Los Angeles fire chiefs back California's new emergency app

The Los Angeles Area Fire Chiefs Association is urging Southern California residents to download AwareCA, a new free statewide app for wildfire, evacuation and incident updates. The app is designed to give the public one place to follow participating agencies before and during emergencies.

Why it matters: - AwareCA gives residents one statewide channel for emergency information instead of forcing them to track multiple city and fire department accounts. - The app is meant to help people who live, work and travel across different jurisdictions in the Los Angeles area and beyond. - The free app adds another way for participating agencies to share wildfire, evacuation and incident updates quickly with the public.

What happened: - The Los Angeles Area Fire Chiefs Association announced its support for AwareCA on Oct. 1, 2026. - The association represents fire service leaders from 29 departments across the Los Angeles region. - Monrovia Fire Chief Jeremy Sanchez, the association's president, said residents should not have to figure out which jurisdiction they are in or which social media account to follow during an emergency. - The association is urging Southern California residents to download the app before the next emergency.

The details: - AwareCA lets users save up to 10 locations, including home, work, school or a relative's address. - Users can set alert areas around each saved location and choose the type and frequency of notifications they receive. - The app can use a phone's location to show nearby incidents. - When a participating agency posts an update, the information can reach community members within seconds. - AwareCA is free, contains no advertising and does not solicit donations. - The app does not replace Wireless Emergency Alerts, local mass-notification systems, agency websites or social media. - AwareCA adds a statewide channel for participating agencies to reach the public directly. - Intterra developed AwareCA with CAL FIRE and other public safety partners across California. - CAL FIRE selected AwareCA as California's statewide public safety information platform. - Los Angeles-area fire departments were part of that effort. - AwareCA is available for free on iPhone and Android at aware.ca.gov.

Between the lines: - The launch reflects a push to simplify emergency communication in a region where incidents can quickly cross city and agency boundaries. - The app's value depends on broad participation by fire departments and public safety agencies. - The no-ads, no-donations approach is meant to position the app as a public service tool rather than a commercial platform.

What's next: - LAAFCA wants residents to download AwareCA now, add key locations and set alert preferences before an emergency starts. - Participating agencies will continue using the app to push updates during incidents as adoption grows. - The app's reach will expand as more agencies and residents use it routinely rather than only in crises.