If you’re looking at a map of the Golden State right now and wondering where in California are the fires, you might be surprised by the silence. It’s January 17, 2026. Usually, this is when we’re finally exhaling, watching the snow pack build up in the Sierras and hoping the "Big One" (in terms of a fire season) is behind us.
But California doesn't really have an "off" season anymore. It's more of a "less intense" season.
Right now, the state is actually in a bit of a breathing room phase. According to CAL FIRE’s latest incident data, we are looking at about 12 active wildland fires across the entire state, but here’s the kicker: they’ve burned a combined total of roughly one acre. Compare that to this time last year, when the state was already grappling with over 40,000 acres burned due to a freakishly dry start to 2025.
Honestly, the landscape looks remarkably different than it did just twelve months ago.
The Current Map: Where the Smoke is Clearing
Most of the "incidents" you see on the tracker today aren't the massive, horizon-choking plumes we see in August. They're small. We're talking about spot fires in Riverside County or localized brush ignitions that local crews are dousing before they even make the evening news.
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For example, looking at the Riverside County Fire Department’s live feed, you’ll see plenty of medical calls and the occasional "fire" report—like a recent one on Red River Road in Palm Desert—but these are contained within minutes.
Why the South is Still Holding Its Breath
Even though the acre count is low, Southern California is still under a microscope. The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) just released its seasonal outlook for January through April 2026. While Northern California is sitting pretty with "normal" fire potential (meaning things are cool and moist), the southern half of the state is flagged for above-normal significant fire potential.
Why? Because of a weakening La Niña.
When La Niña starts to fade, it often leaves the southern tier of the U.S. high and dry. While the Pacific Northwest gets hammered with rain, places like San Diego, Los Angeles, and the Inland Empire often get skipped.
Remembering the Los Angeles Blazes
You can't talk about where in California are the fires without mentioning the "hangover" from the devastating January fires of 2025. Exactly one year ago, the Eaton and Palisades fires were tearing through Los Angeles County. Those weren't just "wildfires"—they were urban disasters.
They burned through homes, car batteries, and warehouses full of cleaning products. Scientists are still studying the toxic fallout from those specific blazes.
- Eaton Fire: Devastated communities near the San Gabriel Mountains.
- Palisades Fire: Burned over 23,000 acres and changed how we think about "winter" fire risk.
Those scars are still visible. If you drive through the Santa Monica Mountains today, you’ll see the "poodle-dog bush" and other fire-following plants taking over the charred hillsides.
The Air Quality Factor
Even when there isn't a massive fire, the air can still taste like a campfire. In the San Joaquin Valley—places like Fresno and Kern County—the air quality is currently hitting "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" (AQI 100-150).
It's tempting to blame a distant wildfire, but right now, the culprit is actually wood smoke and stagnation.
In the winter, cold air gets trapped in the valley (a classic temperature inversion), holding onto the smoke from fireplaces and agriculture. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) has actually been issuing "Spare the Air" alerts this week, making it illegal to burn wood indoors or out.
Basically, if you’re smelling smoke in San Jose or Fresno today, it’s likely coming from your neighbor’s chimney, not a forest fire.
What Most People Get Wrong About "Fire Season"
The biggest misconception is that fire season starts in June and ends in November. That's old-school thinking. Experts like those at the National Interagency Coordination Center are seeing a permanent shift.
We’re seeing "whiplash weather." One month it’s a record-breaking atmospheric river, and the next it’s a heatwave that turns all that new green grass into "flash fuels."
- Grass vs. Timber: People worry about big trees. But in January and February, the real danger is the grass. It dries out in three days of sunshine.
- The Wind Factor: Santa Ana and Sundowner winds don't care what the calendar says. If they blow in January, and it hasn't rained in two weeks, you have a problem.
- Human Ignitions: Over 90% of California fires are started by humans—power lines, dragging trailer chains, or even target shooting.
Actionable Steps for the "Quiet" Months
Since the state isn't currently on fire, this is actually the most critical time to prepare. It's much easier to clear brush when it’s 60 degrees out than when it’s 105.
- Audit Your Defensible Space: Look at the 5-foot zone around your house. If you have mulch or woody bushes touching your siding, move them. This "ember-resistant zone" is what saves houses.
- Check the AQI Daily: Don't just look for flames. Use apps like AirNow or PurpleAir to track PM2.5 levels. Even small, contained fires can cause respiratory stress if the air is stagnant.
- Update Your Go-Bag: Most people realize their emergency water is expired or their batteries are dead only when the sirens are wailing. Do it now.
- Sign Up for Alerts: Ensure you are registered for your specific county's emergency notification system (like CodeRED or AlertLA).
The reality of where in California are the fires is that for today, the answer is "nowhere significant." But in a state that is increasingly defined by its relationship with flame, "nowhere" is a temporary state of being. Staying informed through the CAL FIRE incident map and the NIFC seasonal outlooks is the only way to stay ahead of the next big shift in the weather.