Cal Fire
CAL FIRE is a California state agency delivering fire protection, all-hazard emergency response, and natural resource management across more than 31 million acres of wildlands and 36 counties, operating the world's largest civilian helicopter firefighting fleet and an AI-powered early wildfire detection network.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1880
- HeadquartersSacramento, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Cal Fire does
CAL FIRE (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection) is a California state government agency, founded in the 1880s and headquartered in Sacramento, that delivers fire protection, all-hazard emergency response, and natural resource management services across the state. It holds statutory jurisdiction over more than 31 million acres of State Responsibility Area wildlands and provides emergency services to 36 of California's 58 counties through cooperative fire contracts with local governments. The agency serves California residents, property owners, county and municipal governments, Native American tribes, and forest and wildland owners through a structured regional unit network (12 Northern, 9 Southern), four training centers, and a workforce that has nearly doubled to approximately 11,436 personnel.
The agency's operational footprint centers on the world's largest civilian aerial firefighting fleet (16 Sikorsky S-70i Fire Hawk helicopters plus 60+ fixed and rotary wing aircraft across 14 air tanker bases and 10 helitack bases) and 3,000+ mobile equipment vehicles. Technology platforms include the ALERTCalifornia AI-powered camera network (1,200+ cameras supporting early wildfire detection), a GIS-based fuel treatment effectiveness tracking system, expanded drone operations, and a recently validated autonomous ground vehicle program (Overland AI ULTRA) for logistics and overwatch. The Fire Innovation Unit, developed with FireWERX and philanthropic partners, institutionalizes technology adoption.
Revenue is generated entirely through California state government appropriations, including General Fund allocations and special funds such as Cap-and-Invest auction proceeds distributed via the California Climate Investments program. CAL FIRE also administers a substantial grants portfolio (over $566 million awarded to 575+ local projects over six years) and provides public incident data via open APIs. The agency does not generate commercial revenue; its budget reflects public policy priorities for wildfire resilience and emergency response, with cumulative state investment exceeding $5 billion since 2019.
Cal Fire firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cal Fire
- Legal name
- California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
- Website
- https://fire.ca.gov
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1880
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- CAL FIRE is a California state agency delivering fire protection, all-hazard emergency response, and natural resource management across more than 31 million acres of wildlands and 36 counties, operating the world's largest civilian helicopter firefighting fleet and an AI-powered early wildfire detection network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cal Fire industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Safety / Wildfire Protection Services
- NAICS
- Fire Protection (92216), Fire Protection (922160), Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Support Activities for Forestry (115310), Support Activities for Forestry (11531), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)
- SIC
- Forestry (800)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fire & Rescue Services (Fire Suppression, Rescue) (BPAIAGAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Wildfire Fuel Reduction & Prescribed Burning (AFAMAAAF), Wildfire Suppression & Incident Response (AFAMAEAE), Wildfire Risk Assessment, Prevention & Suppression Services (IMAMAJAG), Forest Fire Management & Fuels Reduction Services (IMAMAAAH), Integrated Forest Health & Fire Management Planning (AFAMAEAK), Forestry & Public Lands Administration (State/National Forests) (BPAIAMAF)
Keywords
Where Cal Fire is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sacramento
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices24 records
Markets served
Cal Fire business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- State Government Funding: CAL FIRE is a California state government department funded through the state budget. The department receives appropriations from California's General Fund and special funds for fire prevention, fire protection, and natural resource management activities.
- California Climate Investments Program: CAL FIRE distributes grant funding supported by Cap-and-Invest auction proceeds through the California Climate Investments program for forest health, wildfire prevention, and community resilience projects.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels5 records
Cal Fire product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CAL FIRE delivers fire protection, wildfire suppression, all-hazard emergency response, and natural resource management across California. The agency protects more than 31 million acres of State Responsibility Area wildlands, contracts with 36 of 58 counties for emergency services, and operates the world's largest civilian aerial firefighting fleet along with AI-powered wildfire detection and autonomous ground vehicle programs. It is funded through state appropriations and the California Climate Investments program.
Product overview
Cal Fire (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection) is a government emergency response agency, not a commercial product company. The agency provides fire protection services covering over 31 million acres of California's privately-owned wildlands. Core services include the Aviation Program (the world's largest civil aerial firefighting fleet with over 60 aircraft including 16 Fire Hawk helicopters), the Fire Innovation Unit for technology development, the Fire and Resource Assessment Program (FRAP) for GIS and environmental assessment, the All-Hazard Response program, and a comprehensive Grants Program for wildfire prevention and forest health. The agency operates 14 air tanker bases, 10 helitack bases, and four training centers. Through the ALERTCalifornia program, CAL FIRE utilizes AI-powered camera networks for early wildfire detection, supporting response for approximately 3,600 incidents in 2025. The agency also partners with technology companies like Overland AI for autonomous ground vehicle testing and Technosylva for learning platforms. Emergency incident data is made available through public APIs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Fire Protection Services Comprehensive wildfire suppression and protection service for over 31 million acres of State Responsibility Area wildlands in California. Provides initial attack aircraft response that can reach remote areas within 20 minutes, with the stated goal of keeping 95% of fires contained at 10 acres or less. For California residents, property owners, and wildland owners.
- Aviation Program (Aerial Firefighting Fleet) The largest civilian aerial firefighting fleet in the world, with over 60 fixed and rotary wing aircraft based at 14 air tanker bases and 10 helitack bases plus one CAL FIRE/San Diego County Sheriff helitack base. Includes 16 Sikorsky S-70i Fire Hawk helicopters capable of carrying 1,000 gallons of water with enhanced night operations capability. Serves wildfire response across California.
