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New CAL FIRE unit chief says Alturas station will near 24/7 staffing as local fuel‑reduction projects continue
Summary
Joshua Kern, newly named unit chief for the CAL FIRE Lassen‑Modoc unit, told the Modoc County Board of Supervisors that the unit is fully staffed and that new permanent firefighter‑2 positions will allow 24/7 coverage at the Alturas station in shoulder months; he also outlined ongoing fuel‑reduction projects including an Overland project and a funded fuel break along County Road 91.
Joshua Kern, the new unit chief for the CAL FIRE Lassen‑Modoc unit, told the Modoc County Board of Supervisors on June 9 that the unit is now “fully staffed with their 13 engines, their 6 crews, and their 3 dozers, and our helitack crew out of Bieber,” and that permanent firefighter‑2 hires will reduce seasonal staffing gaps.
Kern said the firefighter‑2 classification represents permanent hires rather than seasonal workers, and that with the allocated firefighter‑2 positions the Alturas station will be staffed around the clock during key months “as long as there’s not some sort of emergency response within the state of California.” He described that staffing change as “a huge benefit to the county” and said it will allow CAL FIRE to better assist local volunteer firefighters and to expand fuel‑reduction work.
Kern and Division Chief Steve Walker described specific local projects. Kern said crews are burning piled material under the Overland Project in collaboration with the Modoc County Fire Safe Council and that the unit secured funding to complete a fuel break along County Road 91 from Highway 139 toward Beaver. Walker and Kern said larger piles created by timber operators were expected to be chipped while smaller piles were created by local collection efforts.
The board thanked Kern and Walker for the update. Kern offered business‑card contact information for follow up and urged the board that the staffing and fuel‑reduction work will provide safety and response benefits for Modoc County residents.
The board heard this report during the public comment and department head reports portion of its June 9 meeting. No formal action was required.
