A Northern California state senator plans to introduce legislation that would add 356 permanent firefighters and 768 seasonal firefighters to the state’s force. Sen. Mike McGuire, D-Healdsburg, said Friday that the legislation would set new per-engine minimums at Cal Fire and would launch a staffing study to help prepare the department for fire conditions that are projected to keep getting worse in the years ahead. At a cost of $214 million, McGuire called the proposal a “critical first investment.” “This is a down payment,” he said. “More is needed.” McGuire announced the proposal Friday morning on the north steps of the state Capitol, flanked by a few dozen firefighters wearing black t-shirts identifying their union, Cal Fire Local 2881.
The senator and union leaders said firefighters often spend 40 days or more deployed at fires, harming mental health and impacting families while driving up state overtime costs.