San Andreas, CA…On February 15, 2025, at 9:00 AM, the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office will host the second and final offering of the Emergency Livestock Pass mandatory training for 2025. To register for the training, please contact Lieutenant Greg Stark at 209-754-6783 or Sergeant Jason Waite at 209-754-6786.

Beginning in January 2025, the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with CAL-FIRE, Calaveras County Office of Emergency Services, and Calaveras County Agriculture, will hold two classroom-based training sessions for those who may qualify for a pass. This class is for new pass holders only.

During the 2015 Butte Fire, several ranchers and farmers were unable to gain access past road closures to tend to their livestock. As a result of the need for access, the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office collaborated with the Calaveras County Ag Department and other stakeholders to develop and implement an Emergency Ranch Access Pass. The purpose of creating a county-based “Emergency Ranch Access Pass” program was to provide a uniform way for emergency services workers to identify vetted ranch owner-operators and their employees.

Possession of an Emergency Ranch Access Pass during a wildfire or a similar disaster (or “all-hazard” emergency) potentially allows the agriculturalist with 10 or more head of livestock or bee hives with limited emergency access to areas that may otherwise be restricted to the public. The access pass holders are given for the exclusive purpose of protecting or caring for agricultural assets (such as feeding, watering, and transporting livestock) or providing support information to emergency personnel (such as identifying access roads and water points).

Emergency Ranch Access Pass cards are applied for and distributed to eligible agriculturalists prior to a disaster. The application process is designed to confirm that the cardholder is an agricultural owner-operator or employee whose services are essential to providing protection or care for agricultural assets, such as livestock.

Individuals eligible for the Emergency Ranch Access Pass must be key personnel with a working knowledge of the agricultural property, including access to irrigation systems, farm equipment, and other essential infrastructure. Before the pass is provided, they will be provided training in emergency procedures and understand that their role is to provide limited protection and/or care to the agricultural operation, not to fight fire or act as first responders during a disaster.

Possession of an Emergency Ranch Access Pass card does not necessarily mean the cardholder is guaranteed access through road closures. During imminent danger, front-line emergency personnel are empowered to use their discretion when protecting emergency crews and the public from unnecessary exposure to risk. However, when the boundaries of the closure area include agricultural land not deemed at imminent risk, the cards may allow employees or owners access to agricultural property at the discretion of front-line emergency personnel.