Wildfire Activity by State
California Wildfires: Live Map & Active Fires
Track California wildfires with WFIGS/NIFC incident data and NASA FIRMS satellite heat detections. Incident records provide reported acreage and containment; FIRMS shows separate thermal activity detected from space.
For evacuation orders, emergency alerts and road closures, follow state and local authorities.
California at a glance
California wildfire map
Map key: Flame markers show reported wildfire incidents, red outlines show published fire perimeters when available, and orange/red circles show NASA FIRMS satellite heat detections. Satellite heat detections are not automatically confirmed wildfires.
What changed in California in the last 24 hours
Recent changes from the official incident history saved by WildfireSignal.
A fire leaving the active list does not by itself mean the fire is extinguished. Official records can change as agencies update incident status and mapping.
Active wildfire incidents
Sorted by reported acreage. 62 current incidents. The first 20 appear below; expand the remaining incidents to see every listing.
Show remaining 42 active incidents
Official resources for California
State-specific wildfire, emergency-management and air-quality resources are shown when an official state source is available. National tools remain included where they provide broader coverage.
About current wildfires in California
This California wildfire page combines current named incidents from WFIGS/NIFC with NASA FIRMS satellite heat detections. Official incident records and satellite heat observations remain separate, and a FIRMS detection is not automatically a confirmed wildfire.
WildfireSignal currently lists 62 active incidents representing 60,652 reported active acres. Acreage, containment and incident status can change as agencies publish new information.
California combines chaparral, grasslands, foothills and extensive mountain forests, with major differences between coastal, interior and high-elevation fire environments. Wildfire conditions can change quickly with heat, dry fuels and wind. Seasonal timing varies by elevation and local weather, so current agency information matters more than a fixed calendar window.
For official wildfire information, use the CAL FIRE Current Incidents. CAL FIRE Current Incidents ↗
For immediate threats, evacuation orders and road closures, use local and state authorities rather than relying on a satellite-detection map.
California wildfire FAQ
Where can I see current wildfires in California?
WildfireSignal shows current available California wildfire incident information from official WFIGS/NIFC data, including reported acreage, containment, location and incident details when available. The map also includes a separate NASA FIRMS satellite heat-detection layer. For evacuation orders, emergency alerts and other local safety information, always follow official state and local authorities.
Are NASA FIRMS satellite heat detections confirmed wildfires?
No. NASA FIRMS detects thermal activity from satellites. These heat detections may be associated with wildfires, but they do not necessarily represent confirmed wildfire incidents. Use official incident information to confirm whether a wildfire has been reported.
Why do wildfire acreage and containment numbers change?
Wildfire acreage and containment figures are reported estimates that can change as conditions develop. Agencies may revise these figures as mapping improves, weather and fire behavior change, or incident teams publish new reports.
Why did a wildfire disappear from the active-fire list?
A fire may disappear if it is no longer included in the current source data or no longer meets WildfireSignal's criteria for displaying active incidents. Its removal from the list does not necessarily mean the fire has been fully extinguished.
Where can I find evacuation, smoke and fire-weather information?
For evacuation orders and immediate emergency information, follow local emergency-management agencies, law enforcement and other official authorities. For additional conditions and alerts, use official resources such as the National Weather Service, AirNow and state agencies.
What do the red fire perimeters mean on the California map?
A fire perimeter is a mapped boundary published by an official wildfire data source. It reflects conditions at the time it was mapped and may not show the fire's most recent movement.
Does this California wildfire map show evacuation zones?
No. WildfireSignal focuses on incident, perimeter and satellite-heat data. Use CAL FIRE, county emergency management and local authorities for evacuation warnings, orders, shelters and road closures.