As California reels from the historic flooding and atmospheric river events in December 2025, emergency planners are shifting their focus from water and mud to another hazard: heightened fire risk once the storms clear. While the state’s immediate focus has rightly been on flooding, wind damage, mudslides, and infrastructure stress, the intersection of severe wet weather and elevated fire danger is emerging as a key concern for communities throughout the Golden State.
The intense atmospheric rivers that drenched California over Christmas delivered some of the wettest conditions the region has seen in decades. Southern California experienced historic rainfall totals that flooded roads, damaged homes, and prompted rescue operations. The National Weather Service and local officials warned that parts of the state could experience the wettest Christmas on record, particularly after 12+ inches of rain in mountainous areas and repeated flood- and debris‑flow alerts.
Why Rainfall Doesn’t Eliminate Fire Risk in California
It may seem counterintuitive, but floodwaters and extreme rain can actually increase fire vulnerability once conditions dry. Many of California’s hardest‑hit areas were previously scarred by major wildfires earlier in 2025, which denuded hillsides of vegetation and left large swaths of parched brush. When storms hit these burn scars, the soil becomes compacted and hydrophobic, encouraging rapid run‑off and debris flows rather than absorption.
As floodwaters recede and soils dry, those same landscapes can become fire‑prone again, especially if vegetation grows back quickly and then desiccates in seasonal drying conditions. Regrowth can produce flashy fuels: grasses and brush that ignite easily when humidity drops, and winds return, accelerating the return of wildfire risk. This dynamic is especially concerning in Southern California’s foothills and inland valleys, where fire seasons have already been longer and more intense in recent years.
How Emergency Crews Are Preparing for Fire Watch
Local fire agencies and emergency responders are already planning for this transition from flood response to fire vigilance. The period immediately following major rain events is critical for hazard assessment, not just for mudslides and debris flows, but also for inspecting electrical infrastructure, monitoring vegetation regrowth, and clearing downed brush that can become rapid ignition sources. Fire crews may need to augment patrols in burn scars and vulnerable foothill communities as dry weather returns.
Public safety messaging from both the National Weather Service and local fire districts is urging residents to take proactive steps:
- Clear vegetation around homes to create a defensible space.
- Inspect and maintain power lines and equipment that could spark during windy conditions.
- Stay informed on red flag warnings, which signal critical fire weather conditions.
The transition from flood emergency to fire watch is not automatic, but it is rapid. California’s cyclical climate, marked by wet winters and dry, windy springs, means that areas saturated by rain now could be tinderboxes months later. Planners are particularly focused on areas that have seen compounded disaster impacts: first scorched by fire, then struck by floods, and soon likely to face drought‑induced dryness again.
From Compound Disasters to Year-Round Fire Watch Readiness
California’s emergency management must adapt to a new norm of compound climate risks. Rather than discrete storm, drought/fire seasons, the state now faces overlapping hazards that require integrated planning. Agencies are beginning to coordinate water management, flood control, brush clearance, and wildfire mitigation to ensure communities aren’t left vulnerable as conditions evolve.
Individual business owners, property managers, and members of the public will share responsibility for keeping California safe from fires and other environmental risks. As regulations tighten and insurers become more stringent, services like fire watch will be in higher demand. Fire marshals are more likely to order evacuations and issue fines for noncompliance, and savvy decision-makers should arrange fire watch solutions before guards are needed on site.
Contact National Firewatch
From our headquarters in the Bay Area, to our field offices across the Golden State, National Firewatch is deploying guards within hours to meet the current demand. If your team needs fire watch due to an outage, hot work, or increased fire risk, please contact us immediately for same-day deployments.