What does “Complex Fire” Mean?
What does it mean when you hear the term “Complex Fire?” information provided by CAL Fire:
A Complex Fire is when two or more wildfires are managed under a single Incident Command structure. Instead of treating each fire separately, resources, crews, and strategies are combined to increase efficiency, improve communication, and strengthen coordination. This type of management is especially important during times when multiple fires ignite in the same area, such as during large lightning events. Grouping them into a “complex” allows firefighters to focus on the bigger picture and work toward containment in a more organized way.
When lightning fires occur in CAL FIRE’s jurisdiction, they are given specific names based on their location. The first number in the name represents the battalion where the fire started, while the number after the dash represents the sequence of lightning fires discovered in that region. For example, a fire named “2-5 Fire” would be the fifth lightning fire found in Battalion 2.
CAL FIRE crews are working on the TCU September Lightning Complex, which consists of multiple fires across Tuolumne, Calaveras and Stanislaus counties. These fires are being managed together to maximize resources and provide the best protection for surrounding communities.
Click here to watch a video about the definition of ‘Complex Fires’.
