If you’ve lived in California long enough, you know that wildfires aren’t just a possibility; they’re a yearly reality. You know the scene: the sky turns orange, the air smells like a bad campfire, and everyone is suddenly checking Cal Fire updates like they do the weather app. California wildfires bring destruction, unpredictable winds, and thick smoke that spreads for hundreds of miles. The reality is, wildfires are as much a part of life here as traffic on the 405 or avocado toast.
Whether you are in the direct path of the flames or miles away, the impact on cannabis crops can be severe. Fires don’t just burn plants to the ground; they send embers flying, coat crops in ash, and fill the air with smoke that can alter your harvest’s quality, safety, and even the legality of your harvest.
In this article, we will take a look at the last 10 significant California wildfires that have hit hard, providing names, dates, and where they tore through, along with the hard truths of being in the path of a burning fire. But it’s not all doom and gloom. We will also break down how to prepare like a pro before the sparks fly and share some practical tips to shield your cannabis from the sneaky side effects of smoke and ash. Because, let’s face it, whether you are in the thick of the fire or just catching the fallout, protecting your cannabis is a fight worth winning.
A Look at the Last 10 Major California Wildfires
Over the last decade, California wildfires have become larger, more frequent, and more devastating due to hotter temperatures and significant drought conditions. This puts unprecedented pressure on cannabis growers to protect their crops from both direct flames and widespread smoke damage. The following is a list of the last 10 significant wildfires experienced in California, starting with the most recent:
Hughes Fire: The Hughes fire started on January 22, 2025, and was part of this winter’s Santa Ana wind-driven wildfire outbreak that occurred in Northern Los Angeles.
Eaton Fire: The Eaton fire, also part of this winter’s Santa Ana wind-driven outbreak, started on January 7, 2025, tearing through the Los Angeles Area.
Palisades Fire: Starting on January 6, 2025, the Palisades fire ravaged over 23,000 acres of Los Angeles and is now one of the deadliest and destructive fires in California’s history. This was also part of the 2025 winter outbreak.
Kenneth Fire: Also starting on January 6, 2025, and part of this winter’s outbreak, the Kenneth fire consumed more than one thousand acres in Los Angeles.
Nixon Fire: The Nixon fire burned over 5,000 acres in Riverside County and started on July 29, 2024.
Park Fire: The Park fire was an alleged arson fire that tore through Butte County starting on July 24, 2024, burning over 400,000 acres of land and destroying 709 structures.
Edgehill Fire: Starting on July 23, 2024, the Edgehill fire burned over 100 acres in San Bernardino County.
Apache Fire: Burning over 1200 acres in Ventura County, the Apache fire started on July 15, 2024.
Thompson Fire: Less than a year before the Park fire, the Thompson fire started on July 2, 2024, and scorched almost 4,000 acres.
Basin Fire: Affecting more than 14,000 acres in Fresno County, the Basin fire started on June 26, 2024.
The Brutal Truths About Fire Damage on Cannabis
Several of these fires did affect areas known for varying levels of cannabis cultivation where danger from the flames may have been significant. As for the fires that were closer to urban areas, the smoke and ash that was sent statewide potentially threatened outside areas with environmental changes that can adversely affect cannabis crops.
Direct Hit Realities:
Wildfires and their flames do not care about crops. Being in the direct line of impact, crops can be completely devastated and lost, along with damage to the soil, equipment, and infrastructure if unprepared for the fire.
Even with preparation, wildfires have a mind of their own and there’s little to be done when it’s knocking on your door besides running for safety.
Embers and Spot Fires:
Fires can spread unpredictably with embers flying through the air and winds picking up. Embers can land on greenhouses, drying facilities, or cannabis storage structures.
Heat Stress and Plant Trauma:
Cannabis that survives the flame can still be negatively impacted by the trauma, heat, and smoke of the fire. Stunted growth, reduced potency, and smoke contamination are all potential consequences of fire damage even if the plant survives.
Regulatory Nightmare:
Despite escaping total loss from fire, cannabis crops affected by fire damage are more likely to fail testing due to things like pesticide contamination from ash or smoke taint, both putting the legal sale of cannabis at risk.
Considering the fact that we can’t stop wildfires or their devastating economic impact on cannabis crops, preparing for fire before it starts could not be more important.
