Under the guise of "reform," Proposition 22 locks a bulletproof shield around special pots of money for redevelopment agencies. Unelected and unaccountable, redevelopment agencies hand out lucrative taxpayer subsidies to developers for auto malls, hotels and stadiums.

CPF Firevision is California Professional Firefighters' online news service. The 2010 Governor's Race: Jerry Brown's 40 years of support for firefighters and their families has earned him the CPF endorsement. CPF Firevision reviews Brown's record of support and the stakes for firefighters this November.

Budget cuts at the Chico Fire Department are making it harder for firefighters to do their jobs. The loss of three firefighters and closure of an engine engine at Fire Station 1 in July means it takes longer for emergency response.

This video, taken from a firefighter's helmet in Oakland, shows firefighters pulling an unconscious dog from a house fire and reviving him to consciousness.

California Professional Firefighters came out on top at this year's 2010 IAFF Media Awards. CPF's quarterly member newspaper and the California Fire Foundation's "Firefighters On Your Side: Disaster Planning for the Elderly" campaign both took first place.

Firefighters may face a heightened risk for heart disease as a result of breathing in extremely fine particles that infiltrate the smallest air passages and lodge in their lungs, new research indicates.

Firefighters have been making a muscle and making a difference for children and adults fighting neuromuscular disease for over 55 years.

Contra Costa firefighter and Local 1230 member Dave Manzeck was honored by the California Senate and Assembly today for his dramatic swift water rescue of a 74-year-old woman in April.

In 2010, milder temperatures and relatively normal rainfall have given rise to hopes that the state might be spared the worst this summer and autumn. But state officials, weather experts and fire behavior specialists have a sobering response: Don't bet on it.

CPF Firevision is California Professional Firefighters' online news service. Headlines: IAFF Convention comes to San Diego Firefighters Giving Back: Founded by LA County firefighter Mike Dubron, the Firefighter Cancer Support Network offers hope and resources for firefighters dealing with cancer.

A study released by researchers at San Diego State University on Tuesday, shows increasing the number of firefighters per engine could save California millions. The researchers discovered that one extra firefighter per engine, could increase effectiveness of the state's firefighters by more than 50 percent, plus reduce the cost of fighting large wildfires.

Woodland firefighter and Local 4029 member Tara Daniels scorched the competition on Friday, as her "Smokin' Pear Salad" scored an impressive 9.2 out of ten and jumped to the front of the pack in LIVE! with Regis and Kelly's "Coast to Coast Firehouse Cook Off."

Get a sneak peek of the latest issue of the CPF Newspaper before it hits your mailbox! This issue includes stories about the 2010 fire season, myths and facts about retirement security, the California Firefighters Endowment, district reports and more.

FireStar Productions' contributions to the fire service were recognized this year by the Telly Awards. The video production company was honored with six Telly Awards including awards for San Jose Fire Fighters Local 230's "Every Second Counts" video, CDF Firefighters Local 2881 and CAL FIRE's "California's Fire Department" video and CPF Firevision Episode 2.

Black smoke billows over northern Los Angeles County as over 750 firefighters continue to battle the Crown wildfire this morning. Located in the Leona Valley, the wind-fueled fire has burned more than 8,000 acres, according to fire officials.

Members of the public chided a San Diego City Council committee Wednesday for emergency services cuts that they argued contributed to the death of a toddler who choked on a gumball.

CPF Firevision is California Professional Firefighters' online news service. Fresno's Littlest Hero: A Fresno 7-year-old saves her sisters and grandmother from a fire, with some help from "Firefighters On Your Side"

 Seven-year-old Adriana Ignacio was honored for her heroism this week, after her quick thinking helped save her family from a raging fire in her Fresno home. Adriana helped guide her grandmother and two little sisters from the blaze using lessons from the California Fire Foundation's Firefighters On Your Side program.

Hemet firefighters say they've found their "lottery ticket" that will help keep a fire station open for at least two more years. The City Council will vote next week to approve a measure that would accept a $2.26 million grant from the Department of Homeland Security's SAFER grant program. 

San Diego fire officials said Wednesday that their department’s cost-cutting “brownouts,” which idle equipment, may have contributed to the choking death of a toddler in Mira Mesa.

Thanks to a "Hair Be Gone" event held on July 10 by the West Covina Firefighters Association Local 3226, one woman battling cancer can fulfill her dream of participating in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer with her husband. 

CPF Firevision is California Professional Firefighters' online video news service. Fire Season 2010: A range of fire and weather experts agree -- California still faces a high fire risk this fall.

Three Los Angeles City firefighters suffered hand injuries early Wednesday during a massive two-hour firefight at a building complex. More than 220 firefighters and six task forces battled the pre-dawn blaze, which triggered a series of explosions and leveled a facility making titanium golf clubs.

Corona Firefighters Local 3757 President Jim Steiner is back in the station, less than three months after open heart surgery. Steiner, a captain with Corona FD, had the surgery to repair a dime-sized hole in his heart. He came back only six weeks after his April 22nd surgery with the support of his brother and sister firefighters. 

If you know someone who has ever considered joining the ranks of California's finest in the fire service, you need to let them know about the CFFJAC's 2010 Firefighter Career Expo this October.

CPF Firevision is California Professional Firefighters' online video news service.

