Hot Topics

The absolute last day to submit paperwork to be considered for 2023 is May 1st.  All necessary paperwork (i.e. CAL FIRE 20, STD 204, etc.) need to be turned in/submitted to HE Coordinator.   


Traffic Safety Modules

We are no longer accepting any additional traffic safety modules (TSM).

Insurance (Additionally Insured)

The information your insurance will need is:

CAL FIRE 
176 Nelson Avenue
Oroville, CA 95965

Rates / Equipment Typing / Ordering Changes

Rates

  • Most rates are going up to cover cost of living increases and cost of insurance.
    • Some as much as 20%. 
  • Specifications for rates are based off of Ritchie Brothers specs. Visit their website. 
  • All equipment is now paid based on hours worked, and equipment will fall into one of the three categories below:
    • Reduced - less than 8 hours
    • Standard - more than 8 and up to 16 hours
    • Extended - greater than 16 hours
      • Hours are only counted for hours worked, not while under hire. Hours off shift will not be counted toward your time.
      • Transit is still covered: travel to the incident and travel home once released.
      • Excavators with a masticating head.
  • When ordered, your pay for travel will be the same going home as the pay scale you arrived on. So, if they use you as a masticator head toward the end of the incident, you will not get the higher pay for the travel home.

Equipment Typing

  • Has been simplified and is now easier for vendors to determine what they need to meet the specifications for the equipment in which they are going to sign up. If the equipment has more than required there will be no special pay rate. The rates in the supplier manual will be the only one that is allowed. These rates are set by Sacramento and were done with in-depth research by the core working group. 
  • From now on if a piece of equipment “hits dirt” it is considered fire line equipment. The following equipment will need to have all equipment that falls under Chapter 6: Personal Protective Equipment listed in the Supplier Manual:
    • Excavators, graders, skid steers, chippers, backhoes etc.

Ordering Changes

  • All ordering is going to be done on a closest resource basis there is no longer a rotational list for any equipment. The closest resource ordering is based off air miles from the fire to the vendor’s facility location. Base Camp resources will be based on the base camp location, not the fire itself.  
  • There is no longer a rotational list for fireline dozers and water tenders. Immediate need orders will draw the closest resource to the location of the fire
    • Planned Need Orders will be done based off a tier 1, 2, and 3 system, based on ability for the vendor to meet the need date and time.  
    • Tier 1 - small business and disabled vet business enterprises Holders
    • Tier 2 - small business or disabled vet business enterprises Holders
    • Tier 3- Hold no certification
      • So, if multiple vendors can all meet the same need date and time, tier 1 will be called first, then tier 2, and lastly tier 3.
      • The HEMs computer system will automatically create the list of suppliers based on distance from the fire itself. 

Benefits 

  • Resources arrive sooner
  • Reduced travel time
  • Eliminates fatigue
  • No more 10-minute wait time to go to next resources
  • Phone calls are made until orders are filled
  • Contributes to the supporting affected community
  • Being closer to home
  • Off duty operators can go home

General Liability Insurance

  • If equipment isn’t covered by vehicle insurance for commercial general liability an additional $100,000,000 general liability insurance will be required. (Per occurrence for bodily and property damage liability combined). Pages 11 to 12 of the supplier manual.

Vendor Sanctions: Suppliers manual, Chapter 6

Suppliers operating out of compliance with Hired Equipment Program requirements may be sanctioned. The Statewide Hired Equipment Coordinator is responsible for implementing sanctions on behalf of the Department. Sanctions may result from a single action or a combination of actions on the part of the Supplier and/or their employees. Supervising incident personnel shall take immediate action to resolve any issues by hired equipment Suppliers and/or their employees that involve safety, productivity, operational effectiveness, or are in violation of the Hired Equipment Program Supplier Participation Manual. If immediate resolution is not possible, the situation shall be documented in writing and sent to the Statewide Hired Equipment Coordinator, Unit Chief, and Unit Hired Equipment Coordinator for the Unit that generated the Emergency Equipment Rental Agreement (EERA) (CAL FIRE-294). The Incident Commander may release hired equipment from the incident without pay for non-compliance issues. Incident personnel shall provide documentation of all hired equipment issues to the Statewide Hired Equipment Coordinator and the Unit Hired Equipment Coordinator of the Unit issuing the EERA for review and possible sanction. The Statewide Hired Equipment Coordinator shall investigate and review the documentation, rendering a decision as soon as possible in a manner consistent with CAL FIRE policy based on the violation.

Reasons for sanctioning include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Contacting any Unit, incident, or other location, to solicit hiring by the Department.
  • Responding to an incident without being requested.
  • Arriving at incident with unrequested equipment.
  • Misrepresentation of response time.
  • Failure to arrive at requested time without making contact.
  • Misrepresentation of condition or location of equipment.
  • Arrival or operation at the incident without protective gear or any other required equipment.
  • Unsafe or negligent equipment operation.
  • Failure to follow directions or complete assignments or any other failure in performance.
  • Any brokering of equipment or equipment cooperatives of any type or manner that circumvents the intent of any part of CAL FIRE policy.
  • "Assigning" an issued order and request number to another Supplier or accepting such an order and request number from another Supplier, except as specifically allowed for transports.
  • Misrepresentation of Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise status.
  • Operating equipment on fireline assignments without the required training.
  • Willful violation of fair hiring practices.
  • Any other action that violates the intent of the Hired Equipment Program Supplier Participation Manual.
  • Misrepresentation of time worked on the incident.
  • Civil and/or criminal action.

Sanctions include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Supplier is placed inactive in the Hired Equipment Management System until the identified issue is resolved.
  • Supplier is placed inactive in the Hired Equipment Management System for a specified period of time.
  • Supplier is placed inactive in the Hired Equipment Management System permanently.

Suppliers may appeal sanctions to the Region Chief of the Region that issued the EERA in question within 15 days of the Statewide Hired Equipment Coordinator’s decision. The Region Chief or designee shall be the final appeal point for any sanctions or other dispute resolution administered by the Statewide Hired Equipment Coordinator. Notice of any sanction upheld, modified, or dismissed shall be forwarded to the Unit Chief, Statewide Hired Equipment Coordinator, Unit Hired Equipment Coordinator, and the Supplier within 30 days of the appeal being received. CAL FIRE personnel shall retain documents and files related to Supplier evaluations and sanctions in accordance with Procedure 10,060-2: Supplier Files and Retention.

Document Binder

We strongly encourage each vendor to create a document binder for each piece of Equipment.

Fireline Equipment

Copies of:

  • Contracts
  • II. Vehicle Insurance (current) [CAL FIRE Addition]
  • III. General Liability Insurance (Current) [CAL FIRE Addition] New
  • IV. Workers comp (Current) [CAL FIRE Addition] or Major Medical
  • Registration (current)
  • VI. Safety Cards of employees
  • VII. Drivers licenses of employees
  • VIII. DOT inspection (If required)

Copy of FC-291 (with the top filled out [i.e. Company Name, Equipment description, Model and license vin/serial number])

Fireline Safety Awareness for Hired Vendors

Here is a list of vendor contacts in and around Butte County. Please try to work with these vendors to get some classes put together: