Public paper · October 14, 2026 · Alert desk · California
California prepositions firefighters for Santa Ana winds Oct. 15–18, with Cal OES crews headed to four Southern California counties
On Oct. 14, 2026, California's Governor directed CAL FIRE and Cal OES to preposition firefighters, engines, aircraft and equipment ahead of dangerous Santa Ana winds and Red Flag conditions in Southern California. Cal OES resources deploy Thursday morning, Oct. 15, through Sunday, Oct. 18, including staging support for Orange, Ventura, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties. State Parks and partners will use a new Santa Monica Mountains park-closure protocol during Red Flag warnings, starting Oct. 15.
California's Office of the Governor issued a press release on Oct. 14, 2026, saying the Governor directed CAL FIRE and the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to preposition additional firefighting resources and place the State Operations Center into an enhanced readiness posture ahead of dangerous Santa Ana winds and expected Red Flag conditions in portions of Southern California.
Notice Nearby summarized the release in its own words and wrote a brief for each of the four counties named for Cal OES staging support: Orange, Ventura, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara.
What Cal OES and CAL FIRE are doing
CAL FIRE is increasing staffing and positioning engine strike teams across Southern California. Cal OES is positioning additional firefighters, aircraft and equipment in Orange, Ventura, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties, and in communities across the state. Cal OES says those resources begin deploying Thursday morning, Oct. 15, and remain deployed through Sunday, Oct. 18. Local fire officials set staging locations and assignments. The release says the deployments supplement California's Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid System.
County briefs: Orange County (https://noticenearby.com/briefs/ca-orange-cal-oes-fire-preposition-santa-ana-winds-oct-15-18-2026), Ventura County (https://noticenearby.com/briefs/ca-ventura-cal-oes-fire-preposition-santa-ana-winds-oct-15-18-2026), Los Angeles County (https://noticenearby.com/briefs/ca-los-angeles-cal-oes-fire-preposition-santa-ana-winds-park-closures-oct-15-18-2026), Santa Barbara County (https://noticenearby.com/briefs/ca-santa-barbara-cal-oes-fire-preposition-santa-ana-winds-oct-15-18-2026).
Santa Monica Mountains park closures
California State Parks, the National Park Service, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority announced a coordinated protocol for closing parklands during Red Flag warnings in the Santa Monica Mountains. The protocol will be used for the first time on Thursday, Oct. 15, to help prevent ignitions and protect visitors and nearby communities. Agencies will assess National Weather Service forecasts daily and announce closures the day before whenever possible. Visitors should check each destination's status before traveling.
Public Safety Power Shutoffs and how to prepare
The release says utility providers may initiate Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) in portions of coastal and inland Southern California, the Sierra Nevada and Northern California based on weather and safety. Residents should contact their utility for timing and duration. People who rely on electricity-powered medical equipment may qualify for a utility Medical Baseline Program.
Residents are urged to review evacuation routes, pack a go-bag, sign up for local emergency alerts, avoid outdoor activities that could create sparks, secure loose outdoor objects, stay away from downed trees and power lines, and plan for possible outages. Ready.ca.gov has additional preparedness information.
Read next
County briefs are linked above. See also the California hub (https://noticenearby.com/ca) and all public papers (https://noticenearby.com/papers). Local businesses, parks and places nearby are on ZOST.app (https://zost.app).
Notes and sources
- Author: Ryan Standley / Record of Sale, LLC / Notice Nearby.
- Source: Office of Governor Gavin Newsom, press release, Oct. 14, 2026 (https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/10/14/governor-newsom-directs-early-proactive-steps-to-protect-california-communities-and-strengthen-local-fire-response-ahead-of-dangerous-santa-ana-winds-and-red-flag-warnings/).
- Hero image: Notice Nearby text card summarizing the release (no photo was published with it).
- Discussed on @NoticeNearYou: (pending).
- Notice Nearby is a Public Register listing, not a newspaper, and this page is not Legal Publication. If the Office of the Governor and this note disagree, the Office of the Governor wins.
Alert desk · Notice Nearby public papers shelf.
Not legal advice. Not a newspaper. Not Legal Publication. Record of Sale, LLC (Oregon).