Terrorism Consequence Management: Behind The Scenes: Firefighters from San Diego and Livermore-Pleasanton participate in training scenarios, as part of California Fire Fighter Joint Apprenticeship Committee's upcoming online terrorism response training.

In August 2008, Santa Barbara City Fire Captain and Local 525 member Heidi Rockenbach was hit with the news that for an unknown reason her kidneys were failing, and that she would need a kidney transplant to continue her career as a firefighter. This week, Rockenbach is back working on the fire engine, thanks to a kidney donation from a former classmate.

Legislation that would have drastically rolled back retirement security for all public employees was defeated this week in the state Senate. The legislation -- which would have increased public safety retirement ages up to seven years, and dramatically reduced retirement for new employees was voted down by the Senate's Public Employment and Retirement Committee.

Firefighter-friendly candidates continued to find support among voters in this year’s primary contests for the Legislature and constitutional offices. CPF-backed candidates won in all but two constitutional races, and in 95% of legislative contests. 

At the second annual Live Your Dream Conference, sponsored by the Soroptimist International of Riverside, professional women speakers and panelists like CFFJAC Women's Commissioner d'Lisa Davies were on hand to spotlight a range of occupations available to young women. CPF is a co-sponsor of the CFFJAC.

CPF Firevision is California Professional Firefighters' online video news service. Decision 2010: Election wrap-up, the stakes in 2010, CPF political action award.

If you were faced with an emergency, would help be just around the corner, or responding to a more urgent call? That's the dilemma facing the Fresno City Fire Department because of budget cuts. Crews are now responding to fewer medical calls in order to get to more fires.

Patient care puts first responders at risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV. A new NIOSH document provides practical recommendations aimed at protecting first responders, including reporting your exposures through a program like PER.

Assembly Bill 2253, the William Dallas Jones Memorial Cancer Presumption Act of 2010, has made some major strides in the past week. The bill was removed from Assembly fiscal committee’s suspense file and yesterday, was approved by the full Assembly with significant bi-partisan support in a vote of 66-4. This CPF-sponsored legislation would protect firefighters' cancer presumption for up to 10 years after retirement.

CPF Firevision is California Professional Firefighters' online video news service. Firefighters Giving Back: Fill-the-Boot drives aid MDA; firefighters help Haitian earthquake victims.

Lovensky Alexandre and his mother, Roselene Ducelus, are back in Haiti. They returned May 12, 26 days after Lovensky underwent successful heart surgery at Sacramento's Sutter Medical Center, thanks to the help of Sacramento Fire Captain and Local 522 member Barbie Law.

Seven firefighters from the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department and a Livermore police officer starred Wednesday in a training video meant to help their colleagues across the state learn what to do in the case of a chemical attack at an office building. FireStar Productions filmed the video Wednesday, which will be part of the CFFJAC's Terrorism Consequence Management (TCM) curriculum.

CPF Firevision is California Professional Firefighters' online video news service. Recap of 42nd CPF Convention; Introducing the California Firefighters Endowment.

The curtain has rung down on California Professional Firefighters’ 42nd Biennial State Convention. For three days, a record number of delegates met this past week (Apr. 29-May 1) in San Diego to chart the policy course for CPF in the coming two years. Elections were held to choose CPF’s Executive Board and other leaders, and delegates heard from an array of state and national leaders. 

The California Fire Foundation has unveiled its latest venture to help firefighters and their families: The California Firefighters Endowment. Its mission: To increase the scholarship awards for the children of California's fallen firefighters.

CPF Firevision is California Professional Firefighters' online news service. Governor backs pension-slashing bill, spotlight on San Diego's fire-based bomb squad

Sacramento Metro fire captain and Local 522 member Barbie Law knows how to mend a broken heart. In the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti, Law volunteered as a medical relief worker with the non-profit humanitarian agency, Relief International. It was here that she first met seven-year-old Lovensky Alexandre. 

Ventura County firefighter and Local 1364 member Paul Torres lost his right eye after being hit with flying shrapnel while fighting a fire in Thousand Oaks earlier this month. He expects to return to work once he gets the OK from his doctors.

With the rising costs of tuition, students across the state are finding it more difficult to afford a college education. The Daniel A. Terry Scholarship helps to ease this burden for children, whose parent was a California firefighter whose name appears on the California Firefighters Memorial Wall.

For three decades, California Professional Firefighters has led the fight to recognize the increased job-related risks faced by first responders, beginning with the nation's first cancer presumption law, signed in 1982 by Jerry Brown. This year, that legacy continues with the introduction of AB 2253, the William Dallas Jones Memorial Cancer Presumption Act of 2010.

An St. Helena winery owner is getting a lesson in the public's support for first responders. After writing an opinion article claiming that "overpaid" firefighters receive "high salaries for doing very little," Dario Sattui found himself the target of a boycott and the trigger of an outpouring of support for first responders. 

Nearly 100 fire departments in California will be better prepared for a terrorist threat, after sending their training officers and Haz Mat personnel to one of the CFFJAC's Terrorism Consequence Management (TCM) Train-the-Trainer courses. The CFFJAC has held classes in 11 locations throughout the state over the past year.

CPF Firevision is California Professional Firefighters' online video news. CPF continues three decades of leadership with new cancer presumption legislation. 

State Controller John Chiang, in partnership with state employee unions, is hosting a free Foreclosure Counseling event in Sