Wildfire season kicked off early for California as nearly 1,000 wildfires were reported since the start of the year, and with Wildfire Preparedness Week around the corner, what should residents do to not be caught off guard?
As of April 27, there were 937 wildfires in 2026 alone, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire. The agency tracks wildfires across the state and their impacts, including acres burned, structures affected, evacuation orders, and fatalities.
Nearly five months into the year, the department reported seven structures burned, 11,067 acres burned, and no reported fatalities.
As fires continue to break out, Californians who haven’t already prepared should be prepared in case one pops up.
Wildfire Preparedness Week is May 3 through 9, according to a Cal Fire news release, so what should residents do to be prepared?
When is wildfire season in California?
Fire season in the state of California is year-round, as wildfires can sprout at any time, said Ventura County Fire spokesperson Andy VanSciver.
Peak fire season depends on several factors, including weather and fire conditions. It also varies by agency and county, VanSciver said.
The Cal Fire active incident website shows that there have been 30 named wildfire incidents since the start of April.
Some of the biggest include: the Springs Fire in Riverside County on April 3, which burned 4,176 acres; the Tumey Fire in Fresno County on April 19, which burned 1,647 acres; and the Paramount Fire in Kings County on March 25, which burned 1,280 acres.
How do you prepare for a wildfire?
Cal Fire’s official website has a list of what the agency does to prepare for wildfire season and what residents should do, not just for wildfires but fires at home.
The fire agency recommends that homeowners retrofit their homes with fire-safe materials, and its website provides resources to do so.
Evacuations can happen at any moment, so making sure children and older adults know the safety plan is important, the agency said.
Californians should check vehicles and equipment such as cars, trailers and mowers to make sure sparks don’t accidentally start fires.
Having a go-bag with essential items is also important during evacuations.
Items Cal Fire recommends people should have in their go-bags include:
For more tips on wildfire preparedness, visit www.readyforwildfire.org.
Ernesto Centeno Araujo covers breaking news for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at ecentenoaraujo@vcstar.com, 805-437-0224 or @ecentenoaraujo on Instagram and X.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Nearly 1,000 wildfires reported in 2026, how should Californians prepare?
Reporting by Ernesto Centeno Araujo, USA TODAY NETWORK / Ventura County Star
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