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

• Meeting with OES Director Caroline Thomas Jacobs: I recently held a very productive meeting with the newly appointed OES Director, Caroline Thomas Jacobs. We discussed the deep historical partnership between Cal Chiefs and OES. Director Thomas Jacobs has a strong grasp of our current initiatives from her previous tenure with the agency, and we will continue this high-level advocacy during our Quarterly Alliance Meetings.
  

• Western Fire Chiefs Congressional Engagement: From April 20–23, I will be in Washington, D.C. alongside Chief Dan Munsey, who represents Cal Chiefs with the Western Fire Chiefs Association. We will be participating in the Western Fire Chiefs Congressional Engagement Event to meet directly with our federal legislators. This is a critical opportunity to advocate for the specific needs of the California Fire Service at the national level.
  

• FIRESCOPE Board of Directors Meeting: The next FIRESCOPE meeting is scheduled for April 14–15 in Sacramento. Your Cal Chiefs leadership will be in attendance to continue advocating for our specific initiatives. While the formal agenda has not yet been released, we remain committed to ensuring the local government fire service has a strong voice in statewide mutual aid and operational standards.

Section & Training Highlights: Record-Breaking Success

• Training Section: Fresno Training Symposium: The Training Section successfully completed the Fresno Training Symposium two weeks ago. This year was an incredible success, with over 600 people in attendance. The energy and professional development seen in Fresno underscore the value of this program to our members. I want to thank the Training Section for their hard work; planning for next year’s symposium is already well underway.

• California Fire Chiefs Academy: Concurrent with the symposium, we concluded a highly successful week for the California Fire Chiefs Academy with 20 emerging fire service leaders. This modernized program (formerly COLS) is proving essential for newly appointed chiefs navigating the political and organizational realities of the office.

• Logistics Section: Following a successful pre-planning meeting, the Logistics group is growing and actively identifying new opportunities to support fleet, facilities, and procurement across the state.

EMS Updates: Digital Infrastructure Overhauls

Our EMS section is heavily engaged with EMSA on two major system transitions:

• New Centralized Registry System Launch:
  o Action Required: The legacy system was decommissioned on March 30.
  o The new system officially goes live on April 1, 2026. Starting tomorrow, all EMS professionals must visit the new portal to create an account and establish login credentials.
  
• EMSFlow Data Platform Migration: EMSA is transitioning CEMSIS to the EMSFlow platform.
  o Mandatory Webinar: A statewide migration webinar is scheduled for May 12, 2026.
  o Deadlines: LEMSAs will migrate in waves through August. The state deadline for NEMSIS v3.5.1 compliance is November 1, 2026.

Industry Financial Sustainability: GEMT, CFAA & OES Rates

PPIGT & GEMT Advocacy

We are continuing to monitor and refine plans for the PPIGT program.

• April 6 Meeting: CalChiefs has secured a speaking slot with the Cal Cities Fiscal Officers Leadership Group. We will address this group to explain the fiscal complexities and operational realities of GEMT, and how it is essential that our financial professionals in our cities, counties, and districts support the fire service in making this a continuous success.

OES Rate Letter & CFAA Support

• Upcoming Webinar: We will host an OES Rate Letter update webinar with Chief Lori Lopez on April 30th. Watch for an e-blast in the coming days to register.
  
• Data Collection (Immediate Action): We are still seeking procurement documentation (POs or contracts) for Type 6 Engines and Tactical Water Tenders to help develop California-specific reimbursement rates. Please submit data to Lori.Lopez@caloes.ca.gov.

Upcoming Events & Registration

• 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 Here
• Download the Course Catalog: 2026 CATO Symposium Catalog v12.31.2026

EMS Updates

• EMSA Chapter 1 Rewrite: Cal Chiefs EPAC representatives have submitted what are expected to be final comments. We anticipate the public comment period to open within the next few months. This rewrite replaces Chapter 13 with a modernized “Chapter 1,” defining the future of fire-based EMS, including operational control and legal rights.
  
  For a full review, see the January 2026 President’s Report and watch for upcoming information sessions at FDAC, CFED, and other conferences.
• EMSA Chapter 6 (Specialty Care): The update was briefly held by OAL for procedural corrections; public comment is expected to open shortly.
• Centralized Registry System Launch: EMSA is launching a modernized Centralized Registry System on April 1, 2026. The legacy system will be decommissioned on March 30 at 5:00 P.M. Please finalize all pending transactions before this deadline.
• Training Opportunity: EMSA is hosting registry training webinars on March 24 and March 26 from 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Register by emailing EMSA.ExternalAffairs@emsa.ca.gov.

Legislative Work

• Weekly Cal Chiefs Legislative updates are available on the website or 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, major wins were secured 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.” For full details, see the January 2026 President’s Report.

• San Bernardino County Victory (AMR v. County of San Bernardino et al.): The 4th District Court of Appeal published its decision in favor of San Bernardino County and ConFire.
• Riverside City Victory (Symons Emergency Specialties v. City of Riverside): The California Supreme Court denied review, cementing a landmark win for §1797.201 “grandfathered” rights.

Industry Financial Sustainability Updates: OES / Reimbursements / Infrastructure

• CFAA Rate Workgroup: Cal OES Fire and Rescue has established an expedited workgroup to evaluate FEMA reimbursement rates relative to California operational costs.
  • Call for Data (Immediate Action): Submit recent procurement documentation for Type 6 Engines and Tactical Water Tenders (Type 1 and 2) to Lori.Lopez@caloes.ca.gov by March 10, 2026.
• IQS Integration: The Cal Chiefs webinar regarding the IROC to IQS transition drew more than 200 participants.
  • Resources Available: Webinar recordings and technical resources are available on the Cal Chiefs website.

Section Updates

• Fire Marshals Section:
  • Insurable State Initiative: Advancing partnership with IBHS through live-burn demonstrations promoting “Zone Zero” and structural hardening standards.
• CTC Section:
  • Strategic planning retreat completed in Palm Springs and establishment of CALGRU project.
  • CALGRU & Public-Safety Drones: California UAS Coordination Group (CALGRU) is now active, providing coordinated voice on FAA policy.
• Logistics Section: After a kick-off meeting, the Logistics Section is underway. For more information, contact dperez@murrietaca.gov.
• Legislative Engagement: Cal Chiefs is partnering on Special Districts Legislative Days (April 7–8) to advocate for public safety infrastructure and funding.
• Section Involvement: We continue to seek new members to expand our sections.

President’s Commentary: Your Voice Matters

As we continue to modernize our Association, I want to ensure Cal Chiefs is moving in the direction you need. What do you want from Cal Chiefs? Whether it is legislative advocacy, new technical resources, or leadership training, please reach out to your Area Directors or me. Our strength is our unified voice.

Upcoming Events & Registration

Bernie Molloy
President, California Fire Chiefs Association

• 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

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 your public comments will be vital. Where we stand so far is:
  • Protecting §1797.201 Rights: We are working to codify the “.201 Recognition Form” so agencies can formally assert their rights to their LEMSA and secure local control.
  • Defending Medical Control: We have largely accomplished our goal of defining “Medical Control” as strictly clinical (patient care protocols) rather than operational, preventing LEMSAs from dictating staffing or deployment.
  • Standardizing Appeals: We have successfully advocated for a clear, standardized appeals process for .201 disputes that moves from the LEMSA to the State EMSA for final resolution.
  • Continuous Service Documentation: We urge all agencies to proactively gather documentation proving continuous service since June 1, 1980, to secure these statutory rights.

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.

• San Bernardino County Victory (AMR v. County of San Bernardino et al.): At the request of CalChiefs and FDAC, the 4th District Court of Appeal has formally published its decision in favor of San Bernardino County and ConFire.
  • The Impact: By publishing this case, it becomes part of the official body of California case law. It can now be cited as a binding authority in future litigations to defend the rights of counties and fire agencies to manage their own EMS systems and provider contracts.
  • The Win: The court upheld the county’s right to award exclusive contracts through a competitive process, rejecting claims of “illegal monopolies” by private providers.
• 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.
  • The Impact: The court ruled that the City of Riverside has the authority to regulate both emergency and non-emergency ambulance services because it was doing so prior to June 1, 1980.
  • The Win: This case is a critical shield for any agency asserting §1797.201 rights. It confirms that local agencies do not lose their administrative control over EMS unless they explicitly relinquish those rights to a LEMSA.

