REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 10, 2025
FROM
DAN MUNSEY, Fire Chief/Fire Warden, San Bernardino County Fire Protection District
SUBJECT
Title
Cooperative Fire Protection Agreement with the United States Forest Service, Angeles National Forest
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District:
1. Approve Cooperative Fire Protection Agreement with the United States Forest Service, Angeles National Forest to provide for reciprocal fire protection, including mutual aid, reimbursable assistance, and coordination for the prevention, detection, management, and suppression of wildland fires on property within the protection areas or jurisdiction of the parties, effective the date the agreement is executed by both parties, through May 31, 2027.
2. Authorize the Fire Chief/Fire Warden of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District to negotiate, execute, and make non-substantive additions, deletions, or other technical amendments to the exhibits, which include the Operating Plan, Boundary Maps, Project Agreement, and Cost Share Agreement that are attachments to the Cooperative Fire Protection Agreement, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Direct the Fire Chief/Fire Warden to transmit the amendments described in Recommendation No. 2 to the Secretary of the Board of Directors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Dan Munsey, Fire Chief/Fire Warden, 387-5779)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this Cooperative Fire Protection Agreement (Agreement) will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). In accordance with this Agreement, the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District (SBCFPD) and the United States Forest Service, Angeles National Forest (U.S. Forest Service) will provide the services on a contractual basis.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
SBCFPD has numerous mutual aid agreements with local, state, and federal agencies to assist each other in the suppression of fires and in the provision of emergency medical services. These agreements allow one party to assist the other party by providing personnel, equipment, materials/supplies, and other services, as needed, for fire and/or emergency incidents.
SBCFPD and the U.S. Forest Service desire to enter into the recommended mutually beneficial Agreement for the prevention, detection, management, and suppression of wildland fires in and adjacent to their areas of responsibility. Reciprocal/Mutual Aid responses from either party shall include equipment, material, and supplies such as are usually and customarily used within the sending party’s jurisdiction. The guiding principle for the dispatch of initial attack suppression resources is to use the closest available resource regardless of which party owns or controls the resources, and regardless of which party has protection responsibility or jurisdiction.
The Initial attack is the immediate dispatch of a fire unit within the jurisdictional boundary set forth under the terms and conditions of the Agreement. Mutual Aid/Initial Attack response will be initiated by each agency’s primary dispatch facility. The Agreement outlines response criteria to include the pre-identified emergency equipment to be used for each emergency incident. The Agreement allows for the most expeditious and cost-effective response to suppress fires and other emergency services.
The Agreement is authorized by the Reciprocal Fire Protection Act of May 27, 1955 (United States Code (USC) - 42 USC § 1856a), as amended, and the Fire Protection District Law of 1987 (California Health and Safety Code § 13800 et seq.). The U.S. Forest Service and SBCFPD will mutually benefit from this arrangement by allowing resources to cross jurisdictional boundaries and providing equipment and apparatus that are unavailable from within the jurisdiction. The service to the communities will be enhanced by decreasing response times to emergencies, allocating specialized equipment to incidents and developing partnerships and a spirit of cooperation amongst agencies. In the event of multiple calls for service within a short time frame, the Agreement identifies the closest, most appropriate resource and reduces travel delays from units located at a further distance. This provides for a more streamlined approach to addressing fire and other emergency incidents.
SBCFPD is recommending that the Board approve the Agreement with the U.S. Forest Service as this will provide for the safety, health, and social service needs of SBCFPD and county residents by enhancing the emergency response capabilities of SBCFPD and the U.S. Forest Service.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Rick Luczak, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on May 19, 2025; Finance (Ivan Ramirez, Administrative Analyst, 387-4020) on April 9, 2025; and County Finance and Administration (Valerie Clay, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on April 10, 2025.