Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP has identified Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Ventura as the California counties most susceptible to wildfires in 2026, based on recent hazard mapping and federal risk data.
The firm notes that more than 2.3 million acres across California are currently classed as high or very high wildfire risk areas, with many of those acres concentrated within these county boundaries.
Its analysis highlights Orange County as a runner up, pointing to fast-growing communities in Eastern Orange County where residential areas sit close to undeveloped wildland.
According to Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP, this county-level picture sits against a wider pattern of more frequent and intense wildfires, including thousands of incidents already recorded in 2025.
The firm reports that in 2025 alone California has experienced more than 3,290 wildfires, with over 96,990 acres burned and 16,276 structures destroyed.
Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP cites the Western Fire Chiefs Association in explaining that while wildfires can occur year round in California, peak fire season in Northern California usually runs from June or July through late October or November.
In Southern California, the firm notes that peak season typically begins in late spring and can extend through October, with destructive firestorms now increasingly appearing outside these traditional windows.
The analysis links this shift to rising temperatures and limited rainfall, which are contributing to a trend towards a year-round fire season as seen with wildfires in Los Angeles County in January 2025.
According to the firm, environmental conditions such as prolonged drought, high temperatures, low humidity and strong winds including Santa Ana and Diablo winds dry out vegetation and accelerate fire spread.
It flags additional factors such as dry lightning strikes, dead vegetation, invasive plant species, extensive tree mortality from pests and the build-up of fuel where natural fire cycles have been suppressed.
Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP states that human activities account for around 85% of wildfires, with ignition sources combining with these dry conditions to drive more frequent and intense events.
The firm lists causes including power line failures or downed lines, unattended campfires and outdoor burning, arson, sparks from vehicles and equipment, discarded cigarettes, fireworks and escaped agricultural burns.
It also identifies target shooting, explosive targets and improper disposal of hot coals, ashes or other flammable materials as additional triggers in dry, brushy areas.
The firm reports that between 1973 and 2024 the western US has seen an average increase of 37 extra fire weather days each year, defined by high heat, low humidity and strong winds.
It notes that this trend is particularly marked in California, where these conditions now occur more often and have pushed wildfire risk from a seasonal issue towards a persistent hazard.
According to Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP, Southern California experienced a series of intense wildfires in January 2025, including the Palisades and Eaton fires.
The firm states that together these January 2025 fires destroyed more than 18,000 buildings, led to 30 deaths and displaced over 200,000 residents.
It reports that the Palisades Fire ranks as the third most destructive wildfire in California history when measured by structures destroyed.
Drawing on CAL FIRE data, the firm notes that the four most destructive California wildfires by structures destroyed have all occurred within the last eight years.
The analysis lists the Camp Fire in November 2018 with 18,804 structures destroyed, followed by the Palisades Fire in January 2025 with 6,662 structures lost.
It adds that the Tubbs Fire in October 2017 destroyed 5,636 structures and the Eaton Fire in January 2025 destroyed 5,418 structures.
Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP states that updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps from CAL FIRE rate large areas of Riverside County as very high wildfire risk, particularly around the San Bernardino National Forest, the Santa Ana Mountains and communities near Palm Springs and Temecula.
The firm notes that the Federal Emergency Management Agency ranks Riverside County as one of California’s highest wildfire risk areas, assigning a maximum risk score of 100%.
It reports that Riverside County is projected to lose an estimated $319 million each year due to wildfires under current risk models.
According to the analysis, more than 70% of structures in Riverside County face some level of wildfire damage risk.
The firm points out that with a population exceeding 2.5 million, the combination of extensive hazard zones and ongoing growth keeps wildfire danger at the forefront for the county.
In San Diego County, Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP highlights a 26% increase in land classified as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones on updated CAL FIRE maps, from about 647,000 acres to more than 871,000 acres.
The firm notes that more urban neighbourhoods are now included in these zones, reflecting the overlap between development and high-risk areas.
It reports that many San Diego County communities are located in the wildland-urban interface, where housing and infrastructure meet undeveloped wildland and are exposed to wildfire spread.
According to the analysis, cities including Chula Vista, Del Mar, Carlsbad, Poway, Santee and San Marcos have each seen at least a 10% increase in Very High Fire Hazard areas.
The firm states that Poway now has nearly 80% of its total land area designated within this highest fire risk category.
Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP reports that San Bernardino County has a population of more than 2 million residents, many of whom live in high or very high fire hazard severity zones.
It notes that urbanisation has extended housing and infrastructure into previously undeveloped high-risk regions, increasing the number of homes and other structures exposed to wildfire.