Note to Members: These victories were made possible through the coordinated efforts of CalChiefs, the Fire Districts Association of California (FDAC), and our legal teams (Andrew Schouten and Bill Adams) and the cities and counties involved. We are effectively building a “legal fortress” to protect local control of the fire service.

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.

• OES Transition:
  • We are closely monitoring the leadership transition within our partner agency, Cal OES, to ensure continued coordination on state-level emergencies.
  • Director Nancy Ward has announced her retirement effective December 31, 2025. Governor Newsom has designated Christina (Tina) Curry to serve as Acting Director of Cal OES.
  • We are scheduling a leadership alliance meeting in the new year with the new interim director of OES to continue the work we have had in place with Nancy Ward.
• FEMA/OES Reimbursement: We are in active negotiations regarding CFAA equipment rates.
  • The CFAA Committee (which included Chief Gilbert of Cal Chiefs) successfully advocated for an extension of the previous rate letter to prevent departments from being forced into lower, non-California-specific FEMA rates that do not reflect our true operational costs; for example, a Type III engine has been reduced by 42%.

  Engine Type	Hourly Rate (2025)	Hourly Rate (2024)	Net Reduction
  Type I	$162.44	$173.47	- $11.03
  Type III	$90.66	$156.74	- $66.08

• Federal Infrastructure Funding: We are in direct communication with Senator Adam Schiff’s office regarding a draft bill to provide dedicated funding for fire station construction and repair.

Section Updates:

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

• Monthly Section Meetings: Starting this month, we are institutionalizing monthly meetings between Cal Chiefs leadership and all Section heads to ensure your specialized expertise drives our statewide legislative priorities.
• Logistics Section Launch: We have officially launched our ninth section - the Logistics Section - to help our agencies tackle complex logistical issues such as fleet purchasing, facility design, facility construction, and rehabilitation of facilities and apparatus.
• Section Planning: We have challenged every Section to update their mission statements and goals this month to include a clear, guiding principle for the next five years. This information is being used to help direct the entire organization into the future.
• Section Involvement: We are continually seeking new members to expand our sections; please encourage your command staff to find their place and help guide the fire service into the future.

Upcoming Events:

January 2026

• January 13: Operations Section Meeting – Lt. Garret Ramos LODD Presentation
  • Time: 1:30 PM
  • Registration: Add to Calendar / Registration Details
• January 14–15: FIRESCOPE Board of Directors Meeting | Cal OES Headquarters, Mather
• January 22–23: 2026 CTC Planning Retreat | Palm Springs
  • Attendee Registration: Register Here
  • Sponsor Registration: Sponsor Sign-up
• January 26 – February 12: Ambulance Business Academy (Two-Part Session) | Thousand Oaks
  • Registration: Enrollment Link
  • Note: The deadline for cancellations with a partial refund is January 16, 2026.
• January 29–30: “Getting into the Ambulance Business” From A Fire Chief’s Perspective | Thousand Oaks
  • Registration: Sign up here

February 2026

• February 3–5: 2026 Fire Operations Technology Summit | Esri Headquarters, Redlands
  • Registration: Request to Attend
  • Important: There is no cost for fire agency participation, but space is limited and requests must be submitted by January 27, 2026.
• February 9–12: Ambulance Business Academy (Part 2) | Thousand Oaks
  • Registration: Part of the two-session enrollment

Bernie Molloy
President, California Fire Chiefs Association

I want to start by saying what an honor it is to be able to serve in the capacity of the president of the California Fire Chiefs Association for the next year.  I first joined CalChiefs almost a decade ago. As an incoming Chief Officer overseeing Emergency Medical Services for my agency, I had critical questions that no one in my immediate circle could answer. When I started researching where to find solutions, it became immediately clear that the CalChiefs EMS Section was the resource I had been missing. Soon after joining, I found comfort in realizing this organization was dedicated to bringing together those who wanted to evolve our industry. I knew then I had found the organization I was meant to be in.

As my career evolved, so did my engagement with CalChiefs. I found the same deeply engaged people, the leaders of the California Fire Service, in every Section and at every stop along my journey. Look around the conference this week, and you will see those leaders. I am deeply honored to be a small part of this organization’s history and to share this moment with all of you.

Over the past several years, we have worked diligently to modernize our association to better serve our membership. For the past five years, we have transitioned all of our sections under unified bylaws, creating better means to communicate and work collaboratively on projects that span the entire fire industry. We have also updated our dues structure to maximize value and streamline administrative processes. Agencies can now renew all CalChiefs and Section memberships on a single invoice, eliminating the need for multiple transactions. Furthermore, we now automatically include non-voting memberships for all command staff and leaders within an agency at no additional cost. This restructuring has been supported by bringing on a professional management agency, which has helped ensure our membership remains engaged through increased communications, including our weekly newsletter and the launch of our new website in the near future. We appreciate all of you who have worked through the inevitable bumps in this transition, helping us build a more robust, streamlined, and unified organization.

We undertook this modernization because the fire service is experiencing significant changes. As public expectations and the external view of our industry evolve, we must change to remain the effective "Voice of the California Fire Service." To achieve this, we must remember the core of our mission: to improve the fire service and better serve the public. While we represent fire chiefs and departments from across the state, let’s not lose sight of the fact that our true stakeholders are the citizens who rely on us for their safety and protection. We must build the systems that serve them in their time of greatest peril. If the necessary systems are not in place, let’s work to ensure the proper legislation, relationships, agreements, and, sometimes, even litigation occur to build the service model our communities need.

As an industry, we have been so successful in sharing our operational accomplishments with the public that they now hold us to an increasingly high standard. It is clear that the yardstick by which we are measured continues to grow, yet we are often expected to meet these new challenges with the same fire service we have maintained for decades.

To meet these ever-increasing demands, we must look to our sections to work collaboratively in building the fire service of the future. The CalChiefs Sections are designed to cover every specialized aspect of the fire service, and they only flourish with your direct involvement. We are continually seeking new members to expand these sections, and I invite you to find your place and help guide our fire service into the future. CalChiefs is only as strong as the Sections we are comprised of, and I want to highlight the great work they are doing:

Administrative Fire Services
The foundation for our department's support staff focuses on emerging administrative aspects of our industry, including the evolution of artificial intelligence in government.

Communications, Technology & Connectivity
Our revitalized C&T Section is working to integrate the communication systems that underpin our industry, ensuring they are seamlessly integrated into our operations. As our communications centers evolve into more than just dispatch centers, this group is here to shape what we need next.

Emergency Medical Services
The EMS Section continues to fight tirelessly to ensure our statutory right to deliver pre-hospital emergency medical services is protected from those who seek to profit from this essential public service.

Emergency Management
Our Emergency Managers meet the ever-changing world of large- and small-scale disaster management head-on, providing pathways for the fire service to integrate effectively with regional and local government emergency management standards.

Fire Marshals
Our Fire Marshals Section, comprised of high-level community risk reduction experts, is working to shape the future of fire code and prevention. Their focus extends to engaging industry partners, specifically the building and insurance sectors, to model better standards and ensure the long-term insurability of our communities.

Fire Mechanics
The Fire Mechanics continue to evolve alongside our apparatus, balancing the challenge of keeping vehicles on the road longer due to skyrocketing prices and delays for new apparatus, while also learning new systems as platforms modernize and become electrified. This Section provides the critical training necessary to modernize the skills of our fire service mechanics.

Operations
The Operations Section continues its mission to enhance California fire service operations, integrating new technologies while building an industry that surges seamlessly to meet the ever-changing demands. They are committed to upholding the highest standards of safety, readiness, and service to our communities.

Training Officers
The Training Officers Section ensures that our most valuable resource, our fire service personnel, have the recognition-based knowledge, skills, and abilities to address whatever our public asks us to help them with, regardless of the size or complexity of the issue.

Legislative Task Force
Though not a specific section, our collaborative legislative task force spans all sections to address all the needs of the fire service. Despite the expectation of a "quiet year," our joint Legislative Task Force reviewed hundreds of bills in response to early-year fire activity, ensuring the California Fire Service had a unified voice and presence throughout the legislative process.

As we have now completed the organizational transitions we embarked on five years ago, I will challenge all sections at our upcoming annual planning meeting to update their mission statements. This is to ensure they have a guiding principle for the next five years. We must never lose sight of the fact that we are always aiming for the future in this organization.

