Honestly, if you're looking at the calendar and wondering what is the status of the california fires today, January 15, 2026, the answer is a weird mix of "quiet" and "stay alert."
It’s mid-January. Usually, this is when we’re breathe a sigh of relief as the winter rains soak the hillsides. But California doesn’t really follow the old rules anymore. Just today, a new wildfire—currently tagged as LAC-018360—cropped up in Los Angeles County. It started around 4:18 p.m. on private land. It's small, and fire crews are on it, but it’s a jarring reminder that "fire season" is basically a year-round reality now.
While the state isn't currently being swallowed by the kind of monster blazes we saw last August (remember the Gifford Fire's 131,000-acre run?), the situation is far from dormant.
The Current Map: Small Burns and "Zombie" Embers
Right now, CAL FIRE is tracking about 12 active wildfires across the state. Most are tiny—under an acre—and are being handled by local units before they can even make the evening news. Year-to-date, we’ve only seen about one acre officially burned in 2026. Compare that to this time last year, when over 40,000 acres had already been torched. We are in a much better spot, but there’s a catch.
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The "zombie" fire phenomenon is the talk of the town among fire scientists like those at the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC).
Remember the Lachman Fire in LA? It was supposed to be dead. Then, in early January, 100mph winds whipped up hidden, smoldering embers and turned it into a record-breaker. That's the ghost that haunts the current status. Even when the map looks "clear," the ground can be holding onto heat for weeks.
Regional Breakdown of Risk
- Southern California: It's the danger zone today. We’ve had a dry winter so far. Santa Ana winds are still a threat, and the lack of significant rainfall in the first two weeks of January has left the brush brittle.
- Northern California: Much quieter. Most areas have seen enough moisture or even snow at higher elevations to keep the risk "normal."
- The Sierra Nevada: Mostly snow-covered or damp. Fire potential here is low, which is a blessing after the heavy hits these forests have taken in recent years.
Why the Status of the California Fires Still Matters in Winter
You might think we can just turn off the alerts until June. Not quite.
The concept of "hydroclimate whiplash" is basically the new boss in California. We had a wet 2023 and 2024, which grew a ton of grass. Then 2025 dried it all out. Now, even a small spark in a Los Angeles backyard can find plenty of "fuel" to eat because that old growth is still standing there, bone-dry and waiting.
Prescribed Burns are Active
If you see smoke today in Tuolumne County, don't panic. CAL FIRE and the U.S. Forest Service have a prescribed burn called the Cedar Ridge project running right now. They started it at 3:15 p.m. today. This is actually good news. It’s a controlled way to clear out the undergrowth so we don't have another 2025-level disaster when the heat turns up in July.
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What to Watch for in the Coming Weeks
The status of the California fires is heavily dependent on a weak La Niña pattern that's currently parked over the Pacific.
Meteorologists are seeing a roughly 66% chance of transitioning to "neutral" conditions by March, but until then, it means Southern California likely stays drier and warmer than usual. If we don't get a massive "Atmospheric River" soak soon, the spring fire risk is going to skyrocket.
Honestly, the biggest misconception is that "no big smoke means no danger."
Most of the destruction in 2025 happened because of wind, not just heat. If you live in a high-risk zone, the current "quiet" status is your window to do the boring stuff—clean those gutters and trim the dead branches.
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Practical Steps to Stay Safe Today
- Check the "Watch Duty" App: It’s way faster than waiting for official government sites to update. You’ll see the LAC-018360 fire and any new ignitions in real-time.
- Monitor the AQI: Even small fires or prescribed burns in the valley can trap smoke under an inversion layer, making the air nasty for anyone with asthma.
- Know Your Zone: If you haven't checked your evacuation zone recently on the CAL FIRE website, do it now. The maps changed after the 2025 season to account for new burn scars that might affect mudslide risk.
The bottom line? The status is "low activity, high vigilance." We aren't in a crisis today, but with the ground as dry as it is in the south, that can change in a heartbeat. Stay frosty.
Actionable Next Steps:
Check your local Red Flag Warning status through the National Weather Service if you live in Southern California, as offshore winds are expected to pick up over the next 48 hours. If you are in Tuolumne or surrounding counties, verify the specific smoke path of the Cedar Ridge prescribed burn before planning outdoor activities for Friday.