CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal

Today our Pipeline Safety Division hosted its annual Pipeline Safety Seminar bringing together dedicated public safety professionals, industry representatives, and government partners. CAL FIRE Chief Tyler kicked off the event discussing the critical role our Pipeline Safety Division plays within the CAL FIRE mission. State Fire Marshal Daniel Berlant highlighted the critical effort to keep Californians safe through pipeline safety. He also recognized the retirement of Chief Jim Hosler after leading the program for the past 8-years. Chief Tuan Tran was introduced as the new Assistant Deputy Director of Pipeline Safety.

Pipeline safety is a shared responsibility that depends on strong collaboration, proactive risk management, and a commitment to protecting our communities, environment, and critical infrastructure. Thank you to everyone who participated in today’s discussions and shared their expertise.

Together, we continue working to strengthen safety, resilience, and public trust across California.

Learn more about our Pipeline Safety Division: https://osfm.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/pipeline-safety-and-cupa

CAL FIRE National Association of State Fire Marshals

The Woodlands community in Simi Valley was significantly tested by the recent Sandy Fire — a real world demonstration of defensible space in action.

Thanks to coordinated multi agency firefighting efforts and the community’s long standing commitment to Firewise principles, nearly every structure was saved with one home destroyed and two damaged out of the over 290 homes in the neighborhood.

🚒 What Happened
• Monday: Fire threatened the southern edge of the neighborhood.
• Tuesday: A second, more intense fire front pushed in when winds shifted.
• Firefighters from several agencies performed structure defense, applied retardant, and executed helicopter water drops as flames advanced within feet of multiple homes.

Their work—supported by effective defensible space, home hardening measures, and ember resistant vents—played a critical role in protecting the neighborhood.

Learn how you can prepare for wildfire at https://www.readyforwildfire.org/.

CAL FIRE

Celebrating Excellence at CAL FIRE!

This week, we proudly hosted a promotional and badge pinning ceremony to honor our incredible CAL FIRE – Office of the State Fire Marshal and Communications Office team members!

State Fire Marshal Daniel Berlant led the swearing-in, joined by CAL FIRE leadership, co-workers, and the families and friends who make these moments so special.

Please join us in congratulating these outstanding individuals for their promotions, new roles, and career milestones:

Code Development & Analysis
• Chrishana Fields, Deputy State Fire Marshal III (Specialist)
• Richard Hoover, Analyst II
• Becca Mansergh, Analyst I

Community Wildfire Preparedness & Mitigation
• Mike Wink, Staff Chief
• Travis Bott, Research Data Specialist II
• Kevin Harcus, Research Data Analyst I

Fire & Life Safety
• Joseph Gibson, Division Chief
• Ryan Beihl, Supervising Deputy State Fire Marshal III
• Erik Madison, Deputy State Fire Marshal III (Specialist)
• Luke Gamboa, Analyst II

Fire Engineering & Investigations
• Leandra Gossett, Arson & Bomb Investigator

Pipeline Safety & CUPA
• Eric Bedolla, Office Technician

Support Services
• Shanferd Robino, Analyst I

Communications Office
• Robert Foxworthy, Battalion Chief
• Matt Woods, Special Projects Producer
• Danielle Varner, Graphic Designer II

25-Year Recognition
• Mike Wink, Staff Chief

Retirement
• Chief Jim Hosler, Assistant Deputy Director

Congratulations to all! Your dedication and service make California safer every day.

View all images from the celebration here:
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCV3Kx

Ignite your passion with a career at CAL FIRE. Apply today at www.JoinCALFIRE.com.

🎙️ New Episode Alert!

CAL FIRE Presents: Inside the State Fire Marshal’s Office
Wildfire Preparedness Starts at Home: The Science Behind Wildfire Resilient Homes & Communities

Featuring:
• Frank Bigelow, CAL FIRE Deputy Director of Community Wildfire Preparedness and Mitigation
• Steve Hawks, Senior Director for Wildfire, Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety - IBHS

California’s peak wildfire season is on the way, and preparation truly begins at home. In this episode, experts Frank Bigelow and Steve Hawks break down what every Californian can do right now to reduce wildfire risk.

From creating defensible space to understanding how embers ignite structures, this conversation offers practical, science-backed steps that help protect your home and strengthen community resilience.

If you want clear guidance on home hardening, the importance of the first five feet, and how small actions make a big difference, do not miss this episode.

👉 Watch or listen now, and subscribe so you never miss an episode:

Youtube: https://youtu.be/HBBAbRB86Ls
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3rJbcB6KlApN71rlhCMdJh?si=Y6y80TU0RMWFcmfLlY3ZAw

Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety - IBHS

Wildfire Preparedness Starts at Home - The Science Behind Wildfire Resilient Homes & Communities Featuring Frank Bigelow, CAL FIRE Deputy Director of Community Wild...

As we close out the International Code Council’s Building Safety Month, CAL FIRE – Office of the State Fire Marshal is highlighting Week 4: Creating Accessible and Inclusive Communities. For OSFM, building safety is not just about fire and life safety standards, it is also about ensuring that every person can safely enter, use, and move through the buildings and environments we regulate.

