San Diego expands CitroTech wildfire prevention program after 39% pilot drop in encampment fires

San Diego is expanding its wildfire prevention partnership with CitroTech after a pilot program cut encampment-related fires by 39% and recorded zero reignitions in treated areas. A new $1.5 million state grant will more than double deployment of the fire inhibitor across high-risk sites and evacuation corridors.

Why it matters: - San Diego is using a prevention tool to reduce wildfire risk in places where conventional fuel management is difficult or risky. - The expansion targets high-risk communities, former encampment sites and evacuation corridors that can affect public safety fast. - The pilot’s 39% reduction and zero reignitions give city crews a field-tested option for wildfire mitigation. - The program also aims to preserve native vegetation and reduce impacts to waterways and wildlife habitat.

What happened: - CitroTech and the City of San Diego announced funding to expand wildfire prevention and mitigation programs. - A new $1.5 million state-funded grant from California District 76 will more than double deployment of CitroTech’s fire inhibitor. - The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department will use the funding to buy $200,000 worth of CitroTech product. - The expansion builds on a 2025 pilot funded by a $367,000 grant from the San Diego River Conservancy. - The pilot treated 467 acres across the San Diego River watershed. - The pilot prioritized known wildfire evacuation corridors and documented encampment locations. - The pilot treated more than 36 former encampment sites. - The pilot was part of a broader wildfire prevention effort that also included targeted brush management and weed abatement. - All treated sites have been mapped and will continue to be mapped on the City’s ArcGIS platform for public viewing.

The details: - The pilot reduced encampment-related fires by 39% overall, according to San Diego Fire-Rescue Deputy Chief Tony Tosca. - Treated areas recorded zero reignitions. - CitroTech is described as an EPA-recognized long-term fire inhibitor. - CitroTech is the only long-term fire inhibitor recognized under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Safer Choice program and the first to meet its Clean Water Act standards. - The company says the formulation reduces fire risk without introducing harmful chemicals or heavy metals into ecosystems. - CitroTech says third-party validation supports the product’s environmental profile. - The company says the product has also reduced permitting hurdles tied to traditional treatment approaches, helping crews move faster in high-risk areas. - CitroTech says its approach can protect infrastructure and landscapes while avoiding impacts to native vegetation, waterways and wildlife habitat. - CitroTech is a specialty chemical company focused on environmentally responsible fire retardant solutions. - CitroTech says its growing patent portfolio, recurring-revenue model and scalable approach support long-term growth and market expansion. - More information is available in the company's profile and at CitroTech’s website.

Between the lines: - The San Diego program is part of a broader shift toward prevention-focused wildfire management instead of relying only on vegetation removal or prescribed burns. - The city’s public mapping of treated sites adds transparency and may make the program easier to track and evaluate. - CitroTech’s pitch is that environmentally safer products can fill a gap where standard methods face staffing, funding or permitting limits. - The company is positioning the San Diego results as a model for other Western cities facing similar wildfire exposure.

What's next: - San Diego Fire-Rescue will expand treatment into additional high-risk communities, former encampment sites and critical evacuation corridors. - The city will continue publishing treated locations through ArcGIS. - CitroTech and San Diego are likely to use the expanded deployment as a test case for broader municipal wildfire resilience efforts. - The partnership may serve as a reference point for other cities considering prevention-first wildfire mitigation strategies.

The bottom line: - San Diego is scaling a wildfire prevention program after a pilot delivered measurable reductions in encampment fires and no reignitions, giving CitroTech a larger real-world showcase for its fire inhibitor.