Moving to the future is not always an easy task in an industry as deeply rooted in tradition as ours, but we must find ways to honor the past while still moving forward. We cannot do this alone. As we continue to evolve our fire service, we recognize that partnerships will be essential to moving this needle forward. We believe this is so critical that it forms the foundation of our mission statement: “To strengthen and advocate for the California Fire Service through leadership, unity, and collaboration.”

CalChiefs has worked tirelessly to maintain relationships with partners such as the California Professional Firefighters (CPF) and the members of the California Fire Service Leadership Alliance. This Alliance has been critical, bringing together the Fire Districts Association of California (FDAC), our Tribal Fire Chiefs Branch, Contract Counties, Volunteer and Combination Fire Chiefs Branch, Metro Fire Chiefs Branch, and the Cal Cities Fire Chiefs Department Section. I would like to sincerely thank all these organizations for their daily efforts to provide the best fire service in the nation to California's citizens.

I want all of you to know that we are here, as members of CalChiefs, for one simple reason: this is the place where our voices can be heard as one. Our collective voice drives the fire service of tomorrow, and that starts in this conference today.

Enjoy the conference, and remember, we are the Voice of the California Fire Service.

Sincerely, 

Chief Bernard Molloy
President Elect, California Fire Chiefs Association

We modernized our Annual Strategic Plan, implementing an improved tracking mechanism to ensure accountability and measurable progress, empowering CalChiefs to be more nimble, effective, and transparent. We advanced the work of our Fire Marshal Section, refining section relationships and ensuring fire prevention and community risk reduction remain central to our statewide efforts. In parallel, the California Fire Service Leadership Alliance, which brings together CFCA, Fire Districts, Tribal Chiefs, Volunteer/Combination Chiefs, Metro Chiefs, Contract Counties, and the League of Cities, grew stronger. 

Together, we also engaged on complex issues, including Enhanced 911 coordination with Cal OES and escalating apparatus manufacturer costs, with special thanks to Chiefs Chris Nigg and Adam Loeser for their leadership. Our commitment to the health and safety of our members also continued to evolve, not just with our deep engagement in the California Fire Service Cancer Program, but also our support of the Tumor Mutational Landscape Study, ensuring research, prevention, and wellness remain at the forefront.

With special thanks to Chiefs Hartwig, Peterson, Molloy, and Hamilton, we also advanced critical policy efforts, collaborating with CPF on Chapter 1 and EMS issues that ultimately led to the sponsorship of a fire service training bill to expand opportunities for underrepresented entry-level candidates. This was on top of our continued federal advocacy through Western Fire Chiefs and the National Metro Chiefs, where the Orange County Fire Authority's reputation and footprint provided invaluable influence. Not to be outdone, the CalChiefs Foundation, under the stewardship of Chief Dave Winnacker, delivered stellar results in grant management, including significant work on Zone Zero and partnerships with Milliman and the Moore Foundation to advance the Wildland Urban Interface Data Commons. 

Our CalChiefs Consulting and Training enterprise also continued to thrive, guiding the California Building Industry Association on mitigation strategies, expanding services that include CFA podcasts and collaboration with key partners — from 3AM and Work Emergent to Cardo Consulting and Emergency Service Advisors. On the operational front, CalChiefs advanced critical discussions within FIRESCOPE, including bringing forward the integration of private ambulances into the ICS structure and strengthening the role of emergency managers in ICS and the ordering system. 

Finally, our conferences and training events shined as a cornerstone of development and connection for the California fire service — from the Chief Officer Leadership Symposium at the Fresno Training Officers Conference and the CFED Conference in Indian Wells, to the Annual Conference in Anaheim and more. 

None of these accomplishments would have been possible without the support of our Board of Directors, our Sections, our legislative partners, and the administrative backbone provided by SMA. I am deeply grateful for their tireless efforts and unwavering dedication. I leave this office proud of what we have accomplished and optimistic about the path ahead. Thank you for the trust you placed in me, and for the extraordinary work you do in service to your communities and the fire service family.

Sincerely, 

Chief Brian Fennessy
President, California Fire Chiefs Association

It has been four months since I was sworn in to represent the California Fire Chiefs Association (CalChiefs) membership. With significant activity both within our organization and across the broader fire service landscape, this is an opportunity to provide an important update.

When I addressed our membership at the October 2024 conference, I outlined three key objectives for my tenure as president:

1. Continue the momentum and progress established by my predecessors and the Board leadership.
2. Expand engagement with areas of the California Fire Service that have historically been underrepresented within CalChiefs.
3. Ensure fiscal responsibility by prioritizing resources in a way that benefits all members rather than a select few.

During our annual strategic planning meeting, we conducted a comprehensive review of how membership dues are allocated. Recognizing the evolving needs of our association, we identified several critical areas where financial adjustments were necessary to maximize impact.

One such area is the expansion of our contract services with SMA, which will enhance the efficiency of our association’s management. Key improvements include:

• Upgrading our website for better accessibility and functionality.
• Assigning an SMA staff member to each Section for better member support.
• Transitioning the Consulting and Training Business to SMA oversight, ensuring that vetted vendors contribute a portion of their revenues to CalChiefs, directly benefiting our members.
• Expanding management support for the CalChiefs Foundation, which funds critical initiatives such as:
• First Responder Behavioral Health and Wellness
• Scholarship funds for conference and education opportunities
• Fire Chief Benevolent Fund
• Research and Development initiatives
• California Fire Chiefs Hall of Fame
• California Fire Chief Assistance Program

These strategic enhancements would not be possible without prudent budgetary adjustments.

As part of our financial realignment, we carefully evaluated our contract with AP Triton, which is set to expire at the end of 2024. After thorough review, we determined that the CalChiefs EMS Section is fully capable of handling the responsibilities outlined in AP Triton’s contract scope.

This decision results in cost savings of $51,600 per year, plus additional expenses previously incurred for project-based work outside the contract’s scope. These funds can now be redirected to other strategic priorities that benefit a broader segment of our membership.

Recently, AP Triton approached us with a proposal to renew services under a new $36,000 annual retainer (excluding additional specialist fees) to support their work with the Ground Emergency Medical Transportation (GEMT) program. While this is an important federal initiative, only a small percentage of CalChiefs member agencies benefit from it. Given our commitment to equitable resource allocation, we concluded that renewing this contract by way of an annual retainer would not be in the best interest of the majority of our members.

Instead, CFCA intends to establish an hourly consulting relationship with AP Triton, with all work subject to prior approval and accompanied by an hourly estimate. The primary focus areas for this engagement include:

1. Regulatory Agency Engagement

• Liaising with the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and other relevant regulatory bodies.
• Ensuring compliance with existing GEMT regulations and advocating for streamlined implementation processes.

2. Legislative & Policy Advocacy

• Monitoring legislative and regulatory developments affecting GEMT.
• Providing detailed analysis of policy changes and their impact on CFCA members.
• Advising CFCA leadership on proactive measures and recommended advocacy strategies.

In addition, we have recommended that AP Triton collaborate directly with the agencies that participate in and benefit from the GEMT program. For example, my agency, Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), is preparing to bid on a patient transportation services contract. If successful, OCFA will independently fund any necessary GEMT-related consulting services from AP Triton. If any CalChiefs members require more than what the CalChiefs hourly as-needed rate covers, we would then encourage GEMT-participating agencies to contact AP Triton directly.

There is no question that AP Triton has played a significant role in advancing EMS policy and funding mechanisms in California over the past decade. The progress made in EMS would not have been possible without their expertise and advocacy. We are grateful for their contributions and their ongoing efforts to support the fire service community.

The CalChiefs Board of Directors has identified clear, measurable goals and objectives that will guide our association forward. If you are interested in reviewing these objectives, you can find them HERE. 

Additionally, CalChiefs remains actively engaged in critical legislative issues impacting our profession. In 2024 alone, we invested over $44,000 in legal fees for Chapter 1 (formerly Chapter 13) legal analysis and review, reinforcing our commitment to strong legislative advocacy.

