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Butte County authorizes $28 million CAL FIRE cooperative agreement to staff county fire services
Summary
Supervisors approved a renewal of the county’s cooperative agreement with CAL FIRE that increases the county’s payable amount from about $19 million last year to just over $28 million for 2025–26, citing Measure H–funded staffing increases that add a third firefighter to each engine and fully staff Amador stations.
The Butte County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 12 adopted a resolution and authorized the chair to sign the county’s annual cooperative agreement with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), increasing the 2025–26 maximum payable amount to just over $28 million.
Brianna Harvey Butterfield, deputy chief administrative officer, told the board the increase — up from approximately $19 million in the prior year’s agreement — reflects enhanced staffing enabled by Measure H revenues. She said those additions include placing a third firefighter on every engine and ensuring full staffing at all Amador stations, changes the county says will improve response times and overall fire protection coverage.
The term of the agreement is July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. Harvey Butterfield described the cooperative agreement as the document that enables CAL FIRE to staff the county fire department, defines financial and operational responsibilities, and provides a framework for deployment and cost recovery.
Board action: Supervisor motioned to approve staff recommendation; the board voted in favor by voice vote with no recorded oppositions.
Context: Harvey Butterfield said the package is typically on the consent agenda but was presented as a regular item this year because of the size of the increase. She credited Measure H funding for enabling the county to shift to industry-standard hours and to add positions. The board did not receive requests for public comment on the item.
What remains: The cooperative agreement will be executed and the county and CAL FIRE will implement the staffing and operational changes during the contract year.
Quotes: “These additions enable the fire department to place a third firefighter on every engine and ensure all Amador stations are fully staffed and remain operational,” said Brianna Harvey Butterfield, deputy chief administrative officer.
