California Code, Health and Safety Code - HSC § 12003

“Chief” means the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection and his or her authorized representatives, the chief of a fire department or fire protection agency maintained by a city, county, or city and county, or fire protection district and his or her authorized representatives, or the authorized representative of the United States Forest Service. In any area of the state in which there exists no organized fire protection agency responsible for the protection of the area, “chief,” for the purpose of this part only, means the county sheriff and his or her authorized representatives.

On any property that is owned by the state, the “chief,” for the purpose of this part, shall be the official of the fire protection agency responsible for the suppression of fires in the area. On any state property where there is no fire protection agency responsible for the suppression of fires, the “chief,” for the purpose of this part, shall be the State Fire Marshal.

Upon request of the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection, the chief of a fire department or fire protection agency, or upon request of the county sheriff, the governing body of the area under the jurisdiction of the requesting chief or sheriff may designate any person as “chief” for the purposes of this part.