SACRAMENTO—Following two of the most destructive wildfires in California history, Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire (D-North Coast) and a bipartisan coalition of State Senators today announced critical legislation to bolster CalFire’s firefighting and fire prevention efforts.

The Golden State and the entire West are burning at historic rates. Eight of the most destructive wildfires in California history have hit this state over the past five years, with two of the deadliest wildfires recently burned over 16,000 homes and businesses in Los Angeles County just 13 days after Christmas. 

This escalating crisis has stretched firefighters dangerously thin. The threats to their health and safety along with the threats to local communities have never been greater.

The Fight for Firefighters Act proposes a desperately-needed modern day staffing plan, at the cost of $175-185 million per year ongoing, to include the following:

• The state would phase out seasonal CalFire firefighters who work nine months out the year - typically laid off during the winter months - and transition these 3,000 firefighters to full-time status.
• All 356 CalFire fire engines would be fully operational 365 days per year. This would give every corner of this state a needed shot in the arm when it comes to fire and emergency response.
• All of CalFire’s 38 vegetation management crews would be fully operational all throughout the year.
• These vegetation management crews focus on fire prevention and develop fire breaks around neighborhoods, remove dead and dying trees, and create defensible space in the cities and towns we love. 
• The Fight for Firefighters Act will also ensure all CalFire helicopter bases are fully staffed year round.

As firefighters continue to battle longer, hotter, and more extreme fire seasons, they continue to face some of the most severe mental health challenges in the state. Injuries, fatigue, stress, and long-hours have resulted in severe burnout. Coupled with strenuous working conditions, firefighters have been pushed to the brink. In the past six years, over 57,000 calls have been made to the state’s mental health hotline.

The Fight for Firefighters Act is a tactical, commonsense approach to get more boots on the ground and to make sure the people in those boots have the backup and support they need to protect this state. 

“More aggressive fires, and an unrelenting year-round wildfire season, demands more aggressive responses,” said Pro Tem McGuire. “Wildfires don’t take three months off. So the elite CalFire firefighting force that is our first and last defense in protecting lives and homes across the state should be year-round too. This investment will make communities more wildfire safe and greatly improve fire and emergency response in every corner of California.”

 

“Ask any firefighter: Fires have changed. Fire season has changed,” said Tim Edwards, President of CalFire Local 2881. “What hasn’t changed is the commitment and bravery of our firefighters. When firefighters are on the job, that’s all they’re focused on. If it were up to them they wouldn’t stop. But pushing our firefighters past the breaking point doesn’t do them, their families, or our communities any good. Fires don’t respect calendars. We need to respect and protect our firefighters by making sure we have enough to do the job safely year round.”

 

“We know the risks for firefighters don’t end when the embers go out,” said Battalion Chief Elizabeth Brown. “There are ongoing physical and mental health challenges that affect firefighters long after they respond to a disaster. The longer fire crews go without any relief, the greater the potential for long term harm. Having more firefighters available provides relief and takes some of the pressure off. The year-round firefighters this bill provides will not only be able to support communities in times of disaster, but will also have the backs of their fellow firefighters as well.”

 

“The grueling work of fighting these devastating wildfires takes a toll on physical and mental health, in ways we don’t yet entirely understand,” said Senator Tim Grayson (D-Concord), a joint-author of the bill. “In 2017, the year of the deadly Tubbs Fire, more firefighters died by suicide than on the front lines. This is an alarm bell and the State Senate is answering the call by moving this critical bill forward. Our firefighters need the training, rest, and resources to be ready to respond to emergencies 12-months a year, every year. It’s California’s life that’s on the line.”

 

“The Palisades and Eaton Fires have razed entire neighborhoods to the ground,” said Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones (R-San Diego). “When fires tear through homes, they don’t discriminate—and neither do the firefighters who put themselves in harm’s way to keep us safe. From battling wildfires to responding to emergency calls, we owe the brave men and women of Cal Fire our highest debt of gratitude. We have much more work to do, but this bill is a critical first step to giving our firefighters the job stability and support they need and deserve.”

 

“The level of devastation in Altadena is truly hard to understand until you see it. Tragically, 17 people lost their lives, and thousands more suffered trauma and destruction. Throughout it all, our brave first responders faced unimaginable conditions to protect lives, homes, businesses, churches, and schools across Los Angeles. However, resources were spread thin across Los Angeles County as our firefighters battled multiple mega fires simultaneously,” said Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena). “January has highlighted a new reality of climate change, one that demands we fully prepare for year-round, climate-driven disasters, making legislation for increased staffing levels essential. Firefighters are experiencing these staffing shortages firsthand and need additional personnel to ensure they can respond effectively to disasters wherever they occur. I’m grateful to Pro Tem McGuire for advancing legislation that will strengthen our firefighter ranks and ensure California is better equipped to prevent and respond to the next disaster.”

 

“There is so much loss and pain in my community right now,” said Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica). “As we start to rebuild, we want to lower the chances of this kind of horrific disaster from devastating another community again. One way to do that means more boots on the ground when the next fire starts. Firefighters are heroes but not machines who can work back-to-back 24 and 36 hour shifts; they need rest, medical attention and relief. Pro Tem McGuire’s legislation will grow our ranks by 3,000 highly-skilled, full-time firefighters, ready to go 24/7and 365 days a year.”

 

“My heart goes out to the countless Angelenos whose lives have been forever changed from the devastating wildfires in Southern California,” said Senator Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara). “The firefighters responding to this historic disaster have been pushed to the brink defending our communities and saving lives. We’ve seen firsthand the challenging conditions throughout our state that firefighters are facing on the ground. It’s time they have the security and support they need to keep us safe. As we continue to experience year-round, deadly fires it is critical that our firefighting force has what it needs to address the ongoing challenges of extreme weather conditions.”

Senator McGuire has long championed legislation to protect and uplift California’s firefighters, including supporting historic investments to: 

• In the last eight years, double the number of CalFire firefighters from 6,700 to 12,000 today 
• Made massive investments in new CalFire fire engines
• Built out the largest civil aerial firefighting fleet in the world 
• Invested over $4 billion in vegetation management projects in recent years

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Mike McGuire is President pro Tempore of the California Senate. He represents the North Coast of California, which stretches from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border, including Del Norte, Trinity, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma, and Marin counties. Website of Senate Leader McGuire: https://sd02.senate.ca.gov/