Budget: CAL FIRE - Duck and cover CAL FIRE surviving budget cuts

Cal Fire evades massive damage from budget cuts

State firefighting costs have nearly tripled in the past decade but Cal Fire has avoided taking major hits in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed budget.

The state's firefighting agency has $790 million budgeted.

A one-time savings of $17 million for the delayed replacement of fire engines and other vehicles is the only cut currently being considered for Cal Fire.

San Bernardino County was scheduled to receive two new fire engines this fiscal year.

"The governor has worked very hard to make sure we don't take cuts," said Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant.

Yet, state budget analysts recommend a startling $55 million reduction to Cal Fire's budget.

Part of the suggested slashing includes prematurely ending its multi-million dollar contract with the owners of a DC-10 jet based in Victorville.

Analysts say the $6.8 million savings is worth it since Cal Fire "has not shown that the use of this asset has improved its fire protection response capability in a cost-effective manner."

Cal Fire officials disagree, saying that having an exclusive contract with a jumbo jet that can dump 12,000 gallons in eight seconds is critical for unpredictable wildland fires that've become common in Southern California.

Other proposed cuts in the State Budget Analysis include a $10 million savings to close lower-priority fire station and a $21.3 million savings to delay replacing the deteriorating Hemet-Ryan Air Attack Base

None of these recommendations are mentioned in the current budget.

Regional fire agencies are closely monitoring potential cuts to Cal Fire for fear that it will greatly impact how local wildfires are handled.

U.S. Forest Service spokesman John Miller said everyone would be affected if Cal Fire loses resources.

"We're talking to our counterparts to see how they're staffed each day and how we're going to use our forces for initial attack," he said.

"We rely heavily upon our mutual aid agreements," said San Bernardino County Fire spokeswoman Tracey Martinez. "Cal Fire depends heavily on us and we do rely on them." Speaking of reliance, Cal Fire may soon be relying on a new emergency response surcharge to homeowners' and businesss' insurance policies.

The 4.8 percent surcharge would take effect in April 2010 and generate about $120 million in its first year.

In addition to covering a projected $76 million shortfall facing Cal Fire, another $40 million would be designated to recoup costs for local fire departments responding to major disasters.

The surcharge would generate about $480 million per year after that, said state Department of Finance Deputy Director H.D. Palmer.

"It keeps Cal Fire fully staffed so that we have enough firefighters to respond to these major disasters and it helps other fire departments as well," Berlant said.

Cal Fire's ranks include about 5,000 full-time firefighters who protect roughly 31 million acres statewide. There are an estimated 860,000 houses on state land.

Source: dailybulletin.com - Link