I want to extend my sincere appreciation to our Executive Board Members, Area Directors, Branch Directors, Section Presidents, and Administrative Team for their dedication and leadership. On behalf of the Board, I also want to recognize and thank the members of our Professional Sections and Branches, which include:

• Emergency Management
• Administrative Fire Services
• Communications, Technology & Connectivity
• Emergency Medical Services
• Fire Mechanics
• Fire Marshals
• Operations
• Training Officers
• Metro Chiefs
• Tribal Chiefs
• Volunteer and Combination Chiefs

Founded in 1897, CalChiefs has evolved from a small social club into one of the largest and most influential state fire chiefs’ associations in the nation. Our mission remains steadfast: to strengthen and advocate for the California Fire Service through leadership, unity, and collaboration.

As we move forward, we remain committed to our core values of integrity, professionalism, credibility, innovation, and competency—ensuring that CalChiefs continues to be the voice of the California Fire Service.

Sincerely,

Brian Fennessy

President
California Fire Chiefs Association

Here is a link to that submission:  https://www.dailydispatch.com/Columns/GuestColumn/2023/August/We.Can.Do.It.Better.aspx

CalChiefs Organizational Task Force – Update
REIMAGINING A 125-YEAR-OLD ORGANIZATION
The CFCA Board of Directors has been holding strategic planning sessions over the last several months in order to assess the current organizational structure of our 125-year-old association. We have been reporting regularly on the work that the Task Force is focused on. The Task Force met on August 7, 2023, and continues to work through the myriad of issues as part of this initiative.

CalOSHA Wildfire Respiratory
UPDATE ON THE CAL/OSHA-LA COUNTY FIRE WORKING GROUP ON WILDLAND/WUI RESPIRATORY PROTECTION—August 10, 2023

August 30 Operational Field Assessment (OFA), LA County FD

• The OFA to evaluate prototype wildland and WUI respirators will take place at the LA County FD training center in Del Valle on Aug 30.
  
• Twenty firefighter evaluators will participate from LA County Fire and Cal/FIRE. Observers will attend from California Professional Firefighters and the California Fire Chiefs Association, regional US Forest Service and Dept of the Interior HQ, UC San Francisco, UCLA, and the NIOSH National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory. 
  
• Firefighter evaluators will assess five respirators in a series of evolutions that simulate typical wildland and WUI operations. Three powered air purifying respirators (PAPRs) designed by TDA Research (U.S. Dept of Homeland Security), MSA and 3M/Scott will be evaluated, along with two, non-powered air-purifying respirators (APRs) designed by Sundstrom and Ventus.
  
• PAPRs are most applicable to WUI operations. These respirators are equipped with a fan that drives contaminated air across several filters, delivering clean air into a full or half facepiece. The fan reduces the firefighter’s respiratory workload. Some PAPRs are designed to increase the airflow in response to the firefighter’s respiratory effort. The objective of a PAPR is to prevent inhalation of toxic smoke particles, gases, and vapors. 
  
• APRs are most applicable to wildland operations. These respirators are lighter and smaller than PAPRs and do not operate with a fan; they rely on the firefighter to draw air across a filter, which can increase the firefighter’s respiratory workload. The objective of an APR is to prevent inhalation of toxic smoke particles. 
  
• Firefighter evaluators will complete a comprehensive survey following each evolution. Cal/OSHA and LACoFD are discussing how best to share the survey results with the California fire service. 
  
• As conditions allow, Cal/FIRE anticipates running a second Operational Field Assessment in northern California in Sept with a subset of these five devices. 

The Effect of Drinking Iced Water on Firefighter Core Body Temperature

• See attached poster. Dr. Matt Rahn of the Wildfire Conservancy shared the results of their research showing that the core body temperature of firefighters who drank iced water (32° F) was significantly reduced compared to firefighters who drank ambient-temperature water (75° F). Drinking ambient-temperature water caused core body temperatures to gradually increase throughout the day. 
  
• Iced water consumption also helped reduce heart and respiratory rates compared to ambient-temperature water. 
  
• If you would like printed copies of this poster, please contact Dr. Rahn at MattRahn@WildfireConservancy.org. 

For more information about the August 30 Operational Field Assessment or other aspects of the Cal/OSHA-LA County Fire Dept Wildland and WUI Respiratory Protection Workgroup, please contact Dr. Mike Wilson at Cal/OSHA at mwilson@dir.ca.gov or LACoFD chief Al Yanagisawa at Albert.Yanagisawa@fire.lacounty.gov. 

Legislative Update
The Legislature has been in recess and resumes their session in August.

July Executive Board Meeting
At our August Board Meeting, the Executive Board took the following Actions:

1. Approved the Meeting Minutes from the July 2023 Board Meeting.
   
2. Previewed and approved the Preliminary year-end budget reports.
   
3. Previewed and approved the proposed updates to the Bylaws.

Podcasts
As many of you may have noticed, we have not published a podcast for a while. We apologize for this, but we have been focused on legislative issues due to the legislative timeline and the needed attention. We will again be releasing new episodes soon. Thank you for your interest in our podcasts.

Please do not hesitate to let us know of any topics of interest you may have, or if you would like to be a part of our podcasts, please let me know.
We are your Association, and your participation and feedback are critical to our effectiveness and value. 

Chris Tubbs, President

PP-GEMT
The PP-GEMT implementation team has been hearing that more healthcare plans have begun including the new add-on amounts on the payments to the providers. Also, we heard back this week from Fee-For-Service, the State, that they too are ready and able to begin paying the add-on amounts. Although 7 months late, this is good news.

We are thankful and pleased to announce that some more agencies that were on the non-participating list have come forward with commitments to pay their nonfederal share. Thank you all for your assistance in getting the word and education out that helped these agencies get to ‘yes.’

Sonoma County Fire RFP
The exclusive operating area contract in Sonoma County was awarded to the Sonoma County Fire District by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors at their June 6 meeting. Final contract negotiations are underway between the County of Sonoma and the Sonoma County Fire District for the implementation of service in January of 2024 on a five-year contract with a 5-year extension provision. The County of Sonoma has filed litigation against AMR for breach of contract in their current EOA contract. That litigation is ongoing with no significant updates to report. Additionally, the Sonoma County Fire District will “go live” with its new firefighting helicopter, “Sonoma County 1”, on July 16. This is a unique public/private partnership between the fire district and REACH helicopters. REACH provides a pilot, flight nurse, and flight Paramedic. The fire district staffs the helicopter with a command officer for firefighting missions. Contact Chief Mark Heine if you would like more information on either topic.

Weekly Newsletter
You may have noticed that we recently began publishing a weekly newsletter. This is part of our effort to ensure we continually communicate with the membership, especially items of a timely nature. If you or your section has news or information that would be beneficial to share with the membership, please submit that information to Carmen Berry at cberry@calchiefs.org.

CalChiefs Organizational Task Force – Update
REIMAGINING A 125-YEAR-OLD ORGANIZATION

Legislative Update
Assembly Bill 1168 (Bennett) would modify the City of Oxnard v. County of Ventura case regarding prehospital EMS by granting Oxnard .201 rights and prospectively, providing a means for .201 rights cities to join JPAs without losing these rights when they exit the JPA. The bill passed the Senate Governance & Finance Committee yesterday and now moves on to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Assembly Bill 40 (Rodriguez) would require LEMSAs to adopt an ambulance patient offload time (APOT) standard, not to exceed 30 minutes, 90% of the time, and require acute care hospitals to implement APOT reduction protocols. AB 40 passed the Senate Health Committee yesterday and also moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee. 

Assembly Bill 767 (Gipson) would extend the sunset date to 2031 for the Community Paramedicine or Triage to Alternative Destination Act. The bill is also in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Assembly Bill 118 (Comm. on Budget), among many changes to Health and Human service provisions, removes the requirement that the director of Cal EMSA must be a physician and adds a Governor appointed chief medical officer who is a physician with medical/response experience. This measure has been signed into law by Governor Newsom.

Cal Chiefs is sponsoring Senate Bill 577 (Hurtado) to expand the authority for the State Fire Marshal to receive funds for firefighter training and education from sources other than user fees. The bill has been moved to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

Other active and moving pieces of legislation Cal Chiefs is supporting include:

Assembly Constitutional Amendment 1 (Aguiar-Curry) would reduce the vote threshold to 55% from the current 66.7% for local government revenue enhancement measures pertaining to affordable housing and infrastructure improvements. ACA 1 passed the Assembly Local Government Committee on Wednesday and now moves to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

Assembly Bill 297 (Fong) would extend the sunset date to 2034 for CAL FIRE to authorize advance payments from the local assistance grant program for fire prevention and home hardening activities.

