The former firefighter claims he was fired after requesting a religious accommodation for his Orthodox Christian grooming practices, which conflicted with the agency’s facial hair policy tied to respirator mask safety standards

By Colin Atagi
The Press Democrat

SONOMA COUNTY, Calif. — A former Cal Fire firefighter from Sonoma County has filed suit against the agency, saying he faced religious discrimination after he asked for accommodations from an internal facial hair policy that conflicted with his Orthodox Christian grooming practices.

Kynan Barrios filed a complaint Aug. 19 in Sonoma County Superior Court claiming he faced retaliation and was terminated in 2024 after asking CAL FIRE leaders for a religious accommodation.

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The Rohnert Park man’s claim alleges religious discrimination, failure to reasonably accommodate religious creed, retaliation and failure to prevent discrimination.

Jason Clay, a local CAL FIRE spokesperson, said the agency cannot comment on pending litigation. Barrios’ attorney did not respond to requests for comment.

According to the complaint, Barrios served with CAL FIRE’s Sonoma - Lake - Napa unit during the 2021-2024 fire seasons. Transparency California, a public database on state public employees, shows he was a Firefighter One and his annual pay and benefits were between $71,462 and $98,883.

Barrios made his first accommodation request on April 19, 2024, according to the complaint, and CAL FIRE cited safety and respiratory-protection concerns in rejecting the request.

“Plaintiff alleges that those concerns were not evaluated on an individualized basis and did not account for a successful self-contained breathing apparatus fit test in April 2024 while he had his facial hair,” the complaint states.

CAL FIRE’s hair grooming policy requires facial hair that does not obstruct breathing masks. Among other requirements, mustaches cannot extend below the bottom of the upper lip, nor more than a half-inch beyond the corner of the mouth.

Requirements follow standards by offices including the National Fire Protection Association and Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which emphasize facial hair cannot interfere with the seal of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus masks.

In part, the NFPA’s entry on facial hair states, “Members who have a beard or facial hair at any point where the facepiece is designed to seal with the face or whose hair could interfere with the operation of the unit shall not be permitted to use respiratory protection at emergency incidents or in hazardous or potentially hazardous atmospheres.”

In his complaint, Barrios contends at least four CAL FIRE firefighters had facial hair that did not meet standards but did not result in discipline.

Five days after making his request in April 2024, according to Barrios’ complaint, he received a written warning over compliance with grooming standards. Five days after that, Barrios said, he submitted a written request for religious accommodation but was denied on May 15, 2024.

A supervisor later reprimanded him, according to the complaint, and threatened discipline and accused Barrios of “tearing apart the crew.”

“(Barrios) disputes that the later warnings, counseling and criticisms were administered neutrally,” the complaint states. “He alleges that disputed incidents and minor workplace issues were documented and escalated more aggressively after he requested accommodation and complained about discriminatory treatment.”

According to Barrios’ complaint, CAL FIRE terminated him Oct. 10, 2024, citing “safety, readiness, performance, interpersonal, insubordination and operational misconduct” as reasons for his dismissal.

In the aftermath, according to Barrios, CAL FIRE issued a bulletin in March 2025 advising personnel to “restrict or escort him” if he appeared on property.

Barrios’ complaint alleges he has suffered emotional distress, anxiety, humiliation, loss of professional standing and disruption to his firefighting career. As of August of this year, he was working as a security guard.

A case management conference is scheduled for Feb. 9 before Sonoma County Judge Dana Simonds.

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