ATWATER – Governor Gavin Newsom 0n Oct 25 announced the first graduating class of Company Officers at CAL FIRE’s new Atwater Training Center, marking a major step forward in the state’s continued investment in firefighter training and wildfire preparedness.

Thirty-eight firefighters graduated from the rigorous Company Officer Academy, earning promotion to Company Officer – CAL FIRE’s frontline leaders in emergency response and crew development. The event marks the first commencement held at the department’s newest training facility, located at the former Castle Air Force Base in Merced County.

With this graduating class, CAL FIRE has trained more than 500 new Company Officers in 2025 and is on track to surpass a record 650 by year’s end – further strengthening the department’s leadership ranks and sharpening the frontline capacity of the state’s firefighting system.

The Atwater Training Center opened in July 2025 to meet increasing training demands driven by the growth of CAL FIRE’s permanent and seasonal workforce. The facility joins three other CAL FIRE academies in Ione, Redding, and Riverside, expanding capacity to run concurrent Fire Control Academies and specialized leadership, aviation, and equipment operations programs.

(Photo source: California Governor's Newsroom)