To: Board of Supervisors
From: Lewis Broschard, Chief, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
Report Title: Reimbursement Agreement with PG&E for Aerial Firefighting Costs
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Acting as the governing board of the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Fire Chief or designee to execute a reimbursement agreement with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) to reimburse the Fire District for approximately 80% of the costs to contract for aerial firefighting capabilities during an approximately 60-day period commencing on or about September 1, 2024.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This agreement will generate revenues for the CCCFPD General Fund, with Pacific Gas and Electric Company contributing 80% (approximately $1.2 million) of the costs of contracting for aerial firefighting services from a third-party vendor (100% CCCFPD General Fund, Incoming Funds).
BACKGROUND:
Pacific Gas and Electric Company has partnered with local government agencies in multiple areas of its service territory to provide funding for aerial firefighting capabilities. Earlier this year, PG&E approached the Fire District to inquire about our interest in this program. Wildland fires cause significant damage to utility infrastructure, causing major costs to the utility to repair and rebuild it.
We have worked with PG&E to develop a plan to bring aerial firefighting capabilities to the County for our exclusive use during the most critical months of the 2024 fire season.
Locally, PG&E has a similar partnership with Marin County Fire. This arrangement has been successful in Marin, and the District is endeavoring to have a similar arrangement here.
A reimbursement agreement with PG&E will include terms similar to those that PG&E has
negotiated with other agencies, which may include the following:
• Terms requiring aircraft and pilots to meet regulatory requirements.
• Terms regarding the operation, management, maintenance, and operation of the aircraft.
• Reimburse 80% of the Fire District’s costs, which may be expressed as a fixed per-flight-hour amount.
• A requirement that the Fire District indemnify PG&E and its officers, directors, employees, agents, affiliates, representatives, related entities, successors, and assigns (indemnitees) from liabilities that arise from the Fire District's negligence or willful misconduct or the Fire District’s selection or use of any fire-retardant substance.
• Other business terms at the discretion of the Fire Chief to approve under this delegation
of authority.
If the reimbursement agreement requires the District to provide insurance, the District will work with County Risk Management to obtain insurance clearance.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The Fire District would be unable to recover costs incurred for hiring an aviation vendor.