Wildfires can move fast, and many California homeowners are caught off guard.
Knowing how to track fires near you isn’t just about early evacuation. It’s also about protecting your home, preparing your insurance claim, and staying one step ahead of danger. In this post, we’ll walk you through the best tools for monitoring wildfires across California so you can stay informed and take action when it matters most.
In this post we cover:
- The best fire-tracking apps for California residents
- What kind of alerts you should set up
- Why tracking fires matters for your insurance claim
- What to do after fire or smoke damage
- How we help you take control of your claim
At Chris Faber Public Adjusters, we’ve seen how wildfire season can bring with it devastating and long term permanent damage to your property. It brings uncertainty, hidden damage, and a stressful insurance process that can leave homeowners feeling powerless. The right tools can help you stay safe and better prepared, long before a claim ever needs to be filed.
Here Are the Best Ways to Track Fires Near You in California
1. Watch Duty (Our Top Pick)
This free app provides real-time wildfire alerts across California, powered by verified fire watchers, emergency scanner feeds, and local updates. Unlike social media, the info is clean, fast, and focused on fire behavior, evacuation zones, and containment.
Check it out here: https://www.watchduty.org
2. Cal Fire’s Ready for Wildfire App
The official app from Cal Fire allows you to set your location and receive alerts when fires start nearby. It also includes defensible space tips, evacuation checklists, and wildfire preparation tools.
Check it out here: https://www.readyforwildfire.org
3. Cal Fire’s Live Incident Map
For detailed statewide updates, Cal Fire’s map shows active fires, acreage burned, and containment status. This is a key resource for checking large or fast-moving incidents.
Check it out here: https://fire.ca.gov/incidents/
4. AlertCalifornia (formerly ALERTWildfire)
This network of live cameras lets you monitor remote fire-prone areas across the state. Used by emergency personnel, these cameras can help you confirm fire activity near your region in real time.
Check it out here: https://alertcalifornia.org
Don’t Forget Local Emergency Alerts
Sign up for county-specific alerts through services like Nixle, CodeRED, or your local Office of Emergency Services. These notifications will warn you about red flag conditions, mandatory evacuations, and fire-related road closures in your area.
Staying Informed Helps Homeowners and Business Owners Stay Ahead
Wildfires are no longer limited to remote mountain areas. We’ve helped clients file fire and smoke claims in neighborhoods that had never faced a wildfire threat before. Whether you’re in the foothills or the suburbs, fire season can affect:
- The safety of your home and family
- The air quality you’re breathing every day
- Your ability to document and report damage quickly
- The strength of your eventual insurance claim
Being informed means being ready.
How to Protect Your Property Before a Wildfire Strikes
If you’re in a wildfire-prone area, download at least two of the apps listed above and set up your location for alerts. Stay updated on evacuation routes and take photos of your home and belongings regularly in case documentation is ever needed.
Think your fire damage claim was unfairly denied?
If your home has already been impacted by fire or smoke, whether visibly or through lingering odor or contaminants, you may be eligible for coverage through your insurance policy. See how we help with wildfire claims.
But that doesn’t mean the insurance company will make it easy.
Many homeowners don’t realize how extensive fire damage can be, even if flames didn’t fully engulf the structure. Heat, ash, and firefighting efforts can cause lasting harm to roofs, walls, electrical systems, and more. Others are shocked to discover their claim was underpaid or denied completely. That’s where we come in.
At Chris Faber Public Adjusters, we help California homeowners build strong, well-documented claims that insurance companies can’t ignore. We know how to gather evidence, bring in experts, and push back when claims are delayed or dismissed.
Your claim matters, and you don’t have to do it alone.
Chris and Jo Faber bring over 50 years of combined experience and have personally handled more than 40,000 property damage claims across California. We work only for the policyholder, not the insurance company, and we’re here to help you feel confident and supported through every step of the process.
Let’s take the next step together.
If your property has suffered wildfire damage, or if you just have questions about your policy, we’re ready to help. Contact us today for a free claim review and get expert answers from the people who know this process best.