Assembly Bill 788 (Petrie-Norris) would require the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force to post eligible fire prevention grant programs from state and federal sources that would benefit local agencies.

Senate Bill 470 (Alvarado-Gil) would extend existing drought relief programs to fund projects that provide benefits in addition to drought relief to reduce the risk of wildfire damage through delivery system improvements for fire suppression purposes.

Assembly Bill 700 (Grayson) would establish a Firefighter Cancer Prevention and Research Program to be administered by the University of California.

We remain active in the discussions promoting science-based fire mitigation activities at the community and local parcel level both to promote community safety and assist in addressing the distressed homeowners' insurance market impacting many areas of California.

July Executive Board Meeting

At our July Board Meeting, the Executive Board took the following Actions:

1. The Board continued its work on ratifying job descriptions for Board positions. At the July meeting, the Division and Area Director Job Descriptions were approved.
2. The Board approved the proposed Hall of Fame Class of 2023 nominees. As this is our first class, this includes prior CalChiefs members.

CalChief President Appointments
At the June Executive Board Meeting, President Tubbs made the following appointments:

1. Chief Mark Lorenzen (Menlo Park Fire) has been appointed to represent the California Fire Chiefs on the Firescope SB 450 Working Group.
2. Captain Michael MacKenzie (El-Dorado Hills Fire) has been appointed to represent CalChiefs on the CalOES California Public Safety Radio Strategic Planning Committee.

At the July Executive Board Meeting, President Tubbs made the following appointments:

1. Chief Mark Hartwig (Santa Barbara County Fire) and Deputy Chief Peterson (Southern Marin Fire) have been appointed to the CalEMSA Chapter 13 Committee. Additionally, Ray Ramirez, Esq, and Andrew Schouten, Esq have been asked to provide technical and legal support to our CalChief’s representatives.
2. Chief Dave Sprague (Berkley Fire) was ratified by the Board as the new Northern Area 7 Director. 

CALChiefs Emergency Management (EM) Section 
The Emergency Management (EM) section for Cal Chiefs is currently focused on membership growth. Our outreach strategy includes collaborating with existing networks of Emergency Managers throughout the State of California. Our aim is to align our efforts and magnify our collective voices to advocate appropriately for the needs of our colleagues tasked with coordinating emergency management services. Our membership is remarkably diverse in comparison to other sections due to EM responsibilities oftentimes being held by civilian personnel. This has made connecting with these individuals challenging due to a vast majority of Emergency Managers not holding the rank of Chief Officer. Each of our meetings offers a valuable training component, legislative updates, and an opportunity to connect with other EM professionals. Despite some of our previous recruitment challenges, we are confident that we will see significant growth in our section this coming year.

If there are any questions please contact Brian Helmick, EM President, at bhelm@cccfpd.org or (925) 584-8468, and or, EM President-Elect, Justin Matsushita at JMatsushita@cityofsanteeca.gov.

National Special District Coalition (NSDC)
The fire service-related updates from the National Special Districts Coalition are intended for California fire protection district leaders and stakeholders.

National Special Districts Action Week is August 7-11.

The National Special Districts Coalition is calling on special districts across the country to engage with their representatives in the U.S. House and Senate and advocate for top federal priorities. The second annual coordinated advocacy event is formally August 7-12, although distributed materials should be up to date through at least Labor Day. Engagements anytime through the month of August are alternatively encouraged.

NSDC’s Advocacy Team will host a live webinar on Wednesday, August 2, at 10 a.m. PT covering a special district perspective on the latest from DC, highlighting two coordinated advocacy topics: (1) federally defining special district and (2) amending a WUI community wildfire defense program to expand project eligibly to include water-for-fire infrastructure projects.

Click here to register for the NSDC National Special Districts Action Week to receive coordinated materials and updates.

Click here to register for the August 2 Action Week Webinar.

Federal Special District Definition Update
Briefly – Confirmed to lead House “definition” legislative efforts is Congressman Pat Fallon, R-Texas, with Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen, D-Colo., secured as the House Democratic co-lead. The NSDC Advocacy Team is working with bill sponsors and the House Oversight and Accountability Committee staff (the House committee of jurisdiction) in the drafting process as of the time of this memo submission. Senate is still in development. NSDC expects an advocacy action alert for its members in late July/early August. Please stay tuned.

If there are any questions please contact Brian Helmick, Emergency Management President, at bhelm@cccfpd.org or (925) 584-8468.

Podcasts
As many of you may have noticed, we have not published a podcast for a while. We apologize for this, but we have been focused on legislative issues due to the legislative timeline this has needed our attention. We will again be releasing new episodes soon. Thank you for your interest in our podcasts.

Please do not hesitate to let us know of any topics of interest you may have, or if you would like to be a part of our podcasts, please let me know or reach out to our team at calchiefs@calchiefs.org. 

We are your Association, and your participation and feedback are critical to our effectiveness and value.

Website Update
CalChiefs has launched our new website!  Many thanks to our team at SMA, especially Carmen, for her exhaustive work in migrating the old site to the new. We are looking forward to not only the new features and benefits of the new platform, but to add ongoing value by eventually bringing additional content to the site. This would include white papers and our podcasts and videocasts.

We are also working to launch a new payment system for our annual dues. Our previous system has been a source of frustration for many members, and we are excited about launching a system that should greatly improve the process and experience.

CalChiefs Organizational Task Force - Update
Past President Gayk and Treasurer Peterson have been leading a Taskforce that is assessing and will provide the E-Board with recommendations related to improving the membership dues structure, invoicing process, as well as the administrative structure, by-laws, tax statuses and processes, and efficiency of the CalChiefs organization. Over the past several months the taskforce has been gathering information from all sections and analyzing the information. The analysis will be presented to all section’s leadership. They will then begin the process of identifying opportunities to become a more contemporary organization utilizing current best practices for fire department structures; to enhance and move the services provided to our members to be consistent and professional managed; to streamline common practices between the parent body, branches, and sections to ensure that taxes are paid, organization hierarchy is consistent for members and sponsors, that a succession process is implemented, and training occur annually for all sections, that our legal and fiduciary responsibilities are met, and that the organization becomes cohesive moving forward to better serve our members.

The Task Force will be meeting with all Section Presidents and leadership on June 12, 2023 in Sacramento.

Legislative

Assembly Bill 1168 (Bennett) is a priority bill seeking to overturn the City of Oxnard decision to ensure that a city fire district that had .201 rights for emergency medical services retains its authorities regarding pre-hospital EMS, if it enters a JPA or ceases to provide such services as the result of the City of Oxnard case.

Assembly Bill 277 (Rodriguez) would establish a state-federal flood operations center within the Department of Water Resources.

Assembly Bill 296 (Rodriguez) would establish a 911 public education campaign.

Assembly Bill 297 (Fong) would extend the sunset date until January 1, 2034, for CAL FIRE to advance payments for local agency grants for fire prevention and home hardening activities.

Assembly Bill 338 (Aguiar-Curry) would include fuel reduction and fire mitigation work under the definition of public works for purposes of payment of prevailing wages, if public funds are the source of the payments. 

Assembly Bill 513 (Rodriguez) would establish a grant program to provide financial assistance to local agencies, community-based organizations and individuals for costs related to providing disaster relief activities.

Assembly Bill 548 (Boerner) would require a local enforcement agency to develop procedures for inspecting multiple units in a building, if an inspector has determined a unit in the building is substandard or is in violation of state liability standards.

Assembly Bill 609 (Papan) would require a report by July 1, 2025, on new aerial firefighting technologies from CAL FIRE and Cal OES. 

Assembly Bill 700 (Grayson) would establish the Firefighter Cancer Prevention and Research Program.

Assembly Bill 716 (Boerner) is the companion measure to AB 1168 that would require Cal EMSA to annually report the allowable maximum rates for ground transportation services to avoid “surprise” bills on consumers.

Assembly 781 (Maienschein) would require a city or county to designate an emergency shelter, cooling center or warming center that can accommodate pets.

Assembly Bill 788 (Petrie-Norris) would require the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force to post on its website state and federal grant programs pertaining to fire prevention funding for local agencies.

