Wildfire protection: Department of Forestry and Fire Protection: staffing.

Assembly Member Bains' proposal to mandate year-round staffing at California's Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL-FIRE) facilities responds to the elimination of traditional fire seasons amid climate change impacts. The measure, co-authored by Assembly Member Ransom, would require CAL-FIRE to maintain peak staffing levels throughout the calendar year at all fire stations and facilities by January 2028.

The bill establishes "full staffing levels" as the highest combined number of full-time, part-time, and seasonal firefighting personnel employed by CAL-FIRE in any month between 2022 and 2024. Implementation would occur in phases, with the department required to reach 50% of the staffing increase by January 2026 and 75% by January 2027. The legislation directs CAL-FIRE to employ sufficient permanent personnel to maintain these levels year-round.

To monitor progress, the department would submit annual reports to the Legislature detailing implementation status, emergency response capabilities, cost analysis, and recruitment and retention metrics. The bill requires the Legislature to appropriate funds through the annual Budget Act or separate legislation to support the staffing mandate. According to the bill's findings, CAL-FIRE currently operates with reduced personnel during winter months, while the authors assert that maintaining consistent staffing levels would enable more comprehensive fire prevention activities.