On Monday, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection launched a new 2026 forest health media and education campaign. This campaign is aimed at helping Californians better understand the role healthy forests play in mitigating the growing wildfire threat and highlights the actions we can take together to reduce risk and protect lives, communities and natural resources.
Healthy forests provide clean air and water and protect wildlife habitats. They also act as natural fire barriers that reduce risk to our communities. A key focus of the campaign is highlighting proactive forest management, including prescribed fire. Carefully planned burns reduce hazardous fuels, lower wildfire intensity, and promote healthier, more resilient forests.
CAL FIRE is inviting local agencies, grantees, community-based organizations and others to participate in this campaign.
“CAL FIRE is committed to reducing wildfire risk by addressing hazardous vegetation and improving forest health,” said CAL FIRE Director Joe Tyler.
“As the use of prescribed fire continues to increase across the state, it’s important Californian’s understand the benefits of prescribed fire and its role in keeping forests healthy as we work to build more resilient landscapes and safer communities across California.”
California’s forests are vital to biodiversity, climate regulation, clean water, and community well-being, yet they face growing threats from larger, more frequent wildfires. Increasing the pace and scale of fuels reduction and prescribed fire projects across the state is part of California’s Action Plan for creating healthier and more resilient forests. Californians will continue to see an increase in prescribed fire activity across the state.
The campaign also emphasizes the important role individuals play at home and in their communities to prepare for wildfire. Californians can reduce their wildfire risk through home hardening and by creating and maintaining defensible space. Be prepared when emergencies occur by having a go-bag packed and knowing evacuation routes. Developing evacuation plans and signing up for local emergency alters are also critical steps in being prepared.
To learn more and to see what you can do to help visit PreventWildfireCA.org.
To see prescribed fires around us, see the CAL FIRE Incident Map.
