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Thursday, February 6, 2025
CA Lawmakers Propose $175 Million Increase for Cal Fire Staffing
By LYNN LA, CALMATTERS
A firefighter battles the Eaton Fire in Altadena on Jan. 8, 2025. Photo by Ethan Swope, AP Photo
Roughly a month after deadly wildfires erupted in Los Angeles County, killing at least 29 people, lawmakers in the state Senate have introduced a proposal to bolster Cal Fire staffing, and Gov. Gavin Newsom is meeting with President Donald Trump over disaster aid.
Joined by several other senators and firefighters in Sacramento, Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire unveiled a bipartisan measure Tuesday to keep all 356 of Cal Fire engines staffed year-round, reports CalMatters’ Sameea Kamal. The Santa Rosa Democrat described it as a “modern day staffing plan,” which would transition 3,000 state firefighters who are typically dismissed during the winter to full-time status.
The proposal is estimated to cost at least $175 million, and would also keep Cal Fire’s 38 wildfire vegetation management crews working throughout the year. These crews are responsible for clearing dead trees and creating barriers in cities and towns to slow the spread of wildfires.
- Tim Edwards, president of Cal Fire Local 2881, at Tuesday’s event: “For three months out of the year we downstaff one-third of our engines because of an inadequate way of staffing Cal Fire in today’s world. … There is no fire season in California, fires are year round.”
Meanwhile, Gov. Newsom is in Washington D.C. through Thursday to push for federal assistance regarding the Southern California fires, writes CalMatters’ Alexei Koseff.
Newsom is expected to meet with Trump, his administration officials and members of Congress.
The governor’s visit follows Trump’s trip to California last month to survey wildfire damage in L.A. The president has repeatedly threatened to tie federal aid with various conditions, including overhauling California’s policies on water distribution and voter ID.
CalMatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.
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