The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection protects the people of California from fires, responds to emergencies as part of the California Emergency Plan, and protects and enhances forest, range, and watershed values. The Department provides fire protection services for some local governments on a cost reimbursement basis and protects lives and property through the development and application of fire prevention engineering, enforcement and education. The Department's objectives are to protect lives, property, and natural resources; contain costs and losses due to wildfire through improved prevention of damaging fires and initial attack fire suppression; streamline operational and regulatory functions regarding forest practices and vegetation management practices on wildlands; and optimize services provided through partnerships and cooperative agreements with all levels of government and private sector.

Since department programs drive the need for infrastructure investment, each department has a related capital outlay program to support this need. For the specifics on the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection's Capital Outlay Program, see "Infrastructure Overview."