To: Board of Directors
From: Aaron J. McAlister, Chief, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
Report Title: Add 15 Firefighter Recruit Positions and 2 Battalion Chief Positions in the Fire District
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ADOPT Position Adjustment Resolution No. 26607 to add fifteen (15) unfunded positions in the classification of Firefighter Recruit (RPWD) (represented) at salary plan and grade 4N5 1201 ($8030 - $8030), and two (2) unfunded positions in the classification of Battalion Chief 56-hour (RPHA) (represented) at salary plan and grade HAX 2149 ($18,246 - $20,117) in the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
FISCAL IMPACT:
The requested positions will be unfunded, and the costs will be absorbed by salary and benefit cost savings under the CCCFPD General Operating Fund.
BACKGROUND:
The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District anticipates an unusually large number of vacancies due to retirements in March 2027. This has been validated through internal surveys and known retirements during the remainder of 2026. With this known challenge and staff being detailed to special assignments, there is a need for more fully trained and operational new hires to be in place. The District has determined that 15 new, unfunded Firefighter Recruit positions would be required to bridge this gap. In the near term, the positions will be used to staff a new firefighter academy in Fall 2026. This will enable the District to train new personnel in advance of the anticipated retirements in 2027.
The District is also requesting the addition of two (2) unfunded Battalion Chief positions to backfill when a Battalion Chief is off due to a long-term work-related injury. This will allow the District to fill critical battalion chief positions until the injured employee is able to file for disability retirement, a process that may take up to two years from the time they are first off work.
California Labor Code Section 4850 (LC §4850) provides eligible public safety employees up to one year (52 weeks) of fully paid, tax-free leave when they are temporarily disabled by a work-related injury. On average, the district has at least 30-35 employees off work under LC §4850. The majority of these employees are in the company ranks of Firefighter, Fire Engineer, and Fire Captain, and the District can cover their absences through planned overtime.
Battalion Chiefs primarily work 56-hour shift assignments in command of a battalion of fire-fighting companies, or perform administrative staff assignments on a regular 40-hour work schedule. The District has 15 56-HR shift Battalion Chiefs and three (3) 40-HR Battalion Chiefs. When a Battalion Chief is off work due to a work-related injury on a long-term basis, it strains the District’s ability to properly staff the Battalion Chief role.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If the District does not add 15 unfunded Firefighter Recruit positions to pre-hire and train new personnel in advance of March 2027 retirements, the District will fall behind in staffing and will fill vacancies with overtime and, in some cases, mandatory overtime.If the District does not add two (2) unfunded Battalion Chief 56-hour positions to cover long-term work-related leaves, the District will be strained to properly staff the Battalion Chief role.