Assembly Bill 821 (Grayson) would require local agencies to approve developments that are consistent with its general plan or to make an applicable zoning ordinance consistent with the general plan within 180 days.

Assembly Bill 835 (Lee) has been amended at our request to simply allow the State Fire Marshal (SFM) to research single-exit, single-stairways in multiunit residential buildings with three stories.  The language requiring the SFM to develop such a standard was struck out of the bill. 

Assembly Bill 970 (L. Rivas) would require the Department of Insurance to establish a climate and sustainable risk reduction program especially designed for vulnerable and disadvantaged communities with uninsured and underinsured populations.

Assembly Bill 976 (Ting) would prohibit a local agency from imposing an owner-occupancy requirement on any accessory dwelling unit.

Assembly Bill 1033 (Ting) would authorize a local agency to adopt a local ordinance to allow separate conveyance of the primary dwelling unit and accessory dwelling unit as a condominium.

Assembly Bill 1145 (Maienschein) would add state nurses, psychiatric technicians, medical and social service specialists to the employee list for the existing post traumatic disorder injury rebuttable presumption law.

Assembly Bill 1185 (Gabriel) would authorize grants to a local agency or nonprofit for support to at-risk populations for vulnerability assessments, security trainings, mass notification alert systems, and lifesaving emergency equipment.

Assembly Bill 1505 (Rodriguez) would establish the intent of the Legislature to appropriate $250 million to the Residential Mitigation Program to implement a seismic retrofitting project for soft story multifamily residential buildings.

Assembly 1567 (Garcia) would enact the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, Clean Energy, and Workforce Development Bond Act, which if approved by the voters on the November 2024 ballot would authorize the issuance of $15.995 billion in bonds to finance the above-noted programs.

Senate Bill 310 (Dodd) would expand the definition of burn boss and revise the definition of cultural burn for application of the qualified immunity for prescribed burning.

Senate Bill 423 (Wiener) would remove the sunset date for ministerial approval of specified multifamily affordable housing projects for cities and counties that have not built sufficient housing to meet their regional housing needs.

Senate Bill 638 (Eggman) would authorize a Bond Act for the November 2024 Ballot in the amount of $6 billion for flood protection and climate resilience projects.

Senate Bill 837 (Archuleta) would require the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to consider revising the definition of “conditioned space, indirectly” to include sealed and unvented attics.

Senate Bill 867 (Allen) is the Senate version of the Bond Act set forth above in AB 1567 (Garcia) to authorize $15.5 billion for drought, flood, wildfire, et seq. programs.  

June Executive Board Meeting
At our June Board Meeting, the Executive Board took the following Actions:

1. Adopted Policy and Procedure for the New Hall of Fame Award
   
2. Adopted the 23-24 budget.
   
3. Adopted Job descriptions for President, President-Elect, Legislative Director and Director At Large.  We are working on other job descriptions.
   
4. Appointed a CalChiefs - Western Fire Chiefs replacement for Chief Gayk, who will be stepping down at the end of 2023.  The new appointment with shadow Chief Gayk for the remainder of the year.
   

Use of Fire Retardants Case
NSDC sent on June 1 a letter to House and Senate leadership as well as the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in support of S. 796 (Lummis) the Forest Protection and Wildland Firefighter Act, for which NSDC holds an elevated-level support position. The bill would codify an informal exemption for fire agencies to apply retardants to fight wildfire without securing a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit (Clean Water Act).

Meanwhile, a federal judge in Montana ruled on May 25 that the U.S. Forest Service’s aerial application of fire retardants to combat wildfire violates the Clean Water Act. As the process to secure to obtain a NPDES permit could take two years, the judge will allow USFS to use retardants until a final decision is on a permit, so long as the agency provides updates to the court on its progress every six months. This particular decision applies in the Ninth Federal Circuit states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.

It was critical that the U.S. Forest Service’s aerial application of fire retardant not be enjoined given the importance of its use to combat wildfires in the West, while the USFS advances its application for the permit.

CalChief President Appointments
At the June Executive Board Meeting President Tubbs made the following appointments:

1. Chief David Winnacker (Moraga-Orinda Fire) has been appointed to represent CalChiefs on the Western Fire Chiefs Board of Directors.

AMR PRA
The AMR PRA litigation regarding GEMT cost reports is still ongoing. The list of named parties has been reduced through legal actions between AMR and the named parties.  However, CalChiefs remains in support of the agencies that remain in the litigation. We are working with our legal counsel to ensure that they are properly supported. 

CALEMSA Strategic Plan
The Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) is proud to announce the release of the California EMS System Strategic Plan! This comprehensive plan is the result of extensive collaboration and hard work of stakeholders across the state.

The California EMS System Strategic Plan serves as a crucial guide for our ongoing efforts to enhance and improve emergency medical services throughout the state. It outlines our shared vision, goals, and objectives, providing a roadmap for the coming years as we work towards achieving excellence in emergency care.

EMSA reports that they are thrilled about the opportunities this strategic plan presents and the positive impact it will have on our EMS system. By operationalizing the plan, they aim to enhance service delivery, improve patient outcomes, and strengthen the overall resilience and preparedness of our emergency medical services.

EMSA encourage us to take a moment to review the California EMS System Strategic Plan, which can be found here.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss any aspect of the strategic plan, please do not hesitate to reach out. Your input is vital in our continuous efforts to improve and refine our initiatives.

EMDAC
On May 4 President Tubbs hosted a meeting with EMDAC and EMSAAC Leadership, along with Chief Hamilton & President-Elect Heine, to discuss the AB1168 legislation.  The meeting did not result in position changes relative to AB1168 but did inform all parties as to the purpose and concerns related to each group’s position.  EMDAC President Dr. Kathy Staats attended and presented at the CFED pre-conference EMS Day.

PP-GEMT
Agencies participating in the GEMT CPE program recently submitted their cost reports for FY 18/19 through FY 21/22 per DHCS’ direction. Several of these agencies included for the first time, the cost of what is known in the program as “pre-stabilization services,” the cost of the fire engine personnel that is deployed to a medical emergency.

DHCS continues to assert that those costs are not allowable pursuant to the State Plan Amendment that established the program, as well as subsequent DHCS’ guidance. Agencies have received email responses to their cost report submission indicating that their “as filed” cost report will be adjusted down to account for the denial of those costs.

CalChiefs continues to feel strongly that the cost of the fire engine personnel is an allowable cost and supports the actions of agencies that decide to include those costs in their cost reports. We are working with our federal and State delegations and pressuring the State to change their policy. Meanwhile, we encourage all agencies whose costs were denied to file a formal appeal with the State and express their disagreement with DHCS’ decision. Agencies should remind DHCS that the GEMT program is a Certified Public Expenditures (CPE) program, and as such, they certify that the reported costs are true and correct and should be considered accurate until a formal audit is conducted.

EMSAAC
We have met twice with the EMSAAC leadership in an effort to open ongoing discussions about a variety of EMS issues.  Most recently the leadership from both Associations discussed AB 1168 and AB 40.  Though on these bills we agree to disagree, engaging in the dialogue and seeking to understand each other's concerns and perspectives, is helpful.  We are hoping that over time these discussions will lead to more opportunity to work together on EMS issues.  Our next meeting is schedule for June 19, 2023.

CALChiefs Emergency Management (EM) Section 
The Emergency Management (EM) Executive Board is focused on increasing member participation for our relatively new section.  Our aim is to utilize existing communication networks within the EM community, as well as the CalChiefs community.  Due to the significant number of agencies that employ non-safety / civilian Emergency Managers, the EM Section has experienced some challenges in connecting with those tasked with the oversight of these responsibilities. To increase membership, the EM Section will leverage the support from existing CalChiefs networks to assist with spreading the word and encouraging Emergency Managers to participate in the CalChiefs EM section meetings; participation is encouraged regardless of holding the rank of Chief Officer or not.  A focal point of the EM section meetings will be to provide relevant and meaningful professional development for those in attendance. 

