Gavin Newsom, Governor of California | Official website
California is preparing for a period of extreme heat and heightened fire risk, with Governor Gavin Newsom directing state agencies to take further action as high temperatures are expected across much of the state through Saturday. The response includes enhanced coordination between state and local officials, activation of the State Operations Center at the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), and the opening of cooling centers to support vulnerable populations.
“With several days of extreme temperatures in the forecast for much of California, we’re taking action now to deploy resources throughout the state. 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,” said Governor Gavin Newsom.
The CalHeatScore tool, developed by the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), was launched this year to provide locally tailored guidance on heat risks. It assigns each ZIP code in California a daily score from 0 to 4 that indicates the level of heat-related health risk. The system combines historical climate data, weather forecasts, and health information to evaluate potential impacts and provides links to practical resources such as cooling centers.
CalHeatScore also allows users—including individuals, families, policymakers, and researchers—to access daily updates on heat conditions, safety tips, local resources, and share feedback on their experiences with extreme heat.
As part of efforts to protect workers during this period of high temperatures—forecasted in some areas like Redding, Sacramento, Stockton, Pleasanton, Modesto, Fresno, Bakersfield, Palmdale, Imperial, and Coachella to reach up to 113°F—the Department of Industrial Relations has issued advisories reminding employers about workplace safety measures. Since May 1 this year through August 13, Cal/OSHA’s Enforcement Branch has conducted 219 targeted inspections in sectors such as agriculture and construction. In addition, Cal/OSHA’s High Heat Consultation Unit visited over 300 worksites since early May and provided prevention information directly to more than 10,000 employees.
In anticipation of wildfire threats linked with severe weather conditions in Southern California counties—including Los Angeles, Kern, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Bernardino—the Governor ordered pre-deployment of firefighting resources. This included dozens of fire engines and other equipment positioned across five counties. These steps aim to ensure rapid response times for new fires and have been credited with containing incidents before they become major emergencies.
CAL FIRE remains prepared for statewide incident response beyond these specific deployments.
Residents are encouraged to remain alert during this period by preparing wildfire action plans—such as identifying evacuation routes—and signing up for emergency alerts. Additional information about heat safety can be found at https://calheatscore.calepa.ca.gov/, while general preparedness guidance is available at https://ready.ca.gov/.
Recent years have seen expanded investment by Governor Newsom's administration alongside legislative support aimed at strengthening both firefighting capacity and preventive measures in response to evolving climate challenges.
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