Use these resources to engage, respond, and make your voice heard.

Local fire district funding in California is at an unstainable level, with projections stating that fires, and their aftermath, will only grow with each year. We've already witnessed the Southern California fires, and the destruction that can occur when wildfires reach more heavily populated areas. California's esteemed mutual aid system cannot keep pace with our current funding shortfall, and we must act now. Legislators need to know what funding means for local fire protection, and especially what additional funds can do to protect their communities. 

We need your support. Securing funding, especially in the current economic situation in California, is a battle. Legislators, even if we wish they could be, are not omnipotent, and need our help to educate them on what local fire protection does, and how much better we can protect our communities with an appropriate level of funding. This isn't just a one-time request from us, we are asking the state to find a new, long-term solution to our funding crisis. The state listens to its people, to our members who serve every day in their communities, which is why we need your help, to get in contact, educate, and connect with your local legislators. 

FDAC has put together two resources to help our members reach out to their legislators, better understand our ask, and to advocate for local fire protection.  

FDAC Fighting Fire with Funding Advocacy Toolkit

1. Advocacy 101: A Grassroots Guide for Fire Agencies: An introductory guide to grassroots
   advocacy, outlining key principles, effective communication strategies, and ethical considerations
2. Legislative Engagement Best Practices: Amplifying Your Voice for Fire Service Funding: Offers tips
   for effective communication with elected officials, including understanding their priorities and
   tailoring messages accordingly.
3. Fact Sheet: A concise, one-page document summarizing the critical issues, impacts, and call to
   action regarding fire service funding.
4. “What if”: Highlights the critical funding crisis facing and uses hypothetical “what if” scenarios to
   demonstrate the tangible negative impacts on public safety, emergency response times, and the
   statewide mutual aid system if local fire departments lack sufficient resources.
5. Talking Points: Key messages and data points to use when discussing the issue with external
   audiences.
6. Phone Scripts and Email Examples: Ready-to-use templates for contacting the Governor’s office
   and other elected officials, designed for various perspectives (Fire Chief, Community Member,
   etc.).
7. Op-Eds and Letter to the Editor Examples: Sample articles for publication in local newspapers,
   crafted to generate public awareness and support.
8.  Social Media Post Examples: Pre-written posts to share on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and
   Instagram to engage online audiences.
9.  Newsletter Examples: Sample articles for inclusion in your district or community organization
   newsletters, informing and mobilizing your local networks.

Click here to contact your state officials about funding right now!