Newsom vetoes firefighter pay raise months after California's most expensive wildfire
California entry-level firefighters earn a starting salary of $54,122
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Less than a year after the most expensive and devastating wildfire in state history, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bipartisan bill that sought to raise salaries for California’s state firefighters.
A spokesperson for Newsom wrote in a statement to Fox News Digital that the "veto is NOT a denial of a pay raise, and we believe the matter of compensation is best handled through the collective bargaining process."
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"California supports and values our firefighting heroes, which is why under Governor Newsom’s leadership funding for Cal FIRE has nearly doubled," the spokesperson added.
Newsom wrote in a letter on Oct. 3 that he vetoed the bill because it would cost the state too much money and interfere with the normal way employee pay is negotiated.
"While I appreciate the author's intent, this bill would create significant cost pressures for the state and circumvent the collective bargaining process," Newsom wrote.
California Governor Gavin Newsom is seen while visiting the community destroyed by the Dixie Fire in Greenville, California Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021. (Stephen Lam/The San Francisco Chronicle/Getty Images / Getty Images)
"Establishing a statutory floor for employees of a single department undermines this process, to the detriment of both the state and other bargaining units," he added.
Assembly Bill 1309 proposed the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, also known as CAL FIRE, maintain firefighter pay within 15% of the average compensation for comparable ranks at 20 designated local fire agencies statewide.
According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, entry-level firefighters earn a starting salary of $54,122. By comparison, the Los Angeles Fire Department lists its starting salary at $85,315.
Firefighters battle flames from the Canyon Fire on Aug. 7, 2025, in Castaic, California. (Eric Thayer/Getty Images / Getty Images)
Assembly Republican Leader Heath Flora, who sponsored the bill, called Newsom's veto disappointing.
"As a former Cal Fire firefighter, this one hits hard. I’ve been in their boots. I know how demanding the job is and what it takes to keep Californians safe during long and brutal fire seasons," Flora wrote in a statement to Fox News Digital.
"I know how demanding the job is and what it takes to keep Californians safe during long and brutal fire seasons. These firefighters deserve pay that reflects the weight of that responsibility. The fight for fair compensation isn’t over, and I look forward to continuing this conversation in the months ahead," Flora added.
The bill notes that, in the past decade, California has faced a series of historic wildfires that have claimed more than 100 lives, caused billions of dollars in damage, wiped out entire communities and placed tremendous strain on already overworked firefighters.
An aerial view of homes which burned in the Eaton Fire on Jan. 21, 2025, in Altadena, California. (Mario Tama/Getty Images / Getty Images)
CAL FIRE employees have some of the most wide-ranging responsibilities of any firefighting force. Their duties extend beyond battling wildfires to include responding to floods, earthquakes and other natural disasters.
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The bill also adds that firefighters work grueling shifts under constant pressure, sometimes remaining on duty for a month straight without a single day off.
The physical dangers are equally severe. Long hours spent at the front lines of massive fires expose firefighters to hazardous conditions and airborne toxins, leading to both immediate injuries and long-term health risks.