REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
AND RECORD OF ACTION
November 17, 2026
FROM
DAN MUNSEY, Fire Chief/Fire Warden, San Bernardino County Fire Protection District
SUBJECT
Title
Resolution for Participation in the Federal Excess Personal Property Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District:
1. Receive the presentation on the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District’s Aviation, Innovation, and Robotics Division.
2. Adopt Resolution that:
a. Authorizes the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District to apply for participation in the United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Federal Excess Personal Property Program in accordance with the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978.
b. Authorizes the Fire Chief/Fire Warden, on behalf of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, to enter into and sign an agreement with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for the loan of Federal Excess Personal Property.
2. Approve non-financial Cooperative Agreement (No. 997003) between the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for participation in the Federal Excess Personal Property Air Program.
3. Authorize the Fire Chief/Fire Warden or Deputy Chief to:
a. Execute the non-financial Cooperative Agreement on behalf of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District.
b. Execute any Attachment A, acquisition amendment, transfer or receiving document, property assignment document, registration document, certification, form, or other required program documentation necessary to acquire Federal Excess Personal Property and administer the District’s participation in the Federal Excess Personal Property Air Program, subject to review by County Counsel.
c. Execute any other non-financial required program documentation necessary to implement and administer the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District’s participation in the Federal Excess Personal Property Air Program, subject to review by County Counsel.
4. Direct the Fire Chief/Fire Warden or Deputy Chief to transmit the fully executed non-financial Cooperative Agreement and any executed Attachment A or acquisition amendment to the Secretary of the Board of Directors within 30 days of execution.
5. Direct the Fire Chief/Fire Warden to bring any future agreements related to the Federal Excess Personal Property Program that contain financial obligations back to the Board of Directors for consideration and approval.
(Presenter: Dan Munsey, Fire Chief/Fire Warden, 387-5779)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Foster Sustainable Development Through Strategic Partnerships.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Enhance Readiness for Major Emergency Responses.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of the recommended actions will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The recommended Resolution authorizes the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District (SBCFPD) to participate in the Federal Excess Personal Property (FEPP) program and is administrative and non-financial in nature. Any financial actions related to participation in the FEPP, such as any necessary budget adjustments or increases in anticipated costs, will be presented to the SBCFPD Board of Directors (Board) for approval before SBCFPD assumes those financial obligations.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
SBCFPD is an all-risk emergency services organization responsible for fire protection and emergency response across a geographically large and diverse jurisdiction that includes substantial wildland and wildland-urban interface areas. Rotary-wing aircraft can support rapid initial attack, aerial water delivery, rescue, aerial supervision, and other qualifying emergency response functions.
The United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (USFS) administers the Federal Excess Personal Property (FEPP) Program under the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978, including 16 U.S.C. section 2106(c). Through FEPP, federally owned excess personal property may be loaned to a state forestry agency and its eligible local fire cooperators for wildland and rural community fire protection. In California, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) administers the program for local cooperators. Title to FEPP property remains with the federal government; the property is not donated or sold to the local agency.
CAL FIRE’s current FEPP process requires the local cooperator to submit both a signed non-financial Cooperative Agreement and a signed Resolution or other governing-body statement approving participation in the FEPP Program. The Resolution is therefore a necessary program document, but it does not by itself establish all terms governing custody and use of FEPP property.
SBCFPD staff has identified two UH-1 helicopters that may be available to SBCFPD through CAL FIRE under FEPP. The proposed aircraft would be used primarily for wildland and rural community fire protection and other qualifying emergency missions, subject to all federal and state program restrictions and applicable aviation requirements. The aircraft would remain federally owned and would be subject to recall or return in accordance with the FEPP Program and the non-financial Cooperative Agreement.
FEPP participation carries continuing obligations. Under the current CAL FIRE form, FEPP property must be used at least 90 percent of the time for activities directly related to wildland and rural community fire protection, with non-fire emergency use limited to no more than 10 percent of total use. The cooperator must bear the costs of transportation, retrofit, modification, maintenance, repair, and operation; maintain appropriate insurance or evidence of self-insurance; obtain prior authorization for modifications or cannibalization; maintain property accountability and records; participate in biennial inventories and audits; and return property when no longer needed or when the agreement or assignment ends.
Approval of the proposed Resolution will satisfy the governing-body authorization required for SBCFPD to participate in the FEPP Program and pursue assignment of the two UH-1 helicopters. Under the FEPP program, CAL FIRE may make two helicopters and related equipment available to SBCFPD at no rental or purchase cost. SBCFPD would be responsible for costs associated with housing, staffing, insuring, operating, maintaining, and repairing the helicopters and related equipment, as well as other obligations established under the applicable non-financial Cooperative Agreement.
Approval of the non-financial Cooperative Agreement will establish the specific terms and conditions of SBCFPD’s participation in the FEPP Program. Attachment A to the non-financial Cooperative Agreement will identify the specific property for loan under the FEPP Program. SBCFPD will return to the Board before assuming any associated financial obligations under the FEPP Program.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Aaron Gest, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on November 12, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Dalton, Administrative Analyst, 387-5005) on October 30, 2026.