TO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Robert Sapien, Jr.
SUBJECT: See Below DATE: October 5, 2026
Approved Date:
10/13/26
COUNCIL DISTRICT: Citywide
SUBJECT: Agreement with the State of California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services for Fire Apparatus and Equipment
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager, or her designee, to negotiate and execute an agreement with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to allow the San José Fire Department to accept possession of three additional fire apparatus and equipment with a total approximate value of $1,062,000 for an estimated term of 10 years.
SUMMARY AND OUTCOME
This action shall allow the City Manager, or her designee, to negotiate and execute an agreement with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to allow the San José Fire Department (Department) to accept three Type 1 Fire Engines from Cal OES. These Fire Engines shall be housed inside active City of San José fire stations. These Cal OES apparatus would be the first resources to deploy on mutual aid assignments throughout the state in place of frontline City-owned Type 1 Fire Engines.
BACKGROUND
The Department participates in the California Fire Service and Rescue Emergency Mutual Aid System. This system allows for the coordinated request of mutual aid resources by the Cal OES to respond to large-scale events such as the recent events that unfolded at the Palisades and Eaton incidents in January of this year. Department personnel respond to these types of mutual aid requests in frontline apparatus as part of strike teams or task forces to provide emergency response and can be deployed for up to 14 days at a time.
COUNCIL AGENDA: 10/27/26
FILE: 26-1106
ITEM: 2.10
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
October 5, 2026
Subject: Agreement with the State of California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services for Fire Apparatus and Equipment
In recent years, the State of California has experienced devastating fire seasons that required significant participation from local agencies to support fire suppression and recovery efforts. The Department has supported this effort by deploying mutual aid resources in balance with providing adequate local coverage within the City of San José.
Apparatus constraints have become an increasingly limiting factor in the Department’s ability to participate in mutual aid responses. Supply chain challenges, increasing demand, and limited qualified tradespeople have resulted in significantly increased manufacturing and delivery timelines for fire apparatus. The Department continues to work in cooperation with the Public Works Department and the City Manager’s Budget Office to procure replacement apparatus in a timely manner.
On June 3, 2025, the City Council adopted a resolution1 authorizing negotiation and execution of an agreement for the Department to accept the possession of a Cal OES fire apparatus and equipment with a total approximate value of $417,599 for an estimated term of 10 years. The single Type 1 Fire Engine received was placed into service in August 2025 at Fire Station 1 and has since been deployed to several mutual aid events. If the proposed recommendation is accepted, the Department would possess a total of four Cal OES Type 1 Engines.
ANALYSIS
Cal OES manages a fleet of state-owned fire apparatus that can be assigned to local fire agencies throughout the state under a written agreement. The local fire agencies can use these assigned apparatus to respond to multiple-alarm fires within their own jurisdiction, conduct training evolutions, and most importantly, respond to any mutual aid event when requested through Cal OES activation orders.
Cal OES apparatus come with a standard inventory of emergency response equipment.
The agreement stipulates that the assignee (City of San José) properly maintains and inspects the apparatus. Any repairs over $100 that are not attributed to neglect or misuse are the responsibility of Cal OES. The agreement also stipulates that the City furnish a written statement verifying self-insured status while agreeing to hold Cal OES harmless from any personal injury or property damage claims arising out of maintenance, use, or operation of the apparatus under the terms of the agreement. The agreement requires the City to hold the Cal OES harmless from any personal injury or 1 https://sanjose.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=14230001&GUID=5146C271-14AC-42E4-B5F1- C1997EC69160
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
October 5, 2026
Subject: Agreement with the State of California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services for Fire Apparatus and Equipment
property damage claims arising out of its maintenance, use, or operation of the Apparatus under the terms of the agreement.
The Department is recommending acceptance of three additional Type 1 Fire Engines from Cal OES at a value of $309,000 to $340,000, with $31,000 to $42,000 of hose and appliances included for each apparatus. The Engines will be housed inside active City of San José fire stations. These apparatuses will be the first resources to deploy on mutual aid assignments throughout the state in place of a frontline City-owned Type 1 Fire Engine. This reduces the impact of deploying City-owned fire engines, which allows for the Department to better serve the community. It also provides an additional resource locally, which can be used in greater alarm fires or for pre-positioning of additional augmented staffed units during local Red Flag Warning2 weather events or pre-planned large-scale events (i.e., Super Bowl, NCAA Division I Basketball Championship, etc.). The City will be responsible for any repair or replacement costs associated with damage or loss incurred during operations under the direction of the City.
Cal OES or the City can terminate this agreement upon 14 days written notice to either party, in which case, the City would release the apparatus back to Cal OES in the same condition it was received.
EVALUATION AND FOLLOW-UP
No additional follow-up action with the City Council is expected at this time.
COORDINATION
This memorandum has been coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office, City Manager’s Budget Office, Finance Department, and Public Works Department.
PUBLIC OUTREACH
This memorandum will be posted on the City Council Agenda website for the October 27, 2026 City Council meeting.
BOARD, COMMISSION, COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION AND INPUT
2 A Red Flag Warning means warm temperatures, very low humidities, and stronger winds are expected to combine to produce an increased risk of fire danger.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
October 5, 2026
Subject: Agreement with the State of California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services for Fire Apparatus and Equipment
No commission recommendation or input is associated with this action.
CEQA
Not a Project, File No. PP17-003, Agreements/Contracts (New or Amended) resulting in no physical changes to the environment
PUBLIC SUBSIDY REPORTING
This item does not include a public subsidy as defined in section 53083 or 53083.1 of the California Government Code or the City’s Open Government Resolution.
Robert Sapien, Jr.
Fire Chief, Fire Department
For questions, please contact Patrick Chung, Deputy Fire Chief, Fire Department at [email protected] or (408) 794-6951.