Governor Newsom highlights robust investments in fire prevention and cutting-edge firefighting technology to combat wildfire and save lives

For b-roll of today's event, click here

What you need to know: California is growing its wildfire-fighting arsenal, including satellites, AI-guided drones, the nation's largest state-owned aerial firefighting fleet, and more. While Trump slashes federal wildfire staffing and imposes tariffs on our Canadian neighbors in their moment of need, California continues to build capacity and meet the moment with innovation and the world's premier wildland firefighting force.

SACRAMENTO - At McClellan Air Park today, Governor Gavin Newsom highlighted California's major investments in state-of-the-art fire technology and wildfire prevention, from drones and satellites to advanced camera networks that identify and track wildfires.

The climate crisis is redefining what an emergency looks like. Wildfires are burning hotter, moving faster, and hitting harder. California leads with science, innovation, and grit. We are meeting this moment with urgency, and building 21st-century solutions for a 21st-century crisis. And through it all, our extraordinary firefighters continue to step up, stand in harm's way, and protect our communities.

Governor Gavin Newsom

Since 2019, the state has significantly expanded its firefighting force by investing in personnel, equipment, and training to protect communities from increasingly severe wildfires and extreme weather events. Under the Newsom administration, California's fire protection budget nearly doubled- from $2 billion to $3.8 billion, including more than $2.5 billion in wildfire resilience and forest health projects. Governor Newsom and the Legislature have also invested over $350 million for wildfire safety projects on federal lands - which make up 58% of California's forestlands. At the same time, the budget for the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) - the state's leadership hub for responding to and rebuilding after major wildfires - increased from $1.8 billion to $4.5 billion.

Nearly 6 years ago today, Governor Newsom met with President Trump during his first term at McClellan Air Park to discuss climate change and the largest wildfires California had ever faced. Trump promised in 2020 that "it'll start getting cooler." The facts and science tell the true story: the world has only gotten hotter, and climate impacts have only intensified.

"As wildfire smoke crosses borders and our neighbors in Canada battle another devastating fire season, we're reminded that climate impacts don't recognize political boundaries," said California Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot. "When disaster strikes, our first instinct should be to lend a hand, because that's how we build resilience for California and beyond. Every wildfire teaches us the same lesson: we are stronger when we work together. California is pairing world-class science and technology with one of the strongest mutual aid systems anywhere."

"Technology is transforming how California prepares for wildfire, giving us the power to see threats sooner, position resources before fires start and move mutual aid faster when every second counts," said California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) Director Caroline Thomas Jacobs. "Governor Newsom's investments are helping us turn real-time intelligence into action so firefighters and local communities have the people, equipment and information needed to save lives and keep fires from becoming major disasters."

"The investments in advanced technology like drones, satellites, and AI-powered detection are giving our firefighters the tools they need to protect California's communities more effectively and safely," said CAL FIRE Director and Fire Chief Joe Tyler. "Every innovation we adopt supports our people on the front lines who work tirelessly to protect our communities when wildfire strikes. Technology and innovation help us do our jobs more quickly and safely, however, we still need all Californians to stay vigilant, support our firefighters, and work together to build a safer, more resilient California."

Meanwhile, Trump continues to weaken wildfire preparedness nationwide, slashing federal programs even as he imposed massive tariffs on Canada over wildfire smoke drifting into the northeastern U.S. California is taking a different approach - deploying firefighters and equipment to help other states respond to floods and wildfires, including Texas, Colorado, and Oregon. While Donald Trump spends his time threatening neighbors in their moment of need, California is leading with a different set of values - deploying highly trained, expert personnel and specialized resources to help communities in crisis.

