You wake up, smell a faint hint of woodsmoke, and immediately feel that tightening in your chest. If you live in Southern California, that’s a reflex. You’re likely scrolling through your phone, eyes stinging a bit, asking the same question thousands of others are: are there any fires in San Diego right this second?
Honestly, the answer changes by the hour. As of mid-January 2026, the situation is a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve had some relief from the late December rains, but the Santa Ana winds are starting to kick back up.
The Current Fire Situation in San Diego
Right now, there are no major out-of-control wildfires threatening large residential zones like the Cedar Fire or the Witch Creek disasters of the past. However, "no major fires" doesn't mean "no fire."
Just yesterday, January 14, 2026, San Diego Fire-Rescue responded to a structure fire on Georgia Street in North Park. A couple of days before that, we saw two-alarm fires gutting beloved local spots like Panda Machi in Alpine and The Junction in El Cajon. These aren't the brush fires that make national news, but for the people living on those blocks, they are 100% an emergency.
If you see a plume of smoke toward the mountains, it might not be a disaster. Cal Fire and the Forest Service have been aggressive with prescribed pile burns lately. For instance, the Santa Fe National Forest (a bit further out) and local San Diego egress points often have planned ignitions during these cooler months to clear out the "fuel"—the dead brush that turns into a blowtorch come August.
✨ Don't miss: Franklin D Roosevelt Civil Rights Record: Why It Is Way More Complicated Than You Think
Why the Smoke Feels Different This Week
You've probably noticed the air feels a bit "crunchy." That’s the Santa Ana effect. Even when there isn't a massive fire, the high-pressure systems over the Great Basin push dry air toward the coast.
Humidity levels have been dipping into the teens. When it's that dry, even a small kitchen fire or a tossed cigarette on the I-8 can escalate. The National Weather Service has been keeping a close eye on the mountain passes, where gusts have topped 50 mph recently.
Real-Time Resources: Don't Rely on Social Media Rumors
Twitter (or X, whatever we're calling it today) is great for speed, but it’s terrible for accuracy. I’ve seen people post photos of the 2003 Cedar Fire claiming it’s happening "now" just for clicks. It’s annoying and dangerous.
If you want the ground truth, you need to go where the dispatchers go.
🔗 Read more: 39 Carl St and Kevin Lau: What Actually Happened at the Cole Valley Property
- Watch Duty App: This is basically the gold standard now. It’s run by volunteers and retired firefighters who listen to the scanners 24/7. They map out the "Center Fire" or the "Lilac Fire" often before the news trucks even start their engines.
- SDFD PulsePoint: If you hear sirens in the city, check PulsePoint. It shows every active call, from "Medical" to "Vegetation Fire."
- AlertSanDiego (Genasys): This is the official stuff. If the county needs you to leave, this is the system that will buzz your phone until you wake up. Make sure your "Do Not Disturb" settings allow these through.
The 2026 Forecast: A "Whiplash" Season
Experts like those at Cal Fire’s San Diego Unit are calling this a "whiplash" year. We had a surprisingly wet December, which is great because it soaked the big timber. But that rain also caused a massive "green-up."
All that grass that looks pretty and green right now? It’s going to die in three months. Then we’ll have a carpet of fine fuel ready to burn. It’s a bit of a Catch-22. The rain that saves us in January often fuels the fires in July.
Common Misconceptions About San Diego Fires
People often think fire season is just "the summer." In San Diego, that’s just not true. Some of our most devastating fires have happened in October, November, and even January.
The Santa Ana winds are the real villain here. They don't care what month it is. If the offshore winds are blowing and the humidity is low, the "season" is open.
💡 You might also like: Effingham County Jail Bookings 72 Hours: What Really Happened
Another big one: "I live in the city, so I'm safe." Tell that to the people in Kensington or Talmadge who live right on the edge of the finger canyons. Those canyons act like chimneys. Fire can move up a canyon wall faster than a person can run. If you've got brush within 30 feet of your back deck, you’re in a fire zone, period.
What You Should Actually Do Right Now
If you’re worried about fires today, don't just sit there hitting refresh on your browser. Do something that actually lowers your risk.
- Check the "Harden" of your home: Walk outside and look at your vents. Do you have fine mesh over them? Embers from a fire three miles away can drift into your attic and burn your house from the inside out.
- Clear the "Zero Zone": That’s the first 5 feet around your house. If you have mulch or dead leaves touching your siding, get rid of them. Use gravel or pavers instead.
- The Go-Bag: I know, it sounds paranoid. But having your passports, birth certificates, and a week's worth of meds in one bag by the door saves lives.
The Mid-City Fire Safe Councils are actually hosting a safety event on January 21, 2026, at the Kroc Center. If you’re around, go. They give out free info on evacuation routes that aren’t just "get on the 15," because as we all know, the 15 becomes a parking lot the second smoke appears.
Keep an eye on the Alert California cameras. These are high-definition, pan-tilt-zoom cameras mounted on peaks like Mount Woodson and Lyons Peak. You can literally see what the fire lookouts see. If the horizon looks clear and the "Watch Duty" map is quiet, take a deep breath. You're okay for now.
Stay alert, but don't let the "wildfire anxiety" ruin your day. Knowledge is the best fire retardant we've got.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Download the Watch Duty app and set your notifications to "San Diego County Only" to avoid being pinged for fires in NorCal.
- Verify your registration on AlertSanDiego.org to ensure your current cell phone number is linked to your address for emergency evacuations.
- Perform a 10-minute sweep of your yard to remove any dried "Christmas" debris or dead palm fronds that may have accumulated near your structure.