Be Ready Before the Sparks Fly: Tips to Prepare for Fire
Create a Defensible Space:
Managing the vegetation on your property, clearing dry brush, weeds, and debris at least 100 feet around your cannabis growing area is a top priority in reducing the fire’s favorite fuel.
Trim trees around your property and keep irrigation handy at all times. Keeping your soil wet will deter any approaching flames.
Create a fire break around your property.
Backup Your Operation:
Installing a backup generator can keep critical systems like irrigation running even if the power has to be cut for safety or has been damaged by the fire.
Store irreplaceable genetics (seeds or clones) in an off-site location or fire-proof safe to preserve your strains and keep them going after a blaze.
Keep a copy of all important records such as licenses, plans, and inventory at a safe location somewhere other than your growing facility.
Fire Resistant Facilities:
With enough planning and money, greenhouses and grow facilities can be built with materials that can withstand heat and embers, making your grow operation fire resistant.
Upgrading ventilation and air filtration systems is another way to protect from ash and smoke when the fire is raging outside.
Equip Your Staff:
Provide your staff with the education and supplies to keep the property safe while the fire is burning in the backyard.
Training staff to address fire hazards and stop fires that may start on your property is important, along with providing the following tools to do it:
– Heavy-duty boots that rise above the ankles.
– Vehicles with mounted water tanks.
– Shovels and hoes.
Hidden Threats: Smoke and Ash Contamination
Smoke and ash from wildfires have the ability to travel hundreds of miles away, affecting cannabis that is otherwise “safe” from the fire.
How Smoke Messes with Cannabis Quality:
Smoke from wildfire has the ability to change the terpene profiles of cannabis plants, adding funky flavors and decreasing their potency, lowering THC levels.
Cannabis plants can absorb harmful chemicals from smoke, causing lab failures and risking compliance.
Smoke can also decrease the amount of sunlight a plant receives, inhibiting photosynthesis and causing stunted growth and lower yields.
Ash’s Dirty Secret:
Ash from wildfires has the potential to carry with it heavy metals and other harmful chemicals that can fall on the plants and risk contamination.
Even miles away from a fire, wind can carry ash to your field and junk your crop.
Soil contamination and long-term effects are also risks depending on how dirty the ash is that falls.
Tips to Mitigate Smoke and Ash Damage
Even when a fire’s reach is over half of the state of California, like it was in 2020, and distance can’t save anyone, damage is not inevitable. Use the tips below to mitigate damage as much as possible from smoke and ash caused by wildfires.
Cover Your Crops:
When heavy smoke and ash are expected, crops can be covered with breathable tarps or row covers for protection.
Greenhouses with high-quality air filtration systems and HEPA filters are great for protection if you have the cash.
Rinse and Repeat:
Have your water tested before beginning any rinsing of your plants since the ash can contaminate the local water supply too.
Gently washing plants that have been contaminated with ash can remove as much of the debris as possible. Be careful to rinse the plant and not soak. This process can be repeated several times to remove as much ash as possible.
Testing for Contamination:
Cannabis testing in Los Angeles, or anywhere else in California, after a fire is critical to ensure that the plant is free from contamination, ensuring its safety for consumption.
Quality is also a concern post-fire. Delivering a high-quality product will maintain your reputation in the cannabis market.
Complying with state regulations, cannabis cultivators can try and identify the cause of the failure, determine remediation if possible, or dispose of the product if legally necessary.
Fight the Burn, Save the Bud
Wildfires are an unavoidable reality for cannabis growers in California, like overpriced gas and dodging tourists on Hollywood Boulevard. From the Hughes Fire’s recent rampage in L.A. to the statewide smoke outs of 2020, we have seen how flames, embers, and ash can turn a thriving grow into a nightmare. However, preparation and proactive strategies can make all the difference in protecting crops from fires, smoke, and ash contamination. While the risks are high, implementing fire-resistant infrastructure, maintaining defensible space, and having a plan in place can help minimize losses. Even when smoke and ash travel for miles, growers can take steps to preserve and protect the quality and safety of their harvests. With wildfires likely to continue affecting the industry, resilience, preparation, and smart recovery methods will be key to making sure that cannabis operations can withstand the heat.
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