By Trevor Warner
The Chico Enterprise-Record
PARADISE, Calif. — As soon as Tuesday, Cal Fire could be the Town of Paradise’s official fire protection agency.
The town has been negotiating a transition to Cal Fire with the Paradise Firefighters Association since June, and the agreement will go before the Town Council at its next regular meeting.
If approved, all 22 firefighters employed by the town will become state employees under the Cal Fire banner on Jan. 1.
The term of the contract is 4 1/2 years.
Town Manager Chuck Rough said fire protection will be improved, and the town will save money.
Currently, there are two fire stations operating in Paradise. A third will be covered once the contract is signed. Calls will go through Cal Fire-Butte County’s dispatch center.
"(The contract) is enhancing coverage and response by virtue of the resources Cal Fire has,” Rough said.
A cap on retiree medical payouts will reduce the town’s unfunded liability by about $8.3 million, bringing the total unfunded liabilities from $29.8 to $21.5 million.
The contract stipulates a one-time payout totaling $144,999 for vacation pay, sick leave, holiday pay and comp time.
The figure represents an amount not eligible for the transfer to Cal Fire.
The contract also requires $11,000 from the town to pay for new Cal Fire uniforms.
Rough said he expects all 22 Paradise firefighters will retain their current rank and pay when hired by Cal Fire.
He said if Cal Fire deems a Paradise firefighter unqualified for a rank-to-rank transfer, the firefighter will keep his same pay and have two years under Cal Fire to qualify for his current rank.
If the firefighter is still not qualified, his pay will be adjusted accordingly.
However, Rough said each Paradise firefighter is well trained and should have no problem qualifying for a rank-to-rank transfer.
Rough said once the transition is complete, 16 of the firefighters will be assigned back to Paradise and the remaining will have assignments throughout Butte County. Additional Cal Fire firefighters will rotate in and out of Paradise to familiarize them with the town, Rough said.
Once under the Cal Fire umbrella, firefighters can request to be transferred to anywhere in the state.
Rough said some Paradise firefighters might choose not to transfer into Cal Fire. That means they will no longer be employed as a firefighter once the Paradise Fire Department is dissolved and folded into Cal Fire.
But Rough said he has no indication anyone will decline the transfer.
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