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The California Report

State Looks To Hire Thousands Of Year-Round Firefighters

Keith Mizuguchi
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Firefighters work in the Mandeville Canyon neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, on January 11, 2025, as the Palisades Fire continues to burn. The Palisades Fire, the largest of the Los Angeles fires, spread toward previously untouched neighborhoods January 11, forcing new evacuations and dimming hopes that the disaster was coming under control. Across the city, at least 11 people have died as multiple fires have ripped through residential areas since January 7, razing thousands of homes in destruction that US President Joe Biden likened to a "war scene." (Photo by AGUSTIN PAULLIER / AFP)

Here are the morning’s top stories on Tuesday, September 30, 2025…

  • What once was a fire season in California is now a fire year. As a result, the state is looking to combat increasing wildfires with funding for more year-round firefighters.
  • California voters approved a $10 billion climate bond measure last November. We’re now seeing where the first round of Prop 4 money is going.

State Budget Carves Out Millions To Hire Year-Round Firefighters

With the increasing effects of climate change, California is facing year-round risks of devastating wildfires. So the state is looking to hire more firefighters who can work year-round.

At a training facility in  Fresno County, Matt Scoralle goes through testing. Normally a seasonal firefighter, he was laid off in June. Layoffs are normal for seasonal firefighters, but usually happen in the winter months. “That idea of becoming a permanent firefighter is always on my mind. I mean, I never wanted to be a seasonal firefighter,” he said.

But he could land a permanent job soon. That’s because a big chunk of money approved in the state budget earlier this year aims to transition thousands of seasonal firefighters into year-round positions. It’s almost $40 million for this year and $78 million each year after that. It was set in motion by several state lawmakers including AssemblymemberJasmeet Bains. “Year after year, we saw the fires getting worse and worse and worse. The discussion was every day is fire season now,” Bains said.

The ultimate goal is to transition 3,000 seasonal firefighters. Tim Edwards said a larger year-round workforce is crucial. He’s the union president for firefighters in CalFire. “These fires as people saw, not just in the Palisades or the Eaton Fire, but in Paradise and the old Tubbs Fire  – those all happened at times when these firefighters are laid off,” he said.

Money Already Being Allocated From Climate Bond Measure

The climate bond measure Proposition 4, which was approved by voters in November, aims to fund projects with focuses like wildfire prevention and boosting access to clean drinking water. 40% of the funds are required to benefit disadvantaged or vulnerable communities.

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State officials are allocating the first round of funding, $3.3 billion, for the coming year. Sarah Swig is the Deputy Cabinet Secretary for the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom. “Fundamentally, these bond investments allow us to continue making progress towards our goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2045 and urgently reducing climate risks to Californians,” she said.

About $525 million of the $3.3 billion has already been allocated by the legislature. That initial funding has supported projects involving wildfire prevention and forest resilience. Officials said the rest will be available to applicants after guidelines for grants are finalized.

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