Tony Gossner, chief of the Santa Rosa Fire Department, second from left, waits with other fire officials to testify before a joint legislative hearing on last year's devastating wildfires, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018, in Sacramento, Calif. Gossner was among those who told lawmakers that more funding is needed to call in extra firefighters and dispatchers when weather conditions are ripe for a conflagration. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
Sonoma County fire chiefs are set to ask the Board of Supervisors for over 40-million dollars annually for services and staffing. Fire officials will ask supervisors today to approve a plan aimed at hiring an additional 175 firefighters and constructing ten new fire stations. Officials will recommend a half-cent countywide sales tax be voted on next year to fund the plan. All nine cities in Sonoma County would need to approve the tax increase, and if approved by supervisors, the measure could go to voters in March, June or November of next year.