Cal Fire

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.

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

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

• Wildfire suppression services
• Emergency response services
• Aerial firefighting operations
• Forest resource management
• Wildfire prevention grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices24 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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

Core 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

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Overland AIcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 January 2026CAL 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 CommunicationscoreTechnology or Integration · 23 December 2025Axis 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)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 December 2025UC 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)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 December 2025CAL 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.
• FireWERXcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFireWERX 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

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CAL_FIRE
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CALFIRETV
• Facebookfacebook.com/CALFIRE
• Instagraminstagram.com/calfire/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments3 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cal Fire