- Training Center Program Four state-of-the-art training centers in California providing year-round training in fire protection and prevention, emergency response, law enforcement, and natural resource systems. For CAL FIRE personnel and personnel from other fire protection and law enforcement agencies.
- Fire Innovation Unit (FIU) CAL FIRE's unified effort to drive the development and deployment of next-generation wildfire technology and operational advancements. Brings together public, private, academic, tribal, and philanthropic partners (including FireWERX and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation) to advance firefighter safety and operational efficiency.
- Fire and Resource Assessment Program (FRAP) Assesses the amount and extent of California's forests and rangelands, analyzes their conditions, and provides GIS mapping and data analytics, assessment reports, forest health research grants, fire perimeter data, forest inventory and analysis, and burn severity mapping. For state policymakers, researchers, and resource managers.
- Grants Program Provides funding for fire prevention activities, forest health improvement, and community resilience through multiple programs including Wildfire Prevention Grants, Forest Health grants, Forest Legacy, Urban and Community Forestry, Tribal Wildfire Resilience, and Regional Wildfire and Landscape Resilience Grants. For forest owners, tribal communities, urban communities, and local organizations.
- All-Hazard Response Full-service all-risk department responding to medical aid, hazardous material spills, swift water rescues, search and rescue missions, civil disturbances, train wrecks, floods, earthquakes, and other disasters across California. For California residents and local governments.
- Natural Resource Management Protects and restores California wildlands — 85 million acres of forests, watersheds, and wildlife habitat — through Demonstration State Forests, Environmental Protection, Reforestation Services, Wood Products and Bioenergy, Forest Health, Urban and Community Forestry, Vegetation Management, and Wildfire Resilience programs. For forest owners, tribal communities, urban communities, and the public.
Quantifiable outcome
- 61 of 81 assessed areas with prior fuel treatments showed positive outcomes when subsequently impacted by wildfire, with treatments slowing fires, preventing property destruction, or improving firefighter effectiveness more than 60% of the time
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Cal Fire
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Cal Fire technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability7 records
Feature5 records
Cal Fire partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Overland AIcoreCAL FIRE and Overland AI conducted the first evaluation of autonomous ground vehicles for wildfire response at Camp Pendleton, California. Two ULTRA vehicles successfully delivered critical supplies across austere terrain while providing situational awareness via PTZ cameras. This marks the first validation of military-grade dual-use technology for civilian firefighting applications.
- Axis CommunicationscoreAxis Communications collaborates with CAL FIRE on the ALERTCalifornia program, which uses AI and a network of over 1,200 cameras to detect wildfires across California. The system supported response efforts for approximately 3,600 wildfire incidents in 2025.
- University of California San Diego (ALERTCalifornia)coreUC San Diego's ALERTCalifornia program operates in collaboration with CAL FIRE, the U.S. Forest Service, local and state agencies, and technology partners. The program enhances wildfire detection, storm monitoring, and environmental observation using AI and a statewide camera network.
- Chile National Forestry Corporation (CONAF)coreCAL FIRE has renewed its Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Chile's National Forestry Corporation (CONAF), continuing a partnership that began in the early 2010s focused on wildfire prevention, emergency response, and climate resilience. The collaboration has supported joint wildfire simulation exercises, shared research on fire behavior in Mediterranean climates, bilingual training modules, community-based fire prevention programs, and exchanges on aerial firefighting and emerging technologies.
- FireWERXcoreFireWERX is a key partner in CAL FIRE's Fire Innovation Unit, which brings together public, private, academic, tribal, and philanthropic partners to advance solutions that enhance firefighter safety and operational efficiency.
Scale indicators20 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Cal Fire competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cal Fire social profiles
Digital presenceCal Fire financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cal Fire leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Cal Fire funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cal Fire M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments3 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cal Fire
What does Cal Fire do?
CAL FIRE delivers fire protection, wildfire suppression, all-hazard emergency response, and natural resource management across California. The agency protects more than 31 million acres of State Responsibility Area wildlands, contracts with 36 of 58 counties for emergency services, and operates the world's largest civilian aerial firefighting fleet along with AI-powered wildfire detection and autonomous ground vehicle programs. It is funded through state appropriations and the California Climate Investments program.
Is Cal Fire a public or private company?
Cal Fire is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Cal Fire founded?
Cal Fire was founded in 1880. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Cal Fire based?
Cal Fire is headquartered in Sacramento, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cal Fire make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. State Government Funding is the primary driver. The others are california Climate Investments Program.
Does Cal Fire have an API?
Yes. CAL FIRE provides public incident data APIs for software developers. The Incident Data API provides raw, computer-readable formats with two additional parameters: year (YYYY format) and inactive (true/false). Data is available in CSV, JSON, and GeoJSON formats. No API key, authentication, rate limits, or versioning details specified. Developer documentation is at incidents.fire.ca.gov/umbraco/api/IncidentApi/List?inactive=true.
What industry is Cal Fire in?
Cal Fire's product category is Public Safety / Wildfire Protection Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAGAB, Fire & Rescue Services (Fire Suppression, Rescue), with a secondary code of AFAMAAAF, Wildfire Fuel Reduction & Prescribed Burning. Its NAICS code is 92216 and its SIC code is 800.