Wildland crew deployments generate revenue; council considers equipment needs

Woodland Hills — The city's wildland fire crew has been prepositioned for out-of-area responses and has already generated revenue in 2025, staff reported. The fire chief and staff described the program as revenue-positive so far and recommended replacing an aging brush truck to ensure reliable response capacity.

Fire and operations staff reported they have earned roughly $209,000 in mutual-aid revenues this year and spent about $111,000 on expenses, leaving the wildland program near $98,000 in the black year-to-date. Staff said the crew had been dispatched to several calls and was prepositioned in California at the time of the meeting.

Council members asked whether interlocal agreements were adequate for fire response, and staff said mutual-aid is valuable but that local, rapidly deployable equipment remains important. "Engine 191 is a brush-capable truck and gives us a strong capability," a councilor said, but staff added that a newer, reliable unit would reduce long-term maintenance and increase safety and revenue potential.

Why it matters: The mutual-aid deployments both bolster regional wildfire response and provide a revenue stream the city can use to support the fire department. Councilors discussed using program proceeds for a replacement truck rather than relying solely on general-fund operations.

Next steps: Staff signaled intent to return with a formal purchase request and options for how to use the wildland revenue (for example, equipment replacement vs. reserves). Council members encouraged staff to prioritize safety and reliability and to bring cost and financing options to a future meeting.