The CAL FIRE Redding Training Center has announced the graduation of Company Officer Academy Class 26-02. This marks the second COA graduation for CAL FIRE in 2026 and represents the inaugural ceremony of the year for the Redding Training Center.
The commencement ceremony, hosted at Shasta College, highlights the vital partnership between CAL FIRE and the college. This collaboration ensures that future fire service leaders have access to premier facilities and academic support throughout their professional development.
Over the course of the academy, the Redding Training Center’s cadre of instructors mentored and evaluated these graduates in advanced command tactics, personnel management, and all-risk emergency response.
“Today’s graduates embody the future of fire service leadership in California. Stepping into a company officer role requires not only technical skill, but the judgment, integrity, and confidence to lead others in the most challenging conditions,” said CAL FIRE Director/Fire Chief Joe Tyler.
“Our partnership with Shasta College strengthens that mission—together, we provide an environment where emerging leaders can hone their decision‑making, sharpen their operational readiness, and rise to meet the demands of protecting our communities. Class 26‑02 has demonstrated that commitment, and we are proud to see them step forward in their new leadership roles.”
The COA 26-02 curriculum focused on strategic fireground operations and interagency coordination while emphasizing the professional leadership standards and ethics required for supervisory roles.
Throughout the academy, students prioritized risk management, crew safety, and operational efficiency, often utilizing the unique terrain and environmental challenges of the North State as a training backdrop.
The graduates of Class 26-02 are now prepared to return to their assigned Units across California, bringing with them the specialized leadership skills necessary to lead crews and protect the communities they serve on the front lines.
For more information on CAL FIRE’s training programs and career opportunities, please visit fire.ca.gov.
