December 2023
The Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is the CAL FIRE program that protects life and property through the development and application of fire prevention, engineering, training and education, and enforcement. The team at OSFM are dedicated professionals committed to serving and safeguarding the people, property, and resources of California.
Welcome to the December edition of the Office of the State Fire Marshal Newsletter. I hope you and your families all have a safe and happy Holiday season. According to the NFPA, Thanksgiving, Christmas day and Christmas eve are the three leading dates for structure fires caused by cooking. Please keep you and your family safe by following these kitchen safety tips that were featured in the last edition of the OSFM newsletter. 
CAL FIRE-Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is one of four state organizations involved in the Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA). CUPA is required to consolidate, coordinate, and make consistent the administrative requirements, permits, fee structures, and inspection and enforcement activities for these six program elements within its jurisdiction. 
CUPA and How OSFM Helps to Keep California Safe from Hazardous Materials

So just what is Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA)? CUPA was established as the unified hazardous materials and hazardous waste regulatory program for the state. The CAL FIRE-OSFM is responsible for ensuring the implementation of the California Fire Code Hazardous Materials Management Plan/Hazardous Materials Inventory Statement (HMMP/HMIS) and the Aboveground Petroleum Storage Act (APSA) program elements. These programs, as well as the other four overseen by other state agencies, help to keep Californians and our environment safe from hazardous materials.
Railroad companies built most of the pipelines next to train tracks prior the purchase of the pipelines by the current operators.
Pipeline Safety and California's Railroads - Did You Know?

Did you know that CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal’s Pipeline Safety Division (PSD) monitors all train derailments and responds to derailments that are within 500 feet of a pipeline? When a train derails, PSD must investigate in case the pipelines were damaged. PSD also ensures that the pipelines are not damaged when the derailed train or rail cars are lifted back on to the tracks. One event in particular lead to this becoming the responsibility of PSD. Learn more by following the link below.
The Pipeline Safety Division of OSFM ensures the safety of intrastate hazardous liquid pipelines in California. Kate Witt is one of OSFM's 30-plus Pipeline Safety Engineers that are conducting inspections on a daily basis across the state.
Employee Spotlight - Kate Witt, Pipeline Safety Engineer, Pipeline Safety Division

This month we join Kate Witt, Safety Engineer, to learn more about the important role that the OSFM Pipeline Safety plays in enforcing regulation pertaining to hazardous liquid pipelines in California. OSFM's Safety Engineers conduct inspections help to keep California's environment and people safe from hazardous liquid spillages. Stay tuned for future editions of the Newsletter to learn more about the men and women of OSFM and the important roles they play in protecting life and property through the development and application of fire prevention, engineering, training and education, and enforcement.
BottleRock Napa is held every year at the Napa Valley Expo, a state-owned fairground, and attracts over 120,000 visitors over the weekend. OSFM Deputy State Fire Marshals help to ensure the safety of attendees and staff by enforcing various fire and building codes on state property at events like BottleRock.
Fire and Life Safety Division – Guiding Safe Practices and Ensuring Public Wellbeing

Heading to a major event in California? The Fire and Life Safety Division within OSFM is responsible for enforcing the various fire and building code requirements on state property, which includes many fairgrounds. OSFM’s Deputy State Fire Marshals ensure the safety of all event attendees by making sure exits and evacuation paths are not blocked, fire equipment including extinguishers are in all required places, special effects and pyrotechnics on stage have the proper clearances from flammable items, as well as making sure dozens of other fire and panic safety codes are followed. 
Office of the State Fire Marshal’s New Website Unveiled

We are proud to announce that CAL FIRE – Office of the State Fire Marshal has a new and improved website design! Intended to provide an enhanced and modern web experience, the website has new and exciting features that increase searching ability site wide.  

If you have pages on our website bookmarked, you may need to replace them with the new website URLs.    
The Wildfire Prevention Grants Program is funded through California Climate Investments, which puts cap-and-trade dollars to work to fund projects in and near fire threatened communities to improve public health and safety while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
$117 million in New CAL FIRE Wildfire Prevention Grant Funding is Now Available

CAL FIRE’s Wildfire Prevention Grants support projects that aim to make our communities safer and healthier. These initiatives cover tasks that include reducing dangerous fuels, creating wildfire protection plans, and educating the public about wildfire safety. Learn more about Wildfire Prevention Grants, including information for potential applicants by following the link below.  
CAL FIRE Investigators respond to fires statewide, move quickly to protect the area of origin, and utilize multiple resources and consultants to help determine the cause of an incident. Their investigation contributes to fire data collected and reported by the Department and assists CAL FIRE's legal teams in deciding the proper course of action to help prevent future incidents from determined causes.
OSFM Arson and Bomb Investigators Continue Valuable Work on I-10 Arson Investigation

CAL FIRE - Office of the State Fire Marshal’s Arson and Bomb Investigators continue to look for clues and suspects in the fire which forced the closing of the I-10 freeway in Los Angeles in early November. 

On Monday November 13th, Gov. Gavin Newsom, alongside State Fire Marshal Daniel Berlant, announced arson as the cause of the fire. While investigators are confident that the fire was not an accident, they are still seeking eyewitness and video evidence of the fire's origin.

Anyone with information is asked to call our anonymous arson hotline at 1-800-468-4408. 
Scan or click the QR code above to upload any pictures, videos, or dashcam footage you may have of the I-10/Alameda fire.
Honoring Former State Fire Marshal and Fire Chief Ronny Coleman

Memorials were held in October for former State Fire Marshal and Fire Chief Ronny Coleman. Chief Coleman was a 50-year veteran of the fire service having served as the fire chief in San Clemente and Fullerton, before being appointed as the California State Fire Marshal in 1992. He led the Office in its merge into the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) in 1995. He gave so much to the fire service in California and leaves an incredible legacy.