‘We need to do more’: How SB345 aims to help California’s firefighter staffing

HANFORD, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Following off-season destruction carried out by the Los Angeles County wildfires in January, a recent state senate bill is looking to shore up staffing and training for fire departments around California.

Senate Bill 345, introduced by Democratic Senator Melissa Hurtado of Bakersfield, proposes to do so by lowering training costs for both paid and volunteer firefighters.

“We need to do more to provide the resources and the support to ensure that you get adequate training because it’s so important to you and your families, but also to us and our communities and our families, because you keep us safe,” said Hurtado to firefighters from around the Central Valley, as she made a stop in Hanford.

She says this bill aims to increase affordability and access to training for current and future firefighters.

“In other careers, you don’t have to pay for your training and it’s not fair that it’s currently set in the way that it is and we’re trying to change that,” Hurtado said.

According to the state senator, 23,000 firefighters, both paid and volunteers, need to be trained each year. Whether it’s for the first time or the 15th time. However, the fees associated with that training can be a deal breaker, as her office says those costs have risen between 200% and 400% in recent years.

It’s an impact that could hit many departments hard, including Hanford Fire.

“Over the next three years, the Hanford Fire Department expects more than half of its staff will either be new to the organization or will be playing a new role within the organization,” said Hanford City Councilmember Mark Kairis, who spoke at the event held within Hanford Fire’s Station 3 to show support for the bill.

Hurtado’s staff says the bill would free up funding outside the state budget by allowing the State Fire Marshal to pursue and accept dollars from additional funding sources. And with the recent devastation like in LA County, Hurtado hopes her fellow senators act with urgency.

“Any one little thing could go wrong and that’s not just a risk to the individual, which is really important, but it’s also a risk to the entire community and the state. As we know and as we’ve seen down in Southern California,” she said.

Hurtado did previously introduce the bill last year, before it was rejected. However, that was before minor changes and, of course, the SoCal fires.

Stay with us on YourCentralValley.com for the latest on where it goes.