CAL FIRE and Amentum: The Backbone of California’s Wildfire Protection

California sees an average of over 8,000 wildfires a year. But did you know we at Amentum, a global leader in advanced engineering and mission-critical technology solutions, stand at the forefront of the state’s wildfire response initiatives?

Supporting the CAL FIRE (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection) program, our teams play a mission-critical role in ensuring the state is better equipped than ever to confront the state’s massive blazes.

As Sean Navin, our CAL FIRE program director says, “We are world recognized. We are the gold standard of firefighting.”

What makes the CAL FIRE program so highly regarded?

Rapid Response: Remarkable Results

One measure of the program’s success is its efficacy in responding to and containing wildfires early. California’s fire management systems, supported in large part by Amentum, have streamlined their response protocols to ensure that about 95% of these fires are contained to 10 acres or less. This level of success doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of careful planning, advanced technologies, and a proactive approach.

“Instead of sending a single airplane to assess the situation, we recommend launching a fleet immediately,” said Navin. “It might cost more upfront. But it prevents fires from growing into massive, destructive 50,000-acre events. It’s all about getting to the problem quickly, putting it out immediately, and moving on.”

The Backbone of CAL FIRE: Precision, Power, and Preparedness

Battling wildfires across such a vast landscape requires more than skilled pilots and powerful aircraft. It demands a synchronized system that runs smoothly from the ground up. Amentum plays a crucial role in ensuring that every plane in CAL FIRE’s fleet—including fixed-wing aircraft and specialized aerial assets—is meticulously maintained and ready to fly at a moment’s notice. Our teams take great pride in maintaining the operational readiness of the CAL FIRE fleet.

Navin highlights the “grassroots” nature of their efforts, saying, “Every single aircraft that flies to fight a fire starts here, with our crew turning wrenches to ensure the planes are mission capable. Without this foundation, we wouldn’t be able to fight fires so effectively.”

This maintenance extends from check-ups to rigorous testing and training. Aircraft must perform in the most extreme conditions to drop fire retardants precisely and effectively. Supporting such a fleet is no small feat, but it’s a vital part of Amentum’s contribution.

Leaders in the Line of Fire: The Quiet Heroes of CAL FIRE

A large portion of Amentum’s and CAL FIRE’s success can be attributed to our people. Says Navin, the firefighting operation is only as strong as the individuals involved: “We’ve hired the best people—mechanics, pilots, and support staff—who are passionate and skilled, ensuring we can mobilize an aircraft in minutes to fight a fire. That’s why we’re the best.”

“With approximately 100 highly skilled pilots, we go beyond just hiring and retaining talent,” said Navin. “Every pilot who joins us is trained specifically for this role.”

Blazing a Trail in Wildfire Prevention and Impact

Finally, what sets CAL FIRE—and by extension, Amentum—apart is not just the scale of our operations but our unmatched results. While large-scale fires often dominate the media, the work happens largely behind the scenes.

As Navin remarked, “The rest of the world sees the big fires that get on the news. But what they miss are the 7,000 other fires we put out before they grew into something catastrophic.”

This is more than just a testament to the dedication of the men and women fighting these fires. It’s proof of our team’s effectiveness. From advanced training programs to rigorous aircraft maintenance and quick mobilization protocols, Amentum is proud to be a key player in stopping fires before they become disasters!