Governor Gavin Newsom announced today that 39 Company Officers graduated from the Ione Training Center, joining over 3,300 CAL FIRE Company Officers who have started since 2019. These graduates, along with 13 new Heavy Fire Equipment Operators, are recognized as California's frontline leaders in emergency response, reflecting the state's historic investments in wildfire preparedness.
Governor Newsom expressed his pride, saying, "I’m proud of today’s new graduates and grateful that they are stepping up to lead. California has the world’s premier firefighting force with innovative technology, the world’s largest civilian aerial fleet and dedicated personnel who lead with courage and professionalism." CAL FIRE Director and Fire Chief Joe Tyler added that the graduation "represents the continued strengthening of our ranks and the future leadership of this department."
The Company Officer Academy provides intensive training in tactical command, personnel management, and all-risk emergency operations. Since 2019, CAL FIRE has doubled its training footprint, expanding from two academies in Ione and Riverside to four centers, including new facilities in Redding and Atwater. This expansion allows for specialized programs in leadership, aviation, and equipment operations.
CAL FIRE has significantly increased its capacity to develop firefighter leaders, growing from six annual Company Officer Academies in 2019 to a planned 15 in 2026. This has resulted in nearly 200 Company Officers graduating in 2026 alone and a total of over 3,300 since 2019. The department's fire protection workforce has also nearly doubled, from 5,829 to 11,436 positions, with an average of 1,800 full-time and 600 seasonal positions added annually under Governor Newsom's leadership.