Wildfires and Water: The Role of California Public Water Agencies Factsheet Feb 3, 2025 Fact Sheets California faces catastrophic climate-driven wildfires, exacerbated by periods of heavy rainfall followed by periods of extreme drought, decades of fire suppression, and historically limited focus on forest health and vegetation management projects. These intense wildfires have devastating impacts on communities that require multifaceted local, statewide, and federal response. Public water agencies serve a critical local government role during these events. Download the Fact Sheet