California Wildfire Report - August 2025
Executive Summary
California is experiencing significant wildfire activity with 13 active fires burning across 116,309 acres as of August 4, 2025. The Gifford Fire in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties has emerged as the most critical threat, burning 72,460 acres with only 3% containment[1][3]. The 2025 fire season has already seen 4,759 wildfires burn 228,215 acres statewide, destroying 16,333 structures and causing 31 fatalities[1]. CalFire’s Incident Map is available here if you would like to track progress/containment.
Active Wildfire Incidents
Major Active Fires
Gifford Fire - The most significant current threat
Location: Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties, along Highway 166[2][5]
Size: 72,460 acres burned
Containment: 3%
Personnel: 1,091 firefighters deployed[5]
Structures Threatened: 460 structures[2]
Evacuations: Multiple evacuation orders across both counties[3]
Road Closures: Highway 166 closed between Highway 101 and New Cuyama[5]
Orleans Complex - Northern California
Location: Del Norte and Siskiyou Counties, Six Rivers National Forest[7][9]
Size: 21,577 acres burned
Containment: 81%
Status: Comprises Butler Fire and Red Fire, started July 3, 2025[7]
Personnel: Nearly 1,400 firefighters[9]
Injuries: Three firefighters injured by falling tree[10]
Other Active Fires:
Green Fire (Shasta County): 19,022 acres, 97% contained[1]
Rosa Fire (Riverside County): 1,163 acres, 0% contained[1]
Big Cliff Fire (Siskiyou County): 542 acres, 0% contained[1]
Gold Fire (San Bernardino County): 348 acres, 0% contained[1]
Firefighting Resources and Personnel
CAL FIRE Assets
World's largest civilian helicopter firefighting fleet: 16 S-70i Fire Hawk helicopters[11]
C-130 Air Tankers: 2 aircraft (second added April 2025)[12]
Mobile Equipment: Over 3,000 fire engines, bulldozers, and support vehicles[13]
Workforce Expansion: Average of 1,800 full-time and 600 seasonal positions added annually[14]
National Guard Support - Significantly Reduced
Task Force Rattlesnake: Only 6 of 14 firefighting crews available (40% capacity)[15][14]
Federal Deployment Impact: 8 crews diverted to Los Angeles for immigration enforcement operations[15]
Historical Context: Task Force Rattlesnake created in 2019, comprises 300+ National Guard members[16]
Current Deployment for Major Fires
Gifford Fire: 1,091 personnel, 32 hand crews, 16 dozers, 15 water tenders, helicopters, and air tankers[2]
Orleans Complex: Nearly 1,400 personnel battling the Butler and Red fires[9]
International Support
January 2025: Canada provided 2 airtankers, crews, and personnel for Southern California fires[17]
June 2025: U.S. deployed crews, aircraft, and management teams to Canada[17]
Military Aircraft: C-130s equipped with MAFFS systems provide surge capability[18]
Weather Forecast and Fire Danger Outlook
Immediate Forecast (August 4-6, 2025)
Temperatures: Mid-80s to low 90s Fahrenheit[2]
Humidity: Dropping to 15-25%[2]
Winds: Diurnal wind patterns with potential gusts[2]
Fire Behavior: Active fire behavior expected, particularly with plume-dominated conditions[2]
Extended Outlook (August - November 2025)
Temperature: Above-normal temperatures forecast, potentially in warmest 20% of recent summers[19]
Fire Season: Above-normal large fire activity predicted for July-August period[21]
Key Drivers: Persistent drought, high grass loads, weakening coastal marine layers[21]
Flash Drought: Developing conditions in Northern California pushing critical levels faster than usual[21]
Red Flag Warning Conditions
Criteria for Red Flag Warnings[23]:
Relative humidity ≤15% with sustained winds ≥25 mph or gusts ≥35 mph for 6+ hours
Relative humidity ≤10% with sustained winds ≥15 mph or gusts ≥25 mph for 6+ hours
Widespread dry lightning with minimal rainfall
Current Fire Weather Threats
Heat Wave Potential: Building heat expected Thursday-Friday of this week[25]
Extreme Fire Behavior: Smoke column ice cap formation observed on Gifford Fire creating erratic fire spread[2]
Fuel Conditions: Very low dead fuel moisture, live fuels at lower elevations curing quickly[21]
Air Quality and Health Impacts
Current Air Quality Conditions
Gifford Fire Smoke: Impacting Los Angeles, Ventura, and Kern Counties[25][27]
Air Quality Alerts: Issued for Cuyama area with air quality watch for rest of Santa Barbara County[4]
Health Concerns: PM2.5 particulate matter from wildfire smoke poses risks for heart and lung health[28]
Geographic Reach: Smoke can travel hundreds of miles, affecting areas far from active fires[28]
Protection Recommendations
N95 Masks: Recommended for those who must be outdoors during heavy smoke conditions[28]
Indoor Safety: Stay indoors with windows and doors closed during poor air quality[28]
