Newsom sends additional firefighting resources to San Diego, LA amid critical fire weather

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Governor Gavin Newsom has directed the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to deploy additional firefighting resources to San Diego and Los Angeles counties in response to Red Flag Warnings and critical fire weather conditions.

• The FOX 5/KUSI video above explains how to prepare for a wildfire emergency

The move comes as part of a broader strategy to combat wildfire threats fueled by extreme heat and dry conditions expected through Sunday. It follows earlier resource deployments this week to Los Angeles, Kern, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Bernardino counties.

In total, the Governor’s Office says state officials have mobilized 47 fire engines, nine water tenders, nine bulldozers. five helicopters, 10 hand crews, 14 dispatchers, and two Incident Management Teams. The additional resources are now staged across over five counties, including San Diego, to ensure rapid response capabilities as wildfire risk intensifies.

Officials say predeploying assets has been a key factor in California’s wildfire risk response strategy—often stopping small fires from becoming major disasters.

“With several days of extreme temperatures in the forecast for much of California, we’re taking action now to deploy resources throughout the state,” Newsom stated earlier this week. “And with our new CalHeatScore tool, all Californians can assess the risk to their health down to their zip code in real-time. Check the forecast and make preparations now.”

As temperatures soar and winds increase, officials are reminding residents across the Golden State to stay alert and prepare for potential evacuations. They recommend the following:

• Creating a wildfire action plan, including evacuation routes and a packed go-bag.
• Signing up for local emergency alerts.
• Visiting CalHeatScore.CalEPA.ca.gov for localized heat safety information.
• Reviewing general preparedness tips at Ready.ca.gov.

Stay alert this weekend.