2026 February President's Report

Chief Officer Opportunity: California Fire Chiefs Academy

• As one of the goals of Cal Chiefs is to provide chief officers with training that is not available anywhere else, Cal Chiefs is excited to announce that the California Fire Chiefs Academy will be live this year at the Fresno Training Symposium. This immersive, week-long academy is designed for newly appointed fire chiefs and senior chief officers preparing to step into the political, interpersonal, and organizational realities that no traditional class truly covers.
  
  Replacing and modernizing the highly successful legacy Chief Officer Leadership Symposium (COLS), this program blends strategic leadership, political acumen, personal management, labor relations, organizational culture, and what many affectionately call “fire chief charm school.” Participants will learn the diplomacy, tone, and executive presence needed to thrive under pressure. Program instructors and guest speakers are tenured executive fire service leaders.
• Register at: 2026 CATO Symposium Catalog v12.31.2026

EMS Updates

• Chapter 1 Updates: We are actively engaged with the EMS Policy Advisory Committee (EPAC) to replace the legally deficient Chapter 13 regulations with a modernized “Chapter 1.” This rewrite defines the future of fire-based EMS, encompassing operational control, legal rights, and more.
  
  We expect the draft regulations to be released within a few months and to proceed to the Office of Administrative Law process, during which all public comments will be vital. For a full review of where we stand with Chapter 1, see the January 2026 President’s Report, and look out for upcoming information sessions at the FDAC Conference, CFED, and other upcoming conferences.

Legislative Work

• The Legislative Task Force held an in-person kick-off meeting in Sacramento to discuss strategy for the upcoming legislative session with our partners at Public Policy Advocates (PPA).
• To view the weekly Cal Chiefs Legislative Update, log in through our website and access the legislative reports at:
  https://www.votervoice.net/JointTaskForce/News#/Blog/7393
• The Joint Legislative Task Force tracked approximately 170 measures last session and engaged directly on over 40 bills. Despite a $12 billion deficit, we secured major wins in system modernization, workforce readiness (including 3,000 year-round CAL FIRE positions), and fiscal sustainability.

Legal Advocacy & Case Law Victories

We are pleased to announce major legal milestones that strengthen the “Voice of the California Fire Service” by establishing binding precedents for fire-based EMS. For full details, see the January 2026 President’s Report.

• San Bernardino County Victory (AMR v. County of San Bernardino et al.): At the request of Cal Chiefs and FDAC, the 4th District Court of Appeal formally published its decision in favor of San Bernardino County and ConFire.
• Riverside City Victory (Symons Emergency Specialties v. City of Riverside): Finalized in mid-2024, the California Supreme Court denied a petition to review this case, cementing a landmark win for §1797.201 “grandfathered” rights.

Industry Financial Sustainability Updates: OES / Reimbursements / Infrastructure

We recognize that our departments cannot innovate if they are not fiscally healthy. We are addressing this issue through direct advocacy at both the state and federal levels.

• CFAA Rate Workgroup: Cal OES Fire and Rescue has established an expedited workgroup to evaluate FEMA equipment reimbursement rates relative to California’s operational costs. The objective is to develop California-specific rate structures for orders through the California Fire Assistance Agreement (CFAA). Cal Chiefs has members on this workgroup and will report back with updates.
• Next Gen 911 Safeguards: We continue to share significant safety concerns regarding the transition to Next Generation 911 Core Services. Cal Chiefs remains actively involved in advocating for a seamless transition with no disruption to the legacy system. Representatives are serving on the NG911 workgroup to advocate for fire service needs.
• IQS Integration: There is a critical need to transition all department resource management from IROC to the Incident Qualification System (IQS). Cal OES Regional Assistant Chiefs are contacting departments to determine completion timelines. A newsletter article and upcoming web session will provide additional guidance. The session will be recorded and made available for those unable to attend.

Section Updates

We have completed the five-year goal of unifying all sections under a single set of bylaws and a streamlined dues structure.

• CTC Strategic Planning: The Communications Technology & Connectivity (CTC) Section completed its strategic planning retreat in Palm Springs and is focused on collaborating with technology partners to deliver modernized products that improve fire service interoperability.
  • CALGRU Formation: The California UAS Coordination Group (CALGRU) held its first meeting to analyze the “Part 108” NPRM. This group is vital to harmonizing public-safety drone operations statewide. Cal Chiefs CTC Section members are participating.
• Logistics Section: The newly formed Logistics Section held its formation meeting and will address critical needs in fleet procurement and facility maintenance. Information on the first official meeting will be shared soon.
• Section Involvement: We continue to seek new members to expand our sections. Please encourage your command staff to get involved and help guide the fire service into the future.

Upcoming Events

https://www.calchiefs.org/events/event_list.asp

Bernie Molloy
President, California Fire Chiefs Association