The EM section's leadership acknowledges that time is a precious commodity for those in our profession and does not take participants' time for granted. By attending EM section meetings, one will have EM networking opportunities and a positive learning environment. For more information on the EM section please visit the CalChiefs website: https://em.calchiefs.org/

National Special District Coalition (NSDC)
“Special District” Definition Proposal- After three years of outreach, careful research, and engagement with special districts stakeholders across the country, NSDC announced its formal proposal for a federal “special district” definition. The definition reads: “Special District” – A political subdivision of a State, with specified boundaries, created pursuant to general law or act of the State, for the purpose of performing limited and specific governmental or proprietary functions, except that is not a school district, college, county, city, town, township, village, parish, borough, or other general purpose unit of government. The NSDC Advocacy Team has identified early interests among members of Congress and is working to secure champions to lead legislation placing the definition in law. NSDC is currently reaching out to national and state special districts stakeholders to build an early support coalition. Please stay tuned.

CALChiefs will continue to monitor NSP activities and work to participate in the best interest of the California Fire Service.

Podcasts
As of the writing of this monthly update, we have not posted any new podcasts in large part because of CFED and our focus on that event.  We will post a new episode as soon as we can.  Thank you for your interest and feedback on our podcasts – it is much appreciated!

Please do not hesitate to let us know of any topics of interest you may have, or if you would like to be a part of our podcasts, please let me know.

We are your Association, and your participation and feedback are critical to our effectiveness and value.  

Chris Tubbs, President

Additionally, Alert California recently announced the launching of new tools designed to understand and adapt to natural disasters. Learn More

CALEMSA Strategic Plan
Interim Director Liz Basnett has been on maternity leave and the release of the Strategic Plan for public comment has not yet occurred.  Director Basnett is scheduled to return to work in May and CalChiefs will resume their bi-weekly meetings with Director Basnett and the EMSA staff.

CFED
CFED will again be hosted in Indian Wells.  We are excited to share that the California Fire Chiefs Association will be providing two days of pre-conference program content beginning May 21.  On Sunday the program will be focused on wildfire, and on Monday on EMS issues.  Program details can be found on the CFED website.  We are very excited about the pre-conference lineup and hope that you can attend.

Registration is now open, and more information can be found on the conference website: https://www.cfedwest.com/.

PP-GEMT
We continue to hear that more Managed Care Plans (MCP) have begun to include the add-on rates for MediCal transports and some retroactive payments have been received. Please keep the DHCS team updated on your progress with your MCPs using the AB1705 email address.

Our CalChiefs implementation team had a meeting with DHCS on May 3rd regarding the Voluntary Rate Range IGT Program that many of us have been a part of in the past. The program was delayed by 2 years due to the State having to deal with some Federal compliance issues. The program is back up and running and will include the last two years in retro catch-up payments. More to follow from your MCPs.

We have been made aware of some agencies that had included the costs of our first responder firefighters in the recently submitted cost reports and have been told by DHCS that these cost reports will not be accepted as submitted. As of the writing of this update CalChiefs, working closely with CPF, are researching a solution. We will keep our members updated on the progress of the conversations. 

US Fire Administration
On April 20, 2023, at 1000 hours US Fire Administrator Dr Lori Moore-Merrell and Deputy Administrator Tonya Hoover attended a Press Event as part of their cross-country Climate Driver Wildfire Across America Tour, at SacMetro Station 68.  CalChiefs President Tubbs, along with Northern Area 7 Director Chief Reggie Freeman attended, along with FDAC Past President Jim Comisky and CFSA President Eddie Sells.

The event highlighted the recent release of the Proceedings Report from the 2022 USFA Summit on Fire Prevention and Control.  It further addressed the fact that America is still burning and facing varied challenges such as:

• The growing threat and incidence of wildfire due to climate change
• The need to improve, implement and enforce existing codes and standards to protect our most vulnerable communities. 
  
• The need to develop or enhance recruitment programs to address pending staffing challenges and for a diverse and well-trained American fire service
  
• The need to reduce the exposure of firefighters to cancer-causing chemicals. 
  
• The imperative need to provide mental resilience training and support the mental health of our first responders.

We are your Association, and your participation and feedback are critical to our effectiveness and value.  

Chris Tubbs, President

• The growing threat and incidence of wildfire due to climate change
• The need to improve, implement and enforce existing codes and standards to protect our most vulnerable communities.
• The need to develop or enhance recruitment programs to address pending staffing
  challenges and for a diverse and well-trained American fire service
• The need to reduce the exposure of firefighters to cancer-causing chemicals.
• The imperative to provide mental resilience training and support the mental health of our first responders.

National Fire Leadership will also be in attendance for this event, and attendees include:

• General President of the International Association of Fire Firefighters, Ed Kelly
• International Association of Fire Chiefs President Chief Donna Black
• National Fire Protection Association, President/CEO Jim Pauley
• National Volunteer Fire Council representative Chief Kevin Quinn
• UL’s Vice President, Executive Director of UL Research, Steve Kerber
  

CalChiefs Organizational Task Force – Update
Past President Gayk and Treasurer Peterson have been leading a Taskforce that is assessing and will provide the E-Board with recommendations related to improving the dues structure, invoicing process, as well as the administrative structure, by-laws, tax statuses and processes, and efficiency of the CalChiefs organization.  Currently Chiefs Gayk and Peterson have been in the data collection mode.

I am aware that there are concerns amongst sections and members that the CalChiefs E-Board may take actions that hinder the current revenues and autonomy of our sections.  This is not the intent of this initiative and as a matter of fact we remain committed to keeping sections whole.  We are looking to modify the current process of paying dues to CalChiefs and the various sections, so the process is better aligned with the fiscal planning of agencies.  Many Fire Chiefs regularly communicate their frustration with multiple annual CalChiefs membership invoices, and billing periods that differ based on the sections and main CalChiefs organization.  We have been asked to look at creating a single dues structure (that combines all the sections), that better aligns for planning and payment.  We are also not looking to take control of the sections, but we are looking to improve communication and collaboration, and if we discover opportunities to increase efficiency and improve costs (i.e. having one set of taxes and tax process), to implement those if they benefit everyone.

Chiefs Gayk and Peterson are working to finalize the data collection into a spreadsheet for further discussions with each section to refine the information so that it can eventually be put into a recommendation for the E-Boards consideration.

Legislative Planning
On April 18, 2023, AB 40, legislation designed to address the APOT issue, will be presented at the Assembly Health Committee hearing at 1330 in the Swing Space Building (1021 O Street, Room 1100).  CalChiefs and CPF are asking for a large turnout of support from the Fire Service.  We are asking folks to wear their Class A Uniforms and we will be meeting at the PPA Headquarters (1015 K Street, Ste 200, Sacramento) at noon, and will walk together to the Capitol.  Please contact Kriss Gross at  PPA (Kriss@ppallc.com)if you plan to attend.

At the April 3, 2023 Executive Board Meeting, the Board voted to approve a position of support for AB1168.  This bill adds to sections to Health and Safety Code, 1797.11 and 1797.232, which authorizes retaining of an agencies .201 rights regardless of entering into, or existing a JPA.  CalChiefs also released a podcast of this Bill, which was an interview of Chief Hamilton by President Tubbs.

At the March Board Meeting, the Executive Board approved a request to set the legislative priorities for this year.  The legislative priorities for CalChiefs this year include:

1. SB 577 (Hurtado) This bill would provide a wider scope of sources to fund requisite firefighter training programs to provide essential workforce development and expand opportunities for increased diversity in the fire service.  (Sponsored).
2. AB 296 (Rodriguez) This bill would establish a 9-1-1 campaign to educate the public when it is appropriate to call 9-1-1. (Support)
3. AB767 (Gipson) This bill would expand community paramedicine services to include short-term follow-up for persons discharged from the hospital. (Support)
4. AB1180 (Rodriguez) This bill would remove the requirement that the Cal EMSA Director be a licensed physician or surgeon and would instead require the director to have substantial experience in the practice of emergency preparedness, response and recovery. (Support)]
5. AB297 (Fong) This bill would extend the sunset date on the local assistance grant program for fire prevention and home hardening until January 1, 2034. (Support)
6. SB 504 (Dodd) This bill would require CalFire to give priority to grants for local governmental agencies that are qualified to provide defensible space assessments in high and very high severity hazard severity zones and who report that information using the common reporting platform. (Support)
7. SB 374 (Ashby) This bill would increase the fee paid by firefighters when renewing a license by $5 with the increase being used by the California Fire Foundation to renovate the California Firefighters Memorial at the Capitol Park. (Support)
   

The E-Board adopted a resolution in February to oppose Initiative 21-0042A1, which has qualified for the November 2024 Ballot. The initiative would broaden the imposition of a 2/3 vote requirement on local governments going to the voters to raise revenues on the local level.  For more information about this initiative, visit:

https://www.csda.net/advocate/take-action/voterlimitations
or
https://www.calcities.org/news/post/2022/03/30/opposition-mounts-to-wealthy-corporation-backed-ballot-measure-threatening-voter-rights-and-local-services

Currently there are no Bills that CalChiefs is opposing.

