CalFire bills for fire prevention

California homeowners will soon receive bills in the mail for fire protection. Beginning next week, bills for as much as $150 will be sent; most homeowners’ bills will run $115, with a $35 discount for people who live in fire protection districts and already pay for fire services.

The annual fee is controversial; it was signed into law last year to provide funding for CalFire and has been heavily criticized by rural residents who view it as “double taxation.” Taxpayer advocate groups, according to the Union Democrat, argue that the fee is a tax and should have required a two-thirds vote by the Legislature instead of just a simple majority vote.

Houses and other structures in the 31-million-acre State Responsibility Area (SRA) will be billed at the $150 rate. Daniel Berlant with CalFire told KPBS news that the number of structures in the SRA has grown by about 16 percent in the last decade. “That’s where the residential area starts meeting up into the forest,” said Berlant. “It’s that middle section that we call the wildland-urban interface where we see the most fires that cause impact and damage throughout California,so the rural residents that the state is responsible for protecting are the ones that will be assessed the fee.”

CalFire home safety site

The annual fee is $150 for the first structure and $25 for each additional structure on the property. The Rancho Santa Fe Review reported that the funds pay for prevention activities on SRA lands.

CalFire has a parcel viewer online to view mapped SRA lands.

Property owners who disagree with the fire fee assessed on their properties can petition for a redetermination of the fee calculation. The petition must be based on whether the fee applies to the property for which the petition is filed, and must detail the grounds for redetermination of the fee. Grounds could include proof of whether the structure is actually located in the SRA or the number of habitable structures or pre-existing local fire protection services. The firepreventionfee.org website has more details.

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17 thoughts on “CalFire bills for fire prevention”

  1. Please understand that I am thankful for CDF and its services. Having said that, are you kidding me? What has paid CDF before these fees? Taxes right. So if you ask me this is a back door way of raising revenue. Thats why it is called a fee, as no voter approval is needed. If we call it a tax which is what it is, then we need to vote one it. And why have you including Capay as if it was surrounded by weeds and may burn down any minute. My Mother has been her over 85years without a fire. And yes for homes up the valley they might burn, but most home owners have their places all ready cleaned so the chance of fire to burn out of control, and on top of that a few homes to burn down heck you have better odds at the casino. Yes there was a fire at the casino two years ago but it was started by gamblers that were unhappy of losing their money from what I have heard. And yes the amount of equipment was mind blowing. But the casino did not burn down and people just kept gambling. And why $150.00 who came up with that figure? This is off the hook for people like my fixed income, 85 year old mother who can not afford this. Taxes are suppose to pay for such services correct or am I missing something here? The increase of all fees from the county has been shocking, gas prices on the rise, which affects everybody and every price. We the people, not we the party need to say enough already. I have yet figured out why everybody HAS to pay for garbage service when it was so much better to just take a car load to the local landfill and pay 5 maybe 10 dollars. Now we have a garbage service using toters that are always tip over and trash being blown around by the winds and if you are one of the lucky ones that does keep your toter standing upright, and lid shut. Mr driver may not line his truck up just right and either knock over the toter yes, back to having trash blowing around, stopping traffic, causing a hazard with the traffic that is in a hurry to get to the casino. And that service has continued to climb in price as well. And if you don’t want the service, well to bad. Its mandated. Much like the state budget. Seems to me the ones we vote into office have lost their minds over the bit of power we have trusted them with. Well I guess I got off on a rant here, so Merry Christmas. That is if we do survive the deadline of 12/21/2012. I wonder who keeps coming up with this crap. Whats next? Thats what is funny and a bit scary too. TTFN

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  2. I to am victim of this tax, however I do not have a “habitable structure” as defined by there own brochure which was included in my initial bill for my parcel in Shasta County as of yet. I’m in the Petition for Redetermination process right now though AND I have found something very interesting for ALL victims of this tax. The enforcement period states 07/01/2011-06/30/2012, however the bill was not signed into law until 07/07/2011, making it un-enforceable as prescribed within the stated period. The period would have to be a date on or later than the signing of the law to be valid.

