May 2026 President's Report

Executive Leadership: Federal Advocacy & Strategic Planning

This past month has been very active for the California Fire Chiefs Association.  We continue to work to ensure we have members in all the places where decisions about the California Fire Service are being made.  If you know of anything happening in our industry that needs our attention, please do not hesitate to let me know.  Here are some highlights of the things Cal Chiefs were involved in and accomplished in April.

Western Fire Chiefs Association (WFCA) Congressional Engagement

Cal Chiefs recently returned from Washington, D.C., where Chief Munsey and I participated in the WFCA Congressional Engagement Event. This provided a critical platform to advocate directly with federal legislators for the specific needs of the California Fire Service, ensuring our voice is heard on national policy and funding priorities.  We covered topics impacting the entire West Coast and the specific impacts we are seeing in California, amid uncertain federal funding returning to our state.

Metro Fire Chiefs Planning Meeting

I attended the Metro Fire Chiefs planning meeting in San Diego. The group successfully established their strategic priorities for the upcoming year, further aligning our state's largest municipal agencies with the broader mission of Cal Chiefs.

Meeting with OES Director Caroline Thomas Jacobs

Building on our introductory meeting, we continue to foster the deep historical partnership between Cal Chiefs and Cal OES. These efforts are vital as we navigate statewide mutual aid and operational standards during our Quarterly Alliance Meetings.

FDAC Annual Conference & Chapter 1 Advocacy

At the recent FDAC Annual Conference in Seaside, I had the opportunity to present on the critical Chapter 1 regulatory changes. Our focus remains on modernizing provider selection processes while shielding local operational control and preserving §1797.201 grandfathered rights.  We anticipate the final regs coming out within the next month or two for public comment (yes, I keep saying this!)

Legislative & Regulatory Victories

Defeating AB 2252 (Single Stairwells)

In a major win for life safety, AB 2252—which would have permitted single-exit stairwells in buildings up to six stories—was successfully held from moving forward.

• Section Spotlight: A huge thank you to the Fire Marshals Section, specifically Chief James Dobson for his exhaustive work and DFM Steve Aubert for representing our interests at the hearing.
• National Recognition: Our efforts were recognized by the NFPA, which provided critical resources to rebut incorrect findings in the PEW report that proponents were using to justify the bill.

SB 254: Natural Catastrophe Resiliency Study Released on April 7, 2026.

This landmark report offers government recommendations to modernize California’s disaster response.

• CalChiefs Contribution: We were represented by Chief Frank Frievalt (Cal Poly WUI Fire Institute), who helped drive the Risk Reduction and Financing workstream.
• Impact: The report establishes science-informed standards that we hope will compel the insurance industry to reward homeowners for verifiable mitigations with tangible rate reductions.

Financial Sustainability & EMS Updates

DHCS Ambulance Reimbursement Rate Survey

CalChiefs and CPF have issued a joint memorandum emphasizing the critical nature of the DHCS Ambulance Reimbursement Rate Survey.

• Action Required: Accurate data is the only way to justify proposed rate increases to CMS for 2025 and 2026.
• Goal: This effort is essential to ensuring the long-term fiscal sustainability of fire-based EMS across California.

OES CFAA & Rate Letter Update

We recently hosted a successful webinar featuring Chief Lori Lopez (Cal OES) on the essentials of the California Fire Assistance Agreement.

• Watch Now: For those who missed it, the recording and breakdown are now available on the CalChiefs website.

Spotlight: CFED Conference & Expo 2026

I want to specifically highlight the upcoming CFED Conference in Indian Wells. CalChiefs will be leading two intensive pre-conference days focused on leadership and the evolving EMS landscape. We hope to see as many of you as possible at this event.

• Day 1 (May 17): California Fire Service Leadership: The Issues That Matter
• Key sessions include an analysis of the 2025 LA Fires, Cal OES updates, and emerging national technology conversations.
• Day 2 (May 18): California Fire Service EMS: Challenges, Innovation, and Solutions
• This day features a deep dive into the San Bernardino Court Decision, the Emergency Communications Nurse System (ECNS), and priorities from our EMS Section.

Past & Upcoming Events

Bernie Molloy President, California Fire Chiefs Association