EMDAC
Over the past year and a half, the CalChiefs Presidents have had engaged with the EMDAC leadership in an effort to build a relationship with the group.  There is a long history of distrust between the two groups, but the leadership of both Associations is committed to building bridges in the hopes that there will be opportunities to work and support each other’s interests.

Most recently our discussions have centered primarily around AB 1168, and AB 40. Recently EMDAC came out in opposition to AB 1168.  We are expecting that EMSAAC will also come out against the bill.

The leadership from EMDAC will be participating in a panel discussion at this year’s CFED conference and we are excited to partner with them.

CALOES Homeland Security Advisory Committee (HSAC)
President Tubbs was recently appointed by the CalOES Director, to sit on the HSAC Committee.  President Tubbs attended his first meeting on March 7th.  The one day meeting contained multiple presentations on a variety of HS issues such as the Opioid/Fentanyl Crisis, Human Trafficking and cyberterrorism and cybersecurity.  Chief Tubbs is working to see if any of these presentations can be made available to our membership.

CFED
CFED will again be hosted in Indian Wells.  We are excited to share that the California Fire Chiefs Association will be providing two days of pre-conference program content beginning May 21.  On Sunday the program will be focused on wildfire, and on Monday on EMS issues.  Program details can be found on the CFED website.  We are very excited about the pre-conference lineup and hope that you can attend.

Registration is now open, and more information can be found on the conference website: https://www.cfedwest.com/.

PP-GEMT
Steady progress has been made with regards to reaching out to individual agencies that have not sent in their Letters of Interest.  Our team of Scott Clough and Pilar Williams have been working with Chief Vogt on his calculations sheet, as well as with individual agencies in assisting a review of their calculations, to ensure their accuracy.

EMSAAC
We have met twice with the EMSAAC leadership in an effort to open ongoing discussions about a variety of EMS issues.  Most recently the leadership from both Associations discussed AB 1168 and AB 40.  Though on these bills we agree to disagree, engaging in the dialogue and seeking to understand each other’s concerns and perspectives, is helpful.  We are hoping that over time these discussions will lead to more opportunity to work together on EMS issues.

CalChiefs Emergency Management (EM) Section 
The newest section of CalChiefs is the Emergency Management EM Section. The EM’s specific and primary purpose is to develop and advance the fire service role in all-hazard emergency management. The EM section focuses on all-hazard emergency management to support the fire service organization. The EM section is intended to be a place and organization where fire-based emergency managers can find relevant information, services, and products to support the execution of their responsibilities.

In 2023, the EM section is working to increase participation in membership and with EM related committees. A fire service member that has responsibilities with emergency planning would benefit from being a member of the EM section.  Members of the EM section will have networking opportunities with professional Emergency Managers from other industries, access to EM related legislative discussions and a library of EM related resources.

For those interested in additional EM information or joining the EM section can visit the CalChiefs EM Section’s website https://em.calchiefs.org.

National Special District Coalition (NSDC)
As fire service leaders it is important to be aware of different organizations that advocate for the fire service. According to the National Special Districts Coalition (NSDC), they are the only organization representing all types of special districts at the federal level. NSDC was organized in 2018 and is comprised of state associations representing special districts in their states, organizations supporting special districts, as well as individual special districts. NSDC advocates for special districts’ inclusion in and favorable outcomes of federally-funded programs for local governments. Uniting special districts and stakeholders as one voice, NSDC fosters strong national collaboration to strengthen special districts’ ability to deliver essential community services, enhancing American communities’ quality of life.

More than 6,000 special districts provide fire protection and emergency services across geographically diverse regions and communities in the U.S. The presence and importance of these districts and the services they provide influence NSDC’s policy prioritization and work. Since 2022, NSDC has been spearheading research and advocacy efforts to address community gaps in water infrastructure for firefighting. Further, NSDC supports legislation to enhance the administration of the nation’s local fire services, support fire protection and emergency services districts’ access to federally funded local programs, promote better federal land management practices, and support efforts for community response to wildfire.

CALChiefs will continue to monitor NSP activities and work to participate in the best interest of the California Fire Service.

Volunteer / Combo Departments
As part of our Vision of “Being the Voice of the California Fire Service”, and our mission to “To Strengthen and Advocate for the California Fire Service through Leadership, Unity and Collaboration” we recently added in a provisional capacity pending a vote by the full membership in October, a new Section within CalChiefs for our Tribal Agencies. I shared this information in a previous E-Blast, but we have continued to reflect on the words we want to live into and have also offered a provisional membership to a new section we are creating, for our Volunteer and Combo Agencies.   Chief Jeff Gilbert (Williams fire Protection Authority) is assisting our Executive Director Chief Meston, in organizing this new section.  If you are interested in being a part of this new section, please reach out to either Chief Meston or Gilbert: (jeff.meston@calchiefs.org or c300@williamsfire.net).

Hall of Fame
We are also pleased to announce the creation of an award that recognizes California Fire Chiefs who have made an impact on the California Fire Service.

The California Fire Chiefs Association Hall of Fame (HOF) is designed to honor a Fire Chiefs lifetime achievement that have served the California Fire Service and contributing to its improvement. The award ceremony would be part of the annual conference and each year a class of inductees would be honored.  CFCA would automatically bring into the HOF that years past president (life member), that years Fire Chief of the Year (FCOY-life member), and could submit one or more Fire Chief for consideration, in addition to CFCA submitting a nominee, we would encourage a single submission from the Fire Districts Association of California, the League of City Fire Chiefs Section, the Metro Fire Chiefs, the Tribal Fire Chief Section, and the Volunteer and Combo Fire Chief Section each year.  All inductees shall be members of the California Fire Chiefs Association and members in good standing. Each year a minimum of eight Fire Chiefs would be admitted if all allied agencies participate and become that year’s class (i.e. Hall of Fame Class of 2024).

To catch up with all CFCA Past Presidents and FCOY the class of 2023 we are currently planning to go back in our history and start the award with those recipients.  CFCA Presidents that did not fulfill their full term, including past president are not eligible for the award, nor any past president who has discredited the Association as determine by the Executive Board of Directors.

The Fire Districts Association of California, League of City Fire Chiefs Section, Metro Fire Chiefs, Tribal Fire Chief Section, Volunteer and Combo Fire Chief Section may submit up to 2 nominations in for the Class of 2023.  Each recipient will have a 200-word bio, with name, photo and year admitted on our website as well as receiving a modest plaque.  Allied agencies would pay a modest fee once they have a member selected to cover the cost of web development and a plaque.  CFCA has 55 Past Presidents- 2 would be ineligible based upon the non-completion of term) and 18 FCOY that were non-presidents as part of the Class of 2023.

Voting for admission to the HOF will be conducted by the Presidents Committee of CFCA and the current President of FDAC. Recipients may only be inducted to the HOF once.

Submission criteria would be for external improvements for the California Fire Service, outside of the normal duties of the jurisdictions fire chief (County level contributions, State level contributions, National level contributions).

Recipients will be notified ahead of the ceremony so they can arrange for family, friends, and government officials to attend- but will be responsible to cover the cost for attendance (if this occurs during a luncheon).

Podcasts
As of the writing of this monthly update, we recently released a podcast on AB 1168.  President Tubbs interviewed Chief Alex Hamilton (Oxnard) on the bill and the catalyst behind it. I encourage members to listen to this podcast (and our other episodes as well). These interviews are designed to provide more detail about various issues, than can be explained in an E-Blast or email message. Many thanks to Chief Hamilton for his work on this bill, and his willingness to sit down and discuss this in a podcast.

We are also recently shared a link to a video interview conducted by Chief Dave Winnacker (Moraga-Orinda) with Staff Chief Jim McDougal (CalFire) of the recently released SRA FHSZ maps.

Please do not hesitate to let us know of any topics of interest you may have, or if you would like to be a part of our podcasts, please let me know.

We are your Association, and your participation and feedback are critical to our effectiveness and value.

Chris Tubbs, President