Vulnerable Populations: Those with respiratory, lung, or heart conditions should limit exposure[28]
2025 Fire Season Statistics
Year-to-Date Totals (January 1 - August 4, 2025)
Total Fires: 4,759 wildfires[1]
Total Acres Burned: 228,215 acres[1]
Structures Destroyed: 16,333 structures[1]
Fatalities: 31 deaths[1]
Emergency Responses: 350,357 total emergency responses[1]
Notable 2025 Fires (Contained)
Madre Fire: 80,779 acres, 100% contained[1]
Palisades Fire: 23,448 acres, 100% contained, 12 deaths[29]
Eaton Fire: 14,021 acres, 100% contained, 17 deaths[29]
Hughes Fire: 10,425 acres, 100% contained[29]
Seasonal Outlook and Risk Assessment
Summer 2025 Conditions
Northern California: Below-normal rainfall, notable May heat wave, 2,400 lightning strikes (well below 10-year average)[21]
Southern California: 70% of average precipitation since October, consistently above-average May temperatures[21]
Snowpack: North Sierra declined from 75-80% of normal on May 1 to 20-30% by month's end[21]
Key Risk Factors
Fuel Moisture: Very low dead fuel moisture levels statewide[21]
Coastal Marine Layers: Showing signs of weakening, especially in Southern California[21]
High-Elevation Vulnerability: Areas above 7,000 feet in Sierra and Mono County experiencing early-season timber fires[21]
Grassland Threat: High grass fuel loads creating elevated fire risk across multiple fuel types[21]
Long-term Projections
Fire Potential: Expected to increase steadily through summer with above-normal large fire activity forecast[21]
Peak Season: Now extends year-round rather than traditional seasonal patterns[21]
Climate Impact: Models aligning for early and active season with elevated risk continuing into September[21]
The combination of extreme weather conditions, reduced National Guard firefighting capacity, and abundant dry fuels creates a particularly challenging fire environment for California through the remainder of 2025. The rapid expansion of the Gifford Fire exemplifies the extreme fire behavior conditions currently present across the state, requiring maximum deployment of available firefighting resources and continued vigilance from residents in fire-prone areas.
Sources
[1] 2025 Fire Season Incident Archive - Cal Fire - CA.gov https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025
[2] Nearly 500 Structures at Risk as Gifford Fire Grows to More Than 65,000 Acres https://www.independent.com/2025/08/04/nearly-500-structures-at-risk-as-gifford-fire-grows-to-more-than-65000-acres/
[3] Gifford Fire: Incident Update on 08/04/2025 at 12:29 PM | CAL FIRE https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/8/1/gifford-fire/updates/98a14e79-9607-4160-825a-f55d702ae6e5
[4] Wildfire Map Spotlight: Gifford Fire, California - IQAir https://www.iqair.com/newsroom/wildfire-map-spotlight-gifford-fire-santa-barbara-county-california
[5] [PDF] GIFFORD FIRE https://www.fs.usda.gov/sites/nfs/files/r05/lospadres/publication/alerts/Update_Gifford_08_04_25_AM.pdf
[6] Gifford Fire: Incident Update on 08/03/2025 at 3:58 PM | CAL FIRE https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/8/1/gifford-fire/updates/3225a2df-89bc-4251-b39c-693e4fe17955
[7] Orleans Complex Fire - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orleans_Complex_Fire
[8] Orleans Complex - Cal Fire - CA.gov https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/7/9/orleans-complex
[9] Firefighters make progress on Orleans Complex, fire reaches over 20k acres https://krcrtv.com/weather/wildfires-and-water/orleans-complex-butler-fire-red-fire-humboldt-siskiyou-six-rivers-klamath-national-forest-usfs-service-update-incident-norcal-california-wildfire-fires
[10] 3 firefighters injured by falling tree while battling California wildfire https://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/3-firefighters-injured-tree-fall-butler-fire-orleans-complex-california
[11] As Trump defunds federal firefighting, California steps up https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/07/31/as-trump-defunds-federal-firefighting-california-steps-up-introducing-the-worlds-largest-helicopter-firefighting-fleet/
[12] Ahead of peak fire season, California adds second C-130 airtanker ... https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/04/24/ahead-of-peak-fire-season-california-adds-second-c-130-airtanker-to-worlds-largest-aerial-firefighting-fleet/
[13] Mobile Equipment | CAL FIRE - CA.gov https://www.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/fire-protection/mobile-equipment
[14] California National Guard fire crews operating at just 40% capacity ... https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/06/24/california-national-guard-fire-crews-operating-at-just-40-capacity-due-to-trumps-illegal-guard-deployment/
[15] California's National Guard fire crews are operating at 40% capacity https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2025-06-26/newsom-california-national-guard-fire-crews-operating-at-40-percent-capacity
