Cal Fire graduates last 2025 class, marking record-setting training year
The Cal Fire graduated its final training class of 2025 on Friday, concluding a record-setting year that saw more than 650 new fire personnel complete training, the agency announced.
Thirty-eight company officers graduated from California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Ione Training Center, where they completed a 10-week program that included over a dozen written and physical exams to prepare for leadership roles within Cal Fire.
Cal Fire Director Joe Tyler administered the oath during a ceremony in Amador County, crediting the milestone to the agency’s training teams.
“This achievement speaks to the dedication of our training staff who maintained exceptionally high standards while sustaining this record-setting pace,” Tyler said in a Cal Fire news release.
The increased graduation numbers follow the opening of Cal Fire’s new Atwater Training Center in Merced County, which began operations in July.
The agency expects all four of its training facilities — in Ione, Atwater, Riverside and Redding — to reach full capacity by 2026.
In a separate statement, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Office said the Atwater facility reflects the state’s broader investments in wildfire prevention. Since 2020, the Newsom administration says it has doubled California’s spending on fire readiness and mitigation.
“We’re building the infrastructure and workforce our communities need to face the climate challenges ahead,” the Governor’s Office said in a statement.
The statement goes on to compare California’s investments to cuts to the U.S. Forest Service: “While Donald Trump undercuts federal readiness for mega-fires that threaten communities across the west, California continues to dominate with key investments in fire readiness and response,” he said.
