More frequent, larger, high-severity wildfires threaten communities throughout California, with vulnerable communities located across a range of landscapes with diverse vegetation types. While better forest management will reduce wildfire risk in California’s forested regions, different strategies are required to protect much of the state’s population that lives in cities and towns outside of forests. Building resilience in many of these communities relies on hardening homes, buildings and infrastructure, increasing defensible space and fuel breaks, and strengthening community planning and preparedness.