Fire Chief Unveils $200 Million Expansion Plan After Devastating Eaton Fire

Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin unveiled an ambitious 10-year expansion plan that could cost up to $200 million and require voter approval, citing critical staffing shortages exposed during January’s devastating Eaton Fire, according to City Council budget hearings on Monday.

“One of my biggest takeaways from this fire was that we did not have enough chief officers for your city,” Augustin told the City Council during budget hearings. “We called back our entire department. We had so many people doing their best to save lives and property. We’re very fortunate that we did not have any firefighter injuries or fatalities. All of our chiefs were working yet there was just not enough to track where all of our resources were.”

The Eaton Fire destroyed 130 homes in Pasadena and revealed severe gaps in the fire department’s capacity to handle large-scale emergencies, the Council heard.

Climate Change Context

Councilmember Justin Jones emphasized the broader context during the budget hearing: “I think with climate change, California’s dry season has increased by 23 days since the pre-industrial era,” noting such fires are likely to become more frequent.

The Pasadena Fire Department operates with 53 personnel on duty daily across eight fire stations, responding to nearly 21,000 emergency calls annually, Augustin reported. Augustin said the department has 10 sworn vacancies with an expected additional three to five departures by year’s end.

Expansion Timeline

Augustin’s plan includes short-term goals (1-2 years) of adding a second battalion chief, medium-term objectives (2-5 years) of adding a ninth fire engine and seventh rescue ambulance, and long-term plans (5-10 years) for a ninth fire station and third ladder truck, according to his budget presentation.

“I estimate that the cost of this, especially if you put in a training center, would be somewhere between $150 and $200 million,” Augustin told the Council. “I recognize that this plan could be incredibly expensive and we may need to look to the voters for assistance in providing funding.”

Budget Reality

The fire department’s current span of control shows battalion chiefs managing 10 personnel each, double the recommended five-to-one ratio, Augustin explained. For fiscal year 2026, Augustine requested $159,000 for one additional battalion chief, $210,000 for a command vehicle, and $300,000 for personal protective equipment, according to his budget presentation.

City Manager Miguel Márquez acknowledged fiscal constraints during the hearing: “When we look at our sister jurisdictions and the layoffs and the freezes and everything they’re doing, we are blessed relatively speaking, but there was such little availability for growth.”

Voter Approval Path

Several Councilmembers expressed support for voter-approved funding during the meeting. Councilmember Rick Cole observed: “I suspect there is an appetite in the community for investing in our fire service.”

Augustin emphasized Pasadena’s unique challenges during his presentation: “I would challenge anybody to find another city, 140,000 people that has the complexities of Pasadena in this country, yet we staff it with 53 firefighters each day.”

The Council continues budget discussions with final adoption required by July 1, according to the meeting proceedings.