On behalf of CAL FIRE, State Fire Training, and Chief Daniel Berlant, State Fire Marshal, we congratulate Chief Michael Marcucci on receiving his SFT Fire Chief Certification. As the Unit Chief and Fire Chief in Sonoma Lake Napa, and throughout his past 30+ years in the fire service, he has demonstrated and maintained the highest standards of professional performance in management, leadership, and technical knowledge. Chief Marcucci is the 42nd SFT California Certified Fire Chief. Congratulations, Chief Marcucci!

The following courses retire from the State Fire Training (SFT) catalog on December 31, 2024:

• River and Flood Rescue Technician (2017)
• River and Flood Rescue Boat Tech (2017)
• Personal Watercraft Rescue Operations (1996)

The following courses retire from the SFT catalog on February 1, 2025:

• Fire Investigator (2017) curriculum

As a reminder, Candidates actively pursuing instructor registration for any of the retiring courses listed above must submit all documentation postmarked on or before the deadline listed in their respective implementation plan(s) - The following courses replace the retiring curriculum:

• Water Rescue (2021) Implementation Plan (PDF)
• Watercraft Rescue Technician (2021) Implementation Plan (PDF)
• Fire Investigator (2022) Implementation Plan (PDF)

Reminder – In Process Rope Rescue (2017) Instructor Candidates

Candidates actively pursuing instructor registration for Rope Rescue Technician (2017) or Rope Rescue Awareness/Operations (2017) must submit all documentation postmarked on or before December 31, 2024. No exceptions or extensions will be granted.

Several National Fire Academy (NFA) courses listed in the Table 9.1.2: SFT Approved 

Courses, from the SFT Procedures Manual (May 2020), Chapter 9, have either changed 

course names/codes, become obsolete, or retired since the last publication of the SFT 

Procedures Manual.

SFT has updated Table 9.1.2. Review the Staff Report for more details.

CAL FIRE – Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) continues to early adopt national building and fire code requirements that allow for the use/storage of Lithium-ion batteries and energy storage systems. The OSFM is part of a national working group that is looking to identity gaps in codes, training, and education. Based on their findings the OSFM will bring recommendations to the State Board of Fire Services in 2025 and continue the discussions around incorporating ESS codes and standards, enhancing fire service education, and providing more public education resources. For more information on ESS, visit our Code Development and Analysis Division webpage here.