CAL FIRE file photo
August 24, 2025 - SACRAMENTO – On Saturday, at the direction of Governor Gavin Newsom, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) approved the predeployment of eight additional fire engines and three additional water tenders to Placer and Calavares counties through Tuesday ahead of expected high temperatures, low humidity, and dry lightning. This is on top of resources predeployed earlier this week in response to elevated heat and critical fire weather forecasted to impact Southern California lasting through Sunday.
A total of 73 fire engines, 20 water tenders, nine bulldozers, five helicopters, 10 hand crews, 16 dispatchers, and two Incident Management Teams, have been approved for predeployment to 12 counties including Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Sierra, Nevada, Plumas, Placer, and Calaveras counties. Local fire agencies identify when conditions in their community may require additional resources and submit a request to the state for support. The staging locations and response assignments are coordinated by local officials.
These efforts ensure that resources are ready to respond quickly, minimizing the potential impact of new fires. This proactive approach has proven to be a critical component of California’s wildfire response strategy, reducing response times and containing fires before they escalate into major incidents. The preposition program is in addition to California’s Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid System, which remains available for emergency response support throughout the state where resources are needed.
With extreme heat forecasted for much of the state, California entered Phase 2 of its extreme temperature response plan on Wednesday – ramping up state and local coordination of resources to prepare for extreme heat. At the Governor’s direction, the State Operations Center at the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is on an enhanced watch for both heat and fire conditions. Cooling centers to protect vulnerable residents are also open in communities across the state.
Residents are urged to stay vigilant during this heightened heat and fire weather period. Californians are reminded to:
- Prepare a wildfire action plan, including planning evacuation routes and packing a go-bag with essentials.
- Sign up for local emergency alerts to stay informed about changing conditions.
- Visit CalHeatScore.CalEPA.ca.gov to find heat safety information specific to your area.
- For more information on fire safety and general preparedness, visit Ready.ca.gov.
Source: Office of the Governor
