CAL FIRE`s largest cooperation program includes an agreement to exchange fire protection services with federal fire departments, including the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the National Parks Service (NPS). The aim is for the nearest authority to respond to a forest fire, regardless of jurisdiction. Through this cooperative relationship, California is able to access federal and national resources in the United States to help in times of disaster when the department`s resources are depleted. In return, CAL FIRE supports federal agencies and other public agencies for forest fires across the country through compact intergovernmental agreements. The California Department of Forest and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) is responsible for fire protection in the state`s areas of responsibility (SRA). SRA is located in 56 of California`s 58 counties and covers more than 31 million hectares. The Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) program is a federally funded support program that allows California to equip local and rural firefighters with smaller fire, training, communication and safety equipment for their volunteer firefighters. The VFA program is not intended for large-scale equipment (fire vehicles, vehicles, etc.) or capital repairs. The VFA program has a requirement of 50/50 games, which means that the applicant department must be able to meet the expected subsidy premium, dollar per dollar. Rewards for departments are set at a minimum of $500 with a maximum of $20,000.

The amounts can be adjusted on the basis of the grants available. For more information, please contact Megan Esfandiary at Megan.Esfandiary@fire.ca.gov or Doug Ferro at D.Michael.Ferro@fire.ca.gov. CAL FIRE provides funds for fire protection services, including fire crew salaries, observatories, maintenance of fire facilities, fire assistants, fire management stations, shipping, special repairs and administrative services. The division`s budget also includes infrastructure improvements and increased firefighting requirements as fires develop beyond the first attack. Currently, the state funds 68 firefighters, 82 fire trucks, 12 bulldozers, 10 fire safety officials and part of the six operational centers in the six counties. The following cities have fire safety cooperation agreements with CAL FIRE. Fire protection cooperation agreements can be applied to a wide range of services, depending on the needs of local authorities. CAL FIRE offers a service for all the cities listed below. The city service to Riverside County is provided through cooperation agreements with Riverside County Fire.

CAL FIRE offers riverside County Fire through a Denservice cooperation agreement. It is also because of these agreements that CAL FIRE may be the department responsible for providing dispatch, ambulance, fire and rescue services in many cities and municipalities that are not designated as state officials throughout California. Contract districts are responsible for the first fire response to the SRA. When a wildfire escapes this first attack, CAL FIRE responds with firefighter resources to help the county. Since the 1940s, local authorities, such as cities, counties and districts, have contracted with CAL FIRE to provide many forms of emergency services to their communities.