[16] California National Guard firefighters at 40% due to LA mission https://taskandpurpose.com/news/california-national-guard-firefighters-la-mission/
[17] International Support | National Interagency Fire Center https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/international-support
[18] Military aircraft equipped with Modular Airborne Firefighting Systems ... https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/news-releases/military-aircraft-equipped-modular-airborne-firefighting-systems
[19] [PDF] National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/predictive/outlooks/monthly_seasonal_outlook.pdf
[20] Why California's Wildfires Could Be Brutal This Summer https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/16/weather/california-fire-season-forecast.html
[21] Incidents | CAL FIRE - CA.gov https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents
[22] What can we expect as fire season ramps up in California? https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/23/what-can-we-expect-as-fire-season-ramps-up-in-california
[23] Red Flag Warnings - Ventura County Fire Department https://vcfd.org/red-flag-warnings/
[24] Red Flag Warnings - Santa Barbara County Fire Department https://sbcfire.com/red-flag-warnings/
[25] California wildfire explodes to over 65,000 acres, shuts down highway https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/calif-wildfire-explodes-closes-highway-20800877.php
[26] Wildfire Map Spotlight: Gifford Fire, California https://www.iqair.com/us/newsroom/wildfire-map-spotlight-gifford-fire-santa-barbara-county-california
[27] Wildfire smoke creating unhealthy air quality in SoCal - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHC23zxhoDc
[28] Smoke Ready California | California Air Resources Board https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/smokereadyca
[29] California Fire Map: Wildfires burning across the state https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/california-fire-map/
[30] 2025 California wildfires - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_California_wildfires
[31] Current Wildfires - California Fire Safe Council https://cafiresafecouncil.org/current-wildfires/
[32] [PDF] Incident Management Situation Report Monday, August 4, 2025 https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/sitreprt.pdf
[33] California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection | CAL FIRE https://www.fire.ca.gov
[34] Live California Fire Map and Tracker - Frontline Wildfire Defense https://www.frontlinewildfire.com/california-wildfire-map/
[35] AirNow Fire and Smoke Map https://fire.airnow.gov
[36] National Fire News | National Interagency Fire Center https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/nfn
[37] Wildfire Smoke Blankets US, Millions Under Air Quality Alerts https://www.newsweek.com/gifford-fire-california-wildfires-santa-barbara-live-updates-2108727
[38] Gifford Fire burns nearly 67,000 acres in California https://abcnews.go.com/US/gifford-fire-burns-65000-acres-southern-california/story?id=124343709
[39] Fire Map: Track California Wildfires 2025 - CalMatters https://calmatters.org/california-wildfire-map-tracker/
[40] January 2025 Southern California wildfires - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_2025_Southern_California_wildfires
[41] 2025 California fire map - Los Angeles Times https://www.latimes.com/wildfires-map/
[42] 2025 Southern California Wildfires | US EPA https://www.epa.gov/california-wildfires
[43] Wildfire Map Spotlight: Northern California https://www.iqair.com/newsroom/wildfire-map-spotlight-northern-california
[44] UPDATE: Gifford Fire grows to 75,460 acres by Monday evening https://www.ksby.com/weather/fire-watch/evacuation-warnings-expanded-in-slo-county-as-gifford-fire-spreads
[45] Six Rivers National Forest : Press Release - Orleans Complex https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/sixrivers/newsroom/releases/orleans-complex
[46] Orleans Complex - Cal Fire - CA.gov https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2017/7/26/orleans-complex
[47] California Fire Map: Track updates on fires across California https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/california-fire-map/orleans-complex-2025
[48] Governor Newsom announced $135 million is available for wildfire ... https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/06/25/governor-newsom-announces-135-million-available-for-new-wildfire-projects-amid-trumps-assault-on-resources-protecting-communities/
[49] Red Flag Warning: What's driving fire danger | California Weather https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfs6vKqIeBA