The analysis lists cities such as Big Bear Lake, Chino Hills, Colton, Fontana, Hesperia, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Rialto, San Bernardino, Upland and Yucaipa as falling within very high fire hazard severity zones.
According to the firm, around 53% of buildings in San Bernardino County are at high risk of wildfire damage.
It adds that recurrent drought conditions in the county further increase the likelihood and potential impact of wildfires.
In Los Angeles County, Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP notes that updated CAL FIRE maps published in March 2025 classify extensive areas as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, including parts of Los Angeles, Malibu, Pasadena, Santa Clarita and Glendale.
The firm reports that these zones expanded from 646,838 acres in 2011 to 817,212 acres in 2025, reflecting both updated assessment and changing conditions.
It explains that urban expansion into grasslands and timberlands has increased the number of people living in wildland-urban interface areas in Los Angeles County.
According to the analysis, areas where wind-blown embers can ignite structures at a distance now affect about 1.3 million structures in Los Angeles County.
In Ventura County, Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP identifies 88,000 acres in the very high fire hazard category, representing a 54% increase from earlier assessments.
The firm states that many Ventura communities sit where urban neighbourhoods meet wildland, heightening the risk to homes and critical infrastructure when fires start.
It reports that almost 80% of buildings in Ventura County are considered vulnerable to wildfires, with a substantial portion located in high-risk zones.
According to the analysis, extended dry periods and below-average rainfall have contributed to conditions in Ventura County where wildfire risk is close to year round.
Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP lists Eastern Orange County areas such as Trabuco Canyon, Silverado Canyon, Modjeska Canyon and parts of Anaheim Hills and Yorba Linda as extra high-risk locations.
The firm notes that large portions of Orange County are rated as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones and that many homes directly border undeveloped wildland.
It highlights the role of dry, fast Santa Ana winds in driving rapid wildfire spread during autumn and winter periods.
According to the analysis, with more than 3 million residents and continued development in fire-prone areas with high property values, Orange County faces growing potential wildfire-related losses despite not ranking in the top five counties.
Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP outlines a series of actions for residents living in high-risk wildfire areas to reduce exposure and prepare for potential incidents.
The firm advises households to regularly clear roofs, gutters, decks and patios of leaves, pine needles and other flammable debris that can catch embers.
It recommends storing petrol and other flammable materials in approved containers away from buildings and keeping garden hoses long enough to reach all areas of a property.
According to the guidance, households should keep basic firefighting tools accessible, review and update insurance policies and periodically record video of homes and possessions for documentation.
Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP also encourages residents to create and practise a wildfire evacuation plan that sets out routes and safety procedures for all household members.
The firm suggests keeping essential personal items such as passports, birth certificates, photographs and valuable jewellery in an easy-to-reach location, along with emergency supply kits for each person.
It recommends removing flammable vegetation and materials within at least 30 feet of a home to reduce the risk of direct flame contact.
During a wildfire, the firm advises residents to stay informed on evacuation orders and fire movement, gather essential belongings and follow pre-planned evacuation routes.
It stresses the need to listen to instructions from first responders, be prepared to leave by vehicle or on foot and ensure pets are secured before evacuation.
Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP notes that people should only return home when authorities confirm it is safe to do so and should then inspect properties for structural damage, gas leaks and electrical issues.
The firm recommends watching for hotspots, ash pits or weakened trees and structures, reporting damage and starting insurance claims promptly.
It concludes that residents affected by wildfire may wish to consult a California wildfire attorney after an incident.
Detailed wildfire risk rankings by county give fire and rescue chiefs and senior officers a clearer view of where structures, assets and communities face the highest exposure.
Fire hazard severity maps and FEMA risk scores help emergency and disaster response managers focus evacuation planning, public warnings and scenario exercises on Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Ventura counties where very high hazard zones are expanding.
Government departments and risk assessors can use the projected annual loss figures and percentages of at-risk buildings to prioritise funding, mitigation programmes and resilience measures in those jurisdictions.
The identification of wildland-urban interface areas and ember exposure affecting about 1.3 million structures in Los Angeles County is relevant for fire engineering consultants, architects and building services engineers who design to reduce ignition pathways.
Facility managers across industrial, commercial and public sectors in high-risk counties can align their maintenance, defensible space and emergency planning with the practical steps described for preparing before, during and after a wildfire.
For system installers and fire-protection contractors, the growth of very high fire hazard zones signals where additional detection, suppression and structural protection work is most likely to be needed in the near term.