Accessibility is a key part of this work. By enforcing state building and fire codes, reviewing plans, developing regulations, and supporting local jurisdictions, OSFM helps remove physical, sensory, and cognitive barriers before they become obstacles in the real world. When buildings and public spaces are designed with accessibility in mind, communities become safer, more resilient, and better connected.

Examples include accessible pathways and entrances, properly identified and illuminated exit routes, clear and visible signage, and public facilities designed to be usable by all. These features are essential not only for daily use but also during emergencies, where clear access and egress can save lives.

International Code Council

⚠️ DO NOT PLACE LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES IN TRASH OR RECYCLING.

Across California, improper disposal of lithium-ion batteries is causing preventable fires. These batteries are in everyday rechargeable devices—phones, laptops, power tools, e-bikes—and when they’re crushed, damaged, or thrown away incorrectly, they can spark a fire.

A recent garbage truck fire in Roseville started when a lithium-ion battery was compacted during collection. Incidents like this are a reminder: batteries do NOT belong in curbside bins.

➡️ Protect your home, workers, and community:

🔹 Never put lithium-ion batteries in the trash or recycling cart
🔹 Tape battery terminals before transporting for disposal
🔹 Store damaged or swollen batteries away from anything flammable
🔹 Bring batteries to an approved recycling or household hazardous waste site

Rechargeable technology is now standard in everyday life. As these devices become routine, so does the need to handle and dispose of lithium-ion batteries safely. Safe disposal is simple, and it prevents dangerous fires before they start.

Read the full story: https://fox40.com/news/local-news/roseville/garbage-truck-fire-in-roseville-sparks-warning-about-lithium-ion-battery-disposal/

Learn about proper lithium-ion battery disposal at: https://www2.calrecycle.ca.gov/Electronics/eRecycle/

Garbage truck fire in Roseville sparks warning about lithium-ion battery disposal (FOX40.COM) — Roseville officials are warning residents about the dangers of improperly discarded lithium-ion batteries after a recent fire erupted inside a garbage truck when a battery was crushed…

🌲 Don’t give fire a ladder.

Untrimmed tree limbs are one of the most overlooked hazards on your property. They can create a direct path for fire to climb from the ground straight into the canopy.

Here’s what to do now:
✅ Limb trees up to create space between the ground and canopy
✅ Clear debris and vegetation beneath your trees
✅ Keep branches away from your roof and chimney
Get the checklist at 👉 ReadyForWildfire.org

🌲 Don’t give fire a ladder.

Untrimmed tree limbs are one of the most overlooked hazards on your property. They can create a direct path for fire to climb from the ground straight into the canopy.

Here’s what to do now:

✅ Limb trees up to create space between the ground and canopy

✅ Clear debris and vegetation beneath your trees

✅ Keep branches away from your roof and chimney

Get the checklist at 👉 ReadyForWildfire.org

1,500 and counting. 🏠🔥

California just hit a major milestone in community wildfire preparedness—and the 1,500th Firewise USA® site is Woodfords Firewise in Alpine County.
Tucked along the Highway 88/89 corridor, Woodfords is a small mountain community of about 150 residents living in a high-fire hazard area. They’re not waiting for fire—they’re preparing for it.
Through the National Fire Protection Association Firewise USA® program, neighbors are taking action together: clearing hazardous vegetation, strengthening defensible space, and building a plan before it’s needed. 💪🏽🌲

It’s part of a broader push across Alpine County, where local partners are working to improve forest health and reduce wildfire risk at the community level.

Bottom line: preparedness works better when neighbors work together.

🚨 Registration & Vendor Booths NOW OPEN! 🚨

Join us in Garden Grove, CA • August 17–20, 2026 for:

🔥 NASFM Fire Prevention & Safety Symposium
🔥 CO Safety Summit
🔥 Wildland Urban Interface Symposium
🔥 BESS Safety Symposium

One conference. Four major events. Fire service, safety leaders, industry experts, and vendors from across the country all in one place.

✅ Register now
✅ Vendor spaces available
⚠️ Space & hotel rooms are limited

🔗 firemarshals.org/page-18279
🔗 NCOAA.US/summit

As Building Safety Month continues, CAL FIRE – Office of the State Fire Marshal is highlighting Week 3: Preparing a Resilient Community. Resilient buildings and practical disaster plans make all the difference when emergencies strike.

From earthquakes and floods to wildfires and severe storms, strong building codes, smart design, and community preparedness work together to protect people and property.

Being ready before an emergency occurs is one of the most effective ways to stay safe.

Here are a few steps every household can take:
• Assemble an emergency kit with essential supplies, stored in a sturdy, closed container kept outside your home for easy access. Refresh food and water at least twice a year.
• Establish a “safety destination” such as a friend’s or relative’s home located away from hazards. Plan multiple routes to get there and practice your evacuation plan.
• Prepare your home long before disaster season. This “mitigation” work—strengthening structures, clearing defensible space, and securing your property—helps reduce damage and supports faster recovery.
• Know how to turn off utilities. Each member of the household should understand when and how to safely shut off gas, water, and electricity before evacuating.

CAL FIRE – OSFM works closely with local fire departments and building officials to ensure structures across California meet fire and life safety standards—supporting stronger, more resilient communities statewide.

Learn more about Building Safety Month at www.iccsafe.org/advocacy/building-safety-month.

International Code Council