Jake Sjolund
Deputy Director, Fire Protection Programs
Chief Sjolund began his fire service career in 1992 as a volunteer firefighter with Garcia Fire and Rescue, a small department on the Mendocino County coast. In 1997, he started his CAL FIRE career as a Fire Fighter 1 stationed at Columbia Hill in the Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit (NEU). In 1998, he transferred to the Butte Unit (BTU) where he worked as a Schedule A Fire Fighter 1 at the Richvale Station until 2000 when he accepted a Fire Fighter II position within the Higgins Fire Protection District in NEU. In 2000, he promoted to a Limited Term Fire Apparatus Engineer (FAE), remaining at Higgins Corner Station where he established a Fire Explorer Program for the District. In 2001, he became a permanent FAE, working in NEU at the Schedule A Lincoln Station prior to being re-assigned to Auburn Headquarters where he was assigned as the Safety Officer for the battalion, Unit Fit-test Coordinator and Unit Fire Fighter I Hiring Coordinator. In 2005, he was assigned as a TAU Fire Captain at Washington Ridge Camp until a Limited Term Fire Captain assignment in 2006 took him to the Tehama Glenn Unit (TGU) at Elk Creek Station. He returned to BTU as a permanent Fire Captain in 2007 where he worked at Jarbo Gap Station, represented CAL FIRE on the Yankee Hill Fire Safe Council, instructed at Butte College, performed on the Butte Interagency Rescue Group and Unit Technical Rescue Team, and instructed Fire Control 3, RIC and Chainsaw courses.
Chief Sjolund promoted to a Battalion Chief in 2012, overseeing the NEU Training and Safety Bureau until 2014 when he was assigned to the Grass Valley Air Attack Base and performed as the primary Air Tactical Group Supervisor (ATGS) for six years. During this time, he became a qualified Operations Section Chief, Helicopter Coordinator, Air Tactical Supervisor (ASM), ATGS Field Training Officer, Final Evaluator for ATGS qualification, and instructed at the National Aerial Firefighting Academy in Arizona.
Chief Sjolund became an Assistant Chief within Tactical Air Operations (TAO) in November 2019 where he developed and implemented the Department’s Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Program. From 2021 to 2022, he served as the TAO Deputy Chief before promoting to the TAO Staff Chief in 2022. During this time, he chaired the S70i Implementation Working Group and lead the S70i Transition Team, concepted the CAL FIRE Aviation Training Center, and liaised coordination with all Active, Reserve and National Guard military branches. Since October 2023, he has served as the Assistant Deputy Director, Fire Protection Operations - Aviation and Mobile Equipment Programs.
He served on Incident Command Team 4 in the Logistics and Plans sections from 2004 to 2011, the Honor Guard from 2000 to 2005, and participated in OSHTAC, FIRESCOPE, 8100 Working Group, Fire Intelligence development, California Wildland Fire Coordinating Group, and the National Interagency Aviation Committee among other various state and federal committees and working groups. He has an Associate of Science Degree in Fire Science from Butte College. Most importantly, Chief Sjolund is supported by his wife of 15 years, Tena, and his children, Tanner and Payton.
Chief Sjolund promoted to a Battalion Chief in 2012, overseeing the NEU Training and Safety Bureau until 2014 when he was assigned to the Grass Valley Air Attack Base and performed as the primary Air Tactical Group Supervisor (ATGS) for six years. During this time, he became a qualified Operations Section Chief, Helicopter Coordinator, Air Tactical Supervisor (ASM), ATGS Field Training Officer, Final Evaluator for ATGS qualification, and instructed at the National Aerial Firefighting Academy in Arizona.
Chief Sjolund became an Assistant Chief within Tactical Air Operations (TAO) in November 2019 where he developed and implemented the Department’s Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Program. From 2021 to 2022, he served as the TAO Deputy Chief before promoting to the TAO Staff Chief in 2022. During this time, he chaired the S70i Implementation Working Group and lead the S70i Transition Team, concepted the CAL FIRE Aviation Training Center, and liaised coordination with all Active, Reserve and National Guard military branches. Since October 2023, he has served as the Assistant Deputy Director, Fire Protection Operations - Aviation and Mobile Equipment Programs.
He served on Incident Command Team 4 in the Logistics and Plans sections from 2004 to 2011, the Honor Guard from 2000 to 2005, and participated in OSHTAC, FIRESCOPE, 8100 Working Group, Fire Intelligence development, California Wildland Fire Coordinating Group, and the National Interagency Aviation Committee among other various state and federal committees and working groups. He has an Associate of Science Degree in Fire Science from Butte College. Most importantly, Chief Sjolund is supported by his wife of 15 years, Tena, and his children, Tanner and Payton.