instead of combustible mulch
Clear dead weeds, grass and debris; regularly check roofs, gutters and outdoor areas
Keep branches trimmed at least 10 feet away from chimneys and stovepipes
Minimize combustible items like furniture and planters on decks and patios
Move firewood and lumber piles away from structures for added safety
Replace combustible fencing and gates with fire-resistant materials
Relocate garbage and recycling containers away from structures
Move boats, RVs, and vehicles away from structures during high fire danger periods
These are not major changes, but they can help prevent embers from igniting structure fires.
Learn more at: fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/fire-safety-outreach
Source: 2025 Wildfire Activity Statistics California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Office of the State Fire Marshal
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