Leading the world in emergency management innovations

• Expanding the world's largest aerial firefighting fleet: California became the first state in the nation to own, operate, and deploy C-130H airtankers for wildfire suppression - and the fleet keeps growing. The state now operates four, with a planned fleet of seven underway. These large-capacity aircraft deliver significant volumes of fire retardant in a single mission and will be stationed at CAL FIRE bases statewide, ready to mobilize alongside the state's helicopters, other aircraft, and firefighters.
• Early detection: CAL FIRE has collaborated with the Earth Fire Alliance on early adoption of wildfire detection satellites. The first three FireSat wildfire detection satellites launched this past June from Vandenberg Space Force Base to give firefighters faster, more precise intelligence to spot fires earlier and protect communities.
• Eyes on the fire: UC San Diego and the State of California partnered to develop ALERTCalifornia, a statewide network of over a thousand cameras to identify and monitor wildfires. ALERTCalifornia AI-Cameras have detected over 900 fires on state lands before 911 calls were made, and were named one of TIME's Best Inventions of 2023.
• Real-time intel: The first-in-the-nation Fire Integrated Real-Time Intelligence System (FIRIS), managed by Cal OES, provides real-time aerial intelligence, advanced fire mapping, and predictive analytics to support wildfire response for every California County. Flying over 2,000 missions since the start of the program in 2019, FIRIS, along with CAL FIRE's aerial intelligence platform, Intel 641, are critical assets to help identify real-time fire mapping within minutes of ignition.
• Forecasting the threat: California's Wildfire Forecast & Threat Intelligence Integration Center (WFTIIC) is a first-of-its-kind center serving as the state's central hub for coordinating wildfire forecasting, weather intelligence, and fire threat assessments.
• Mapping wildfire risk: Last year, California launched LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) three-dimensional maps of the entire state. LiDAR maps are the gold standard for finding forest and vegetation information, helping decision-makers get a clear picture of fuel loads and wildfire risks.
• World's first redwood forest observatory: California installed the first redwood forest observatory - two research towers in Jackson Demonstration State Forest that measure the inflow and outflow of carbon dioxide, water vapor, and energy between redwoods and their environment. The flux towers provide real-time insight into how redwoods respond to changing environmental conditions, wildfire, and management. Within the next year, aggregated measurements will be processed for public use.
• Harnessing AI: California is testing and researching new and innovative technologies to bolster firefighting and preventative operations. The use of AI-guided wildfire suppression drones will be beneficial in low-visibility conditions by providing extended aerial response capabilities when crewed aircraft cannot operate. The state is researching the use of AI-guided drones to improve extended supply deliveries during field and fire operations, thereby eliminating current modes of human or aircraft delivery in difficult and dangerous scenarios.
• New strike team strengthens Los Angeles response: Cal OES assigned five new Type-6 fire engines to the Los Angeles City Fire Department, forming a strike team that can respond quickly in both urban and wildland areas. Type-6 engines are the smallest, most maneuverable units in the state fleet - typically four-wheel drive, carrying 300 gallons of water, and designed to reach steep, narrow, or remote locations. The engines are state-owned and prepositioned with the Los Angeles Fire Department through California's Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid System. This means they can respond immediately to local incidents and deploy to other regions when mutual aid is requested. Cal OES manages a fleet of more than 270 state-owned fire engines assigned to over 60 local agencies statewide, ensuring every community can access coordinated emergency resources when disasters strike. Since 2019, Governor Newsom and the Legislature have invested in expanding and replacing these mutual aid engines to sustain all-hazards readiness across California.

California's unprecedented wildfire readiness

This builds on consecutive years of intensive and focused work by California to confront the severe ongoing risk of catastrophic wildfires. New, bold moves to streamline state-level regulatory processes build long-term efforts already underway in California to increase wildfire response and forest management in the face of a hotter, drier climate.

The state's efforts are in stark contrast to the Trump administration's dangerous cuts to the U.S. Forest Service, which also threaten the safety of communities across the state. The U.S. Forest Service has lost 10% of all positions and 25% of positions outside of direct wildfire response - both of which are likely to impact wildfire response this year. In recent weeks, the Trump administration proposed a massive reorganization that would shutter the Pacific Regional Forest Service office and other regional Forest Service offices across the West, compounding staff cuts and voluntary resignations across the agency.

As the conditions that fueled 2020 become more common, Cal OES and CAL FIRE urge residents to prepare: make an evacuation plan, pack a go bag, and sign up for local emergency alerts.

California leads the world in mutual aid and global partnerships

California's committed to leading wildfire preparedness and subnational partnerships across the globe:

• Northwest Wildland Fire Fighting Compact (2025): California joined other Western states and Canadian provinces to boost firefighting response and preparedness efforts. The compact enables an exchange of firefighting resources, technology, and expertise. Members include Alberta, Yukon Territory, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, British Columbia, Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Montana, and Hawaii. Recently, California deployed firefighting resources to Oregon for the first time under the Northwest Compact.
• Brazil (2025 MOU): At COP30, Governor Newsom announced a partnership with the State of Pará to strengthen cooperation on wildfire prevention and response - enhancing forest monitoring, identifying areas most at risk, and sharing research and expertise to improve firefighting and emergency management.
• British Columbia (2023 MOU): Mutual wildfire assistance is delivering results. British Columbia sent incident management experts to support California's Palisades Fire in 2025, while CAL FIRE deployed personnel during British Columbia's 2025 fire season. These exchanges established a lasting framework for cross-border wildfire support.
• France: In December 2025, California signed a Protocol with the French Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Crisis Management. Current discussions are prioritizing wildfire management and security.

California teams have responded to disasters in Colorado, Florida, Washington, Alaska, Texas, New Mexico, Oregon, Montana, Wisconsin, Hawaii,  Jamaica,  Arizona, and Puerto Rico.

To learn more about preparedness, visit ReadyforWildfire.org.