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  • Writer's pictureAriana Duckett

How to Stay Safe during California Wildfire Season while Backpacking

7 Fire Safety Tips to Use during Wildfire Season in California


Imagine you’re halfway through your backpacking trip through San Bernardino Pass and two days away from civilization. As you’re hiking, you start smelling smoke


Just a little smoke at first. It’s probably a fellow backpacking setting up an early camp, right?


Then, the smell gets stronger, and the clouds seem darker. Is it smog, or is it a wildfire? 


How do you safely avoid a wildfire while backpacking? And what fire safety should you be following to make sure you aren't the cause of the next wildfire?


California is unique. Backpackers can explore its peaceful redwood forests, arid desert valleys, and lush mountains. Nevertheless, backpacking during the California wildfire season can be daunting if you’re not prepared. 


Key Insights


  • California wildfire season is a year-round affair.

  • Humans cause 85% of wildfires.

  • Prepare for your trip by learning alternate routes that can lead you out of wildfire territory and by filing proper permits.

  • If you're caught in a wildfire, seek fire resistant shelter, (like a group of boulders or a body of water) immediately.


When Is Wildfire Season in California?


Most wildfires are during the warmest parts of the year from April to October, but in California, they can occur year-round. California’s naturally hot, dry climate makes it easy for even the smallest campfire to spread if it’s not properly tended. 


Just this year, almost 830,000 acres in California burned. The Park Fire – the fourth biggest in California history – started when a man pushed a burning car into a gully. It spanned areas in northern California, including Lassen National Forest. 


As a result, backpacking is limited in areas of Lassen National Park, while other areas – including Highway 89 – won’t open until September. 


Wildfires in california now map
Map of California wildfires via CAL-FIRE (current as of 9/3/2024)

Fire Safety Tips for Backpacking during Wildfire Season in California


Backpacking in California is a rewarding experience for all types of adventures. Just as you would plan for a health emergency, you need to plan for weather emergencies. Here are seven fire safety tips that’ll keep you safe during wildfire season in California.


1. Familiarize Yourself with California’s Fire Safety Resources 


Knowing about fire safety resources in emergency situations saves lives. CAL FIRE and InciWeb are two fire tracking websites that you can use to check for updated fire information. They also provide strategies for what to do if you’re caught in a wildfire.


And if possible, call 911. Let firefighters know sooner where the wildfire is, which can mitigate its spread and protect yourself and other backpackers in the wilderness.


2. Get the Correct Backpacking Permits


Most national parks in California require backcountry permits, and the process for obtaining them varies with each one. When a forest fire starts, those permits tell park rangers how many people they have in an affected area, and how to get in touch with them. 


If they’re in an area without cell coverage, then the rangers look at the itinerary (or talk to your emergency contact) to find your probable location, so they can get you to safety. 


3. Practice Leave No Trace (LNT) Principles


Wildfires are more common in rural areas and regions with dry vegetation and higher temperatures. And from an old cigarette butt to neglected campfires – to say nothing of pushing an already burning car into a gully – humans cause 85% of wildfires in the US according to NPS.org


These fires are preventable. So practice Leave No Trace


  • Don’t have a fire when under a burn ban. 

  • Keep your fire small. 

  • Burn your fire to ashes.

  • Have enough water put out your fire. 

  • Scatter your ashes. 

  • And never leave a fire unattended. 


It’s that simple.


4. Seek Out Trails in Fire Resistant Ecosystems


The John Muir Wilderness Trail is a good alternative route during wildfire season in California.
The view along the John Muir Wilderness Trail is a good alternative route.

The coastal and high-altitude regions are good examples of fire-resistant ecosystems because the climate doesn’t lend itself to fire. The coast is more humid. And high altitudes don’t have the same quick burning vegetation. So they tend to have less wildfire activity


Big Sur, Point Reyes, and the Lost Coast Trail offer breathtaking views of coastal wildlife, while Mammoth Lakes and the John Muir Wilderness trails offer high-altitude hikes.


While it’s less likely to have wildfires here, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Which leads us to our next point. 


5. Always Check the Weather


Fires aren’t the only inclement “weather” that you need to keep tabs on when you’re on the trail. It’s equally important to know about storms and heat waves that may affect your trip. During a wildfire, knowing which way the wind is blowing and if there are any forecasted storms, can help you escape a dangerous situation


But checking the weather doesn’t solve the root of the problem: How do you know if you’re in the path of a wildfire, while you’re on the trail?


6. Enable Wildfire Alerts


Knowing where fires are happening is helpful for when you’re planning a trip. There’s no need to put yourself in harm’s way. But it’s also helpful if you’re on the trail and a wildfire ignites near you. 


One of the most helpful features in the Pathloom App is the ability to enable wildfire alerts. Because when you have up-to-date information on the fire’s behavior, you have more time and information to get you out of harm's way faster.


But until the app gets here, you can use the National Risk Index which has a map showing areas with the highest risk for wildfires. Or use the online tracker from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) which shows you a map of fire activity across the country. 


InciWeb also publishes a map of the country’s Air Quality Index so you can avoid hiking in areas with high smoke pollution. 


7. Have Alternate Trails Marked


If a wildfire does block your route, you’ll need to find a new route that takes you out of the path of the fire. Always pack a map that shows alternate trails. 


It’s important to remember that with wildfires, conditions can change quickly. Even after assessing fire risks and safety resources for potential places to backpack, the speed and direction of wind can affect a wildfire’s speed, size, direction, and intensity. This, of course, makes extinguishing the blaze more difficult for firefighters and gives you less time to evacuate.


Do I Need a Campfire Permit to Have a Fire in California?


California has specific regulations for campfires and cooking stoves. You can get a campfire permit from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Bureau of Land Management, or the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture. Or you check out CAL FIRE’s Permit page to also get your free campfire or burn permit. 


What to Do if You’re Caught in a Wildfire?


Despite your best preparations, you’re caught in a wildfire. What do you do? Can you hide from fire? 


Yes, you can. 


Your first course of action is to navigate out of the fire’s path or get around the fire to already burned ground. Watch the smoke to determined where the fire is most likely to move toward. If you have cell service, you can look up data on wind direction and speed too. Use your map to find the best alternate route that takes you out of the fire’s path. 


If a fire is actively coming your way, don’t wait. Leave your gear behind, cover your nose and mouth, and head to a fire-resistant area like:


  • A grouping of boulders

  • A body of water that you can submerge yourself in

  • Bear depressions or trenches in the ground 

  • Or a downhill valley


These are the safest places to be during a wildfire. Cover your body and protect your face by lying face down. 


The next safest place to be is where the fire has already been. So, if you don’t have any of the above options, try and find a path to charred ground.


Conclusion: Stay Safe during Wildfire Season in California


Even during wildfire season, you can enjoy the breathtaking landscapes of California. By hiking in fire resistant areas that you find along the coast or at higher elevations, you can relish your backpacking adventure in a safer environment. 


You can avoid fire risks by practicing these fire safety tips and by knowing what to do if a wildfire starts getting close. 


At Pathloom, we want you to stay safe in the backcountry. 


That’s why we’re creating a trip planning app specifically for backpackers. Pathloom helps you discover trails, plan your itinerary, get permits, and receive real-time updates while on the trail. All from one app. 


And we want you to get it first. 


Register as a Trailblazer today and receive early access when Pathloom launches this Fall. 





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