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  3. I know how everyone feels!!!! I am sick and tired of my home being assessed to pay for the public school system!!!! I Don’t have children, and never have!!! How dare they require me to pay for something that I GET NO BENEFIT FROM!!!!

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  4. I’m pretty disgusted with paying two assesments on my property. especially since we had no knowledge that they were sneaking this bill in without any opportunity to protest in advance.

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    1. Jim – like you, I too am “pretty disgusted”, but my disgust is aimed in different directions: I’m disgusted with homeowners who build in obvious fire-prone WUI areas and then expect me and my fellow wildland firefighters to protect them and their structures when the inevitable wildfire occurs; I’m disgusted with the politicians and the local and State levels that authorize building construction in those areas, knowing the risks but are only focused on the almighty tax $$ that will roll in; I’m also disgusted with the Insurance Companies that continue to insure those “at risk” houses, sharing the cost risk with those of us who do not live in the WUI; and I’m disgusted with the Public perception that spending our critical resources to protect houses in the “Stupid Zone” is a higher priority than stopping fires on our National Forests and other Public Lands Do I sound angry: you bet I am! It’s been just a month since we had the 6th anniversary of the “Esperanza Fire” fatalities; don’t know about it? Look it up and see why many of us in the wildland fire field do NOT “feel your pain” (or disgust).

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  5. We live in Plumas County near the site of the Chips Fire, a debacle of 4-5 weeks duration…When I tried to get info on the fire from the CalFire website, I was informed that this was not a CalFire incident and was redirected to another website. We not only pay State taxes to support CalFire but also pay a tax to the Lake Almanor Country Club Fire District which is charged with inspecting our properties and issuing citations for those properties not having a defensible space around their homes. Now Cal Fire wants money from me to do the same thing? NO sir! I won’t pay LACC dues, tax for Cal Fire and District taxes to our local Fire department and now an additional assessment to CalFire! Who do you guys think you are?

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  6. What are the ‘yellow areas’ on the online parcel viewing map its not easy to ID. We live in Gale Ranch community & the oldest houses are 4 or 5 years old. My condo is 1year & 10 mos. Old, all equipped with sprinkler system through out every home. My neighbors didnt get the bill but I did & we are 3 units condo building…can you explain to me … How is this possible?

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  7. What a scam! Cal Fire is sustained by our tax money and now they are in our home budgets. Well, when will Cal Fire get a pay raise from all these newly created funds what about cuts the deficit? Considering Cal Fire does not get furloughed as other state workers. Total scam, we are covered and have always been protected by our Crescent City Volunteer Fire Department, we do not need you Cal Fire in our home budgets double dipping. Question: Will the STATE OF CALIFORNIA now pull state funding for Cal fire…well obviously they should?

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    1. Steve, Imagine what a person in a high rise apartment in SF or LA feels about their tax dollars going to people that live in the weeds and brush. And to answer your last question….Let’s say they did get unfunded…. How would that work out for you? People that live in flood plains pay flood insurance. People that drive very fast “red” cars pay more in car insurance. Why? because people that live in flood plains get flooded more…. And on average people that drive fast cars (and apparently “red” fast cars) get in more accidents. And you know what, Steve??? My insurance is higher, because car makers keep painting cars red….. So why would you expect me to pay more taxes, living in a city, to cover your protection?

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  8. Please take the time to voice your disapproval! File for that redetermination. It’s the politicans and the governer trying to get money into the California bank account. If this was a benefit for us I would say yes.

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  9. It’s too bad that residents of Plumas County will be charged a $150 fee with no Cal Fire presence whatsoever. What exactly are we paying for?

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      1. Graeagle…Cal Fire has almost no physical presence in regards to staffed stations in Plumas County. There is no presence as there is on many other counties in the state..Lake, Sonoma, Mendocino, etc. We have lots of SRA…but…

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  10. Hi Kelly,
    Thank you for sharing such an easy to understand infographic. I don’t think people understand the role they can play in not only protecting their families but their homes. We (USFS and ADC) feel strongly that people can protect themselves if they have the knowledge. Check out our infographic too on this topic if you get a chance. http://fireadapted.adcouncil.org/spread-the-word/

    Thanks again!

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