CAL FIRE graduated 39 new company officers on September 11, Governor Gavin Newsom announced, marking the department's 12th leadership academy of 2026. The ceremony carried symbolic weight on the 25th anniversary of September 11.
The new Company Officers completed intensive training in tactical command, personnel management, and all-risk emergency operations before returning to units across California, the state said. They join more than 3,600 CAL FIRE emergency response leaders trained since 2019.
"On September 11, we remember the extraordinary courage, sacrifice, and service of the first responders who ran toward danger to protect others. Today's graduates carry that legacy forward. As CAL FIRE's newest Company Officers, they are prepared to lead with the judgment, strength, and commitment Californians depend on when emergencies happen," Newsom said.
CAL FIRE has significantly expanded its workforce in recent years. Since 2019, the department has grown from 5,829 to 11,436 positions, an expansion averaging 1,800 full-time and 600 seasonal positions annually, according to the state. The state expects to welcome more than 500 new Company Officers into leadership roles before the end of 2026.