[50] PG&E and California Fire Foundation Open Applications for Wildfire ... https://www.cafirefoundation.org/news/press-releases/pge-and-california-fire-foundation-open-applications-for-wildfire-safety-and-preparedness-grants-2025
[51] Wildfire & Disaster Relief | California Fire Foundation https://www.cafirefoundation.org/what-we-do/for-communities/disaster-relief
[52] Red flag warnings & Fire weather watches https://www.truckeefire.org/red-flag-warnings-fire-weather-watches
[53] National 7-Day Significant Fire Potential https://fsapps.nwcg.gov/psp/npsg/forecast
[54] 2025 California Wildfire Resources | CASBO https://www.casbo.org/informed-involved/2025-wildfires/
[55] 2025 wildfire season expected to be longest in North ... - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsLB82ctZyg
[56] High Winds - Ready LA County https://ready.lacounty.gov/wind/
[57] Home - California Wildfire & Forest Resilience https://wildfiretaskforce.org
[58] Red Flag Warning - Sonoma County Emergency https://socoemergency.org/emergency/red-flag-warning/
[59] California Statewide Wildfire Recovery Resources | https://wildfirerecovery.caloes.ca.gov
[60] Soaring Above the Flames: National Guard Helicopters Aid in L.A.'s ... https://aerialfiremag.com/2025/03/03/soaring-above-the-flames-national-guard-helicopters-aid-in-l-a-s-wildfire-battle/
[61] More than 7,500 firefighting, emergency personnel deployed to fight ... https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/01/08/more-than-7500-firefighting-emergency-personnel-deployed-to-fight-unprecedented-los-angeles-fires/
[62] Sends Firefighters, Engines to Southern California - San Mateo County https://www.smcgov.org/ceo/news/san-mateo-county-responds-sends-firefighters-engines-southern-california
[63] [PDF] 2020 Wildfire Siege - Board of Forestry and Fire Protection https://bof.fire.ca.gov/media/10172/full-9-sept-2020-directors-report.pdf
[64] California, Nevada, Wyoming Guard join firefighting battle - AF.mil https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4027306/california-nevada-wyoming-guard-join-firefighting-battle/
[65] Firefighting Pilots Face High-Pressure Job: 'It Gets a Bit Scary' https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/15/us/firefighting-pilots-california-fires.html
[66] Crews - National Interagency Fire Center https://www.nifc.gov/resources/firefighters/crews
[67] Feds return 150 California National Guard troops to firefighting duties https://abc7.com/post/department-of-defense-returns-150-california-national-guard-troops-to-firefighting-duties/16925460/
[68] Hazard maps, air tankers and funding: Cal Fire prepares for longer ... https://www.capradio.org/articles/2025/05/09/hazard-maps-air-tankers-and-funding-cal-fire-prepares-for-longer-more-unpredictable-wildfire-season/
[69] [PDF] MACS 410-2 Resource Designation System - Firescope https://firescope.caloes.ca.gov/ICS%20Documents/MACS%20410-2.pdf
[70] As Trump's illegal military deployment cuts into firefighting resources ... https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/06/11/as-trumps-illegal-military-deployment-cuts-into-firefighting-resources-governor-newsom-launches-new-cal-fire-recruiting-effort/
[71] California fire agency's new tracker monitors aerial fleets - StateScoop https://statescoop.com/calfire-launches-aviation-management-platform-aerial/
[72] Salary: Cal Fire (July, 2025) United States - ZipRecruiter https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Cal-Fire-Salary
[73] Northern California's first Red Flag Warning of year in effect until ... https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/northern-californias-first-red-flag-warning-of-2025/
[74] Fire risk maps of all California available now after Cal fire update https://www.reddit.com/r/California/comments/1l1157s/fire_risk_maps_of_all_california_available_now/
[75] Fire Hazard Severity Zones | OSFM - CA.gov https://osfm.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/community-wildfire-preparedness-and-mitigation/fire-hazard-severity-zones
[76] San Francisco Bay Area, CA - National Weather Service https://www.weather.gov/mtr/
[77] California Fire Weather https://www.weather.gov/wrh/CAFW?area=ECC030
[78] California Fire Weather https://www.weather.gov/wrh/CAFW
[79] CAL FIRE on Instagram: "A Red Flag Warning is in effect for much of ... https://www.instagram.com/p/DLiF5kohJiQ/
[80] Sacramento, CA - National Weather Service https://www.weather.gov/sto/
[81] Wildfire Forecast and Threat Intelligence Integration Center https://hub.wftiic.ca.gov
[82] Where skies will be smoky this week — and where the haze is coming from https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2025/08/04/smoke-haze-wildfires-maps/
[83] California Fire Information and Fire Restrictions https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/california/fire-restrictions