Budget Trends and Highlights (2022-2025)

Position Growth

• Overall Growth: Substantial increase from 11,170.8 positions in 2022-23 to 12,294.5 positions in 2024-25 (10% growth)
• Program Distribution:
  • Fire Protection: 10,534.6 positions (86%)
  • Administration: 956.7 positions (8%)
  • Resource Management: 569.7 positions (5%)
  • State Fire Marshal: 222.6 positions (2%)

Budget Fluctuations

• Total Budget Trend: Varied from $4.63 billion (2022-23) to $4.05 billion (2024-25)
• Major Changes:
  • General Fund allocation: $2.66 billion (2024-25)
  • Reimbursements increase to $963.1 million
  • Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: $318.5 million

Major Program Funding (2024-25)

• Fire Protection: $3.67 billion
• Resource Management: $301.2 million
• State Fire Marshal: $62.7 million
• Administration: $203.2 million

Major Funding Codes and Sources

Program Codes

• 2461 - Office of the State Fire Marshal: Fire safety standards and enforcement
• 2465 - Fire Protection: Emergency response and fire suppression
• 2470 - Resource Management: Forest and wildland management
• 2475 - Board of Forestry: Policy development and oversight
• 2480 - Legal Services: Department of Justice support

Funding Source Codes

• 0001 - General Fund: Primary funding source
• 0995 - Reimbursements: Emergency response cost recovery
• 3228 - Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: Climate initiatives
• 3212 - Timber Regulation Fund: Forest management
• 0102 - State Fire Marshal Licensing Fund: Regulatory activities

Major Projects and Initiatives

Emergency Response

1. Fire Protection Operations:

   • 66-Hour Workweek Implementation
   • Air Attack Base Infrastructure
   • Assistance by Hire Program
   • Emergency Response Coordination

2. Public Safety Programs:

   • Fire Prevention Education
   • Law Enforcement
   • Emergency Medical Services
   • Disaster Response

Resource Management

1. Forest Health Programs:

   • Wildfire Prevention
   • Forest Restoration
   • Vegetation Management
   • Prescribed Fire Activities

2. Environmental Protection:

   • Climate Change Adaptation
   • Watershed Protection
   • Habitat Conservation
   • Carbon Sequestration

Fire Prevention and Safety

1. State Fire Marshal Programs:

   • Building Standards
   • Fire Safety Inspections
   • Code Enforcement
   • Professional Certification

2. Community Protection:

   • Defensible Space
   • Fire Safe Regulations
   • Local Assistance
   • Risk Assessment

Administrative Structure

CAL FIRE operates through a comprehensive organizational structure:

1. Executive Leadership

   • Director's Office
   • Chief Deputy Directors
   • State Fire Marshal

2. Operational Divisions

   • Fire Protection
   • Resource Management
   • Training and Safety
   • Law Enforcement

3. Support Functions

   • Administration
   • Information Technology
   • Communications
   • Legal Services

Funding Allocation Process

1. Budget Development:

   • Emergency response planning
   • Resource management priorities
   • Capital improvement needs
   • Staffing requirements

2. Program Implementation:

   • Emergency response deployment
   • Prevention program delivery
   • Resource management activities
   • Training and certification

3. Fiscal Management:

   • Emergency fund tracking
   • Cost recovery processing
   • Grant administration
   • Contract management

Sources: [1] CAL FIRE Budget Document 2024-25 [2] Public Resources Code Division 1 and 4 [3] Government Code Title 5 [4] Health and Safety Code Division 12 [5] Strategic Fire Plan for California [6] Forest and Fire Protection Laws [7] Emergency Response Plans [8] Resource Management Reports [9] Fire Prevention Program Guidelines [10] Administrative Procedures Manual