Board approves three‑year cooperative fire protection agreement with Cal Fire

The Napa County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a three‑year cooperative fire protection agreement on Tuesday with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) to continue the county’s long‑standing partnership on fire protection staffing and services.

JR Rogers, Napa County fire administrator, told the board the agreement runs from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2028 with a not‑to‑exceed value of approximately $64,676,440 across the three years. The county’s share for the first year was described in the presentation as roughly $14.86 million, with some costs shared with the Town of Yountville and the Veterans Home. Rogers said the agreement continues full‑service coverage across the county’s seven full‑time staffed stations and 14 volunteer stations and that the county has partnered with Cal Fire since 1932.

The agreement includes administrative and staffing adjustments designed to improve efficiency: replacing two administrative positions with one analyst, promoting a financial analyst option to improve workflow, adding a fire equipment manager to oversee rolling stock, and adding a staff services analyst to support fire investigations and gain access to Cal Fire’s Fire Prevention Bureau resources. Rogers said a modest operational increase in year one is offset by savings from Cal Fire’s updated seasonal staffing model in certain regions.

Supervisors praised the partnership; the board approved the cooperative agreement by roll call vote. Supervisor Ramos moved for approval; Supervisor Manfry seconded; the motion passed unanimously.

Rogers and chiefs accompanying him said the partnership balances operational needs with fiscal responsibility and positions the county to continue emergency response and prevention work. The board highlighted recent demonstrations of firefighting capacity, including a public demonstration of helicopter resources.