|
DATE: |
December 9, 2025 |
FP01 |
|
TO: |
Board of Directors, San Diego County Fire Protection District |
SUBJECT
Title
REQUEST TO AUTHORIZE AN ASSISTANCE-BY-HIRE REVENUE AGREEMENT BETWEEN SAN DIEGO COUNTY FIRE AND CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) regularly uses apparatus and personnel from local government agencies for its operations. The use of “Assistance by Hire” (ABH) agreements allow participating government agencies to receive reimbursement for resources deployed to protect the State Responsibility Area lands. During prolonged disasters, such as wildfires or flooding, San Diego County Fire apparatuses are used to support CAL FIRE disaster response activities locally and in other parts of the State. The ABH agreement allows San Diego County Fire to recover depreciation and operating costs from the State for those incidents. The previous 5-year ABH agreement with CAL FIRE expired August 31, 2025.
Today’s request will authorize the execution of an ABH revenue agreement between San Diego County Fire and CAL FIRE.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
1. Authorize the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors to execute an Assistance-by-Hire revenue agreement between San Diego County Fire and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to continue to provide fire protection and emergency medical services during State responsibility incidents, and authorize the Director of San Diego County Fire, or designee, to execute all revenue agreement documents, amendments, and/or revisions thereto that do not materially impact or alter services or funding levels.
2. Establish appropriations of $850,000 in San Diego County Fire, Services & Supplies, based on revenue from an Assistance-by-Hire agreement with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (4 VOTES).
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The San Diego County Fire Protection District (SDCFPD) serves an under resourced and geographically diverse portion of the County’s unincorporated area where many communities experience limited access to critical public safety infrastructure. These areas are designated as high or very high fire hazard severity zones and include populations that are at risk, low income or socially vulnerable. Revenue generated through Assistance-By-Hire agreements is critical to maintaining equitable service delivery by providing funding for one-time capital improvements and other investments such as replacing aging fire apparatus and equipment to ensure firefighters have the infrastructure and equipment necessary to respond effectively. These improvements will directly enhance response capabilities and service reliability to ensure unincorporated residents receive fire protection and emergency medical services that are equitable to those provided by incorporated city departments.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The proposed actions in today’s request support the County of San Diego’s commitment to resiliency and align with the Sustainability Initiative of the County of San Diego’s 2025-2030 Strategic Plan by helping to ensure fire protection and emergency medical services have the resources to respond to immediate needs for individuals, families, and the region.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds for this request are not included in the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Operational Plan for County Fire. If approved, this request will result in current year costs and revenue of approximately $850,000. Annual revenue received from ABH is inconsistent and is determined by the severity of wildfires in the CAL FIRE State Responsibility Area and requested resources. Costs and revenue for the remaining term of the Assistance-by-Hire (ABH) agreement will be based on actual revenue received when County Fire provides fire protection and emergency medical services during State responsibility incidents. The funding source is the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
N/A
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
On November 17, 2025, with all advisory board members being present, the San Diego County Fire Protection District Fire Advisory Board reviewed and voted unanimously in support of today’s request to approve Assistance-By-Hire Revenue Agreements.
BACKGROUND
The County of San Diego (County) is responsible for fire protection and emergency response services within the San Diego County Fire Protection District (SDCFPD). Although the County contracts with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) for day-to-day structural fire and emergency medical services within the SDCFPD, CAL FIRE also maintains its responsibility for wildland fire protection within the State Responsibility Area lands throughout California, including within the San Diego region.
CAL FIRE is authorized to enter into agreements with agencies that allow for assistance during times of emergencies. An Assistance-by-Hire (ABH) revenue agreement provides for reimbursement of local government resources used to assist CAL FIRE in its wildland fire response. The Board of Supervisors last authorized the ABH revenue agreement for 5-years on September 15, 2020 (4). To continue reimbursement from CAL FIRE for San Diego County Fire provided resources on State incidents, permanent authorization for the ABH agreement with CAL FIRE is requested to ensure continual approval to receive reimbursement for resources provided. The local CAL FIRE Unit is responsible for reimbursing the County directly through state-determined rates specified in the agreement. The revenue received through this agreement is used for one-time expenses, including facility improvement projects, purchasing fire apparatus and equipment, and training needs.
If approved, today’s request would authorize an ABH revenue agreement between San Diego County Fire and CAL FIRE.
ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT
N/A
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
The proposed actions in today’s request support the County of San Diego’s commitment to resiliency and align with the Sustainability Initiative of the County of San Diego’s 2025-2030 Strategic Plan by helping to ensure funding to maintain the level of fire protection and emergency medical services and to have the capability to respond to immediate needs for individuals, families, and the region.
Respectfully submitted,
ebony n. shelton
Executive Director
ATTACHMENT(S)
N/A