California Active Fire Map
Wildfires burning across California right now — live fire perimeters and incidents from NIFC, NASA satellite thermal hotspots, and National Weather Service Red Flag Warnings, all on one map. Then check your home’s exact wildfire risk.
Pan the California fire map, or jump to your area:
Get free wildfire alerts for California
Most apps charge for this. We’ll email you when significant new fires, Red Flag Warnings, or fast-growing incidents are reported near the areas you care about — free.
No spam — wildfire alerts only. Unsubscribe anytime. For instant evacuation orders, also use Watch Duty.
How to read the California fire map
Live layers from official sources. Use the toggles on the map to turn any layer on or off.
Active wildfires in California right now
Uncontained wildfires reported by the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC). Tap any fire for its live details — map, point of origin, scanner feeds & updates.
For awareness only — not an evacuation source. For evacuation orders and real-time alerts, follow Watch Duty, your local fire authority and CAL FIRE officials, and call 911 for emergencies. Data: NIFC.
Wildfire in California: what to know
California faces the nation’s most severe wildfire and insurance environment — from CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zones to a statewide non-renewal crisis pushing homeowners onto the FAIR Plan.
When fire risk peaks in California
California’s fire season runs roughly May through November and peaks late summer into fall, when fuels are at their driest. Southern California’s most destructive fires arrive with autumn and winter Santa Ana winds, while the Sierra and north state peak July–October.
Fire risk isn’t the same everywhere in California — it varies street to street with terrain, vegetation, and how a home is built. The live map shows what’s burning today; your California fire risk map and your address’s 0–100 score show what you face year-round.
California’s fire activity is also reshaping insurance here: high-risk California homes commonly pay 2–4× a standard premium, and FAIR Plan + wraparound coverage often costs more than a single admitted policy would. Documented mitigation is increasingly what determines both price and whether a carrier will write you at all. See the California fire insurance guide for carrier appetite, the California FAIR Plan, and how mitigation lowers your premium.
If a wildfire threatens your area
- 1Get real-time alerts. Install Watch Duty and enable notifications for your county — it’s the fastest source for evacuation warnings and orders.
- 2Know your zone and routes. Look up your evacuation zone now and plan two ways out. Don’t wait for an order to leave if you feel unsafe.
- 3Pack a go-bag. Documents, medications, chargers, N95 masks, water, and pet supplies — ready by the door during fire season.
- 4Harden as you leave. If time allows: close windows and vents, move furniture from decks, and leave exterior lights on so crews can see your home in smoke.
FireRisk.ai is for awareness only and is not an official evacuation source. Always follow CAL FIRE authorities, and call 911 for emergencies.
California fire maps by county
Zoom into live active fires for a specific county.
Embed this California fire map — free
Add this live map to your site, blog, or HOA page. It updates itself. Copy the snippet:
<iframe src="https://firerisk.ai/embed/california" width="100%" height="520" style="border:0;border-radius:12px" title="Live California fire map by FireRisk.ai" loading="lazy"></iframe>
Everything for California wildfire safety
Know your home’s wildfire risk — before the next fire
Active fires show what’s burning today. Your address’s 0–100 risk score, hazard map, and insurance options show what you’re facing year-round.
California fire map FAQ
How many wildfires are burning in California right now?
The live map and the "active wildfires" list above pull uncontained wildfires directly from the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), updated continuously. The count changes through the day as fires start, grow, and are contained.
What are the orange dots on the California fire map?
Those are thermal hotspots — heat signatures detected by NASA's VIIRS satellites, refreshed several times a day. They often reveal new or fast-growing fire activity before a formal incident is reported, but a hotspot can also be a prescribed burn or industrial heat source.
What is a Red Flag Warning in California?
A Red Flag Warning is issued by the National Weather Service when warm temperatures, very low humidity, and strong winds combine to create critical fire-weather. Any new fire can spread explosively. We show active warnings above, live from the NWS.
Is this California fire map live, and can I rely on it for evacuations?
The map and data refresh from official feeds each time you load the page. But it is for awareness only — not an evacuation source. For evacuation orders, follow Watch Duty, your local fire authority, and 911.
How close is the nearest fire to my home in California?
Enter your address on FireRisk.ai for your exact location, the nearest active and recorded fires, your 0–100 wildfire risk score, and what it means for your insurance — free.