Live Wildfire Cameras (California Only)
Watch real-time views from the cameras first responders use to catch fires early — the ALERTCalifornia network of 1,150+ mountaintop PTZ cameras across California. See the ones nearest you.
Fire locations come from NIFC, last pulled Aug 8, 6:14 PM PDT — they update about once a day and are not real-time. In an emergency, always follow the official orders from your local authorities. Basemap © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap.
California wildfire cameras
Latest stills from the ALERTCalifornia public camera network, refreshed automatically every 25 seconds. Tapping a camera opens its official ALERTCalifornia page. Awareness only — for evacuation orders follow your local fire authorities, Watch Duty, and 911.
How wildfire cameras catch fires early
The ALERTCalifornia program (UC San Diego) operates more than 1,150 pan/tilt/zoom cameras on peaks and towers across California. They give firefighters a 360° view of the landscape, confirm and size up new ignitions, and increasingly feed AI models that flag a column of smoke within minutes — frequently before the first 911 call. Watching a nearby camera during a Red Flag Warning or an active incident is one of the fastest ways to see what's actually happening on the ground.
Wildfire cameras — FAQ
What are wildfire cameras?
They’re fixed pan/tilt/zoom (PTZ) cameras mounted on peaks and towers across California, run by the ALERTCalifornia program at UC San Diego. Crews and AI watch them around the clock to spot new ignitions, often before a 911 call.
How do I watch a fire camera near me?
This page loads all 1,150+ California cameras sorted by their proximity to active fires — so the cameras most likely to see smoke or flames appear first. Tap any camera card to open its full pan/tilt/zoom live feed on ALERTCalifornia.
Are these live?
The stills on this page refresh automatically every several seconds (the latest image, not a continuous video stream). Opening a camera takes you to its full feed on ALERTCalifornia. These cameras cover California.
Can I rely on a camera to decide whether to evacuate?
No. Cameras are a powerful awareness tool but they have blind spots, can lag, and may be obscured by smoke or darkness. Always follow official evacuation orders from your local fire authority, Watch Duty, and call 911 in an emergency.