Plot Synopsis

CAL FIRE is a one-hour docuseries that follows the men and women of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), who are dedicated to fire prevention and protection on California's privately and publicly-owned wildlands. Multiple camera crews were embedded with Cal Fire's frontline firefighters across the state -- from Shasta in the North to San Diego in the South -- for three months during the 2020 fire season, deploying cutting edge technology including fire-resistant helmet cameras to bring viewers an ultra-immersive perspective on the blazes. Because film crews underwent "red flag" training and were equipped with special protective gear, they accompanied firefighters on the fire lines to give viewers a first-hand look at some of California's most destructive fires, including the Apple Fire near the Cherry Valley neighborhood in Southern California; the Creek Fire in the Sierra National Forest; and the El Dorado Fire near San Bernardino County. CAL FIRE debuted on Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 10:22pm ET/PT on Discovery Channel with the "Sacrifice" episode, with the first major fire of the year erupting in Southern California and Engineer Dudley risking missing his daughter's birthday; meanwhile, in Redding, Station 43 gets a call to put down a fast-moving blaze in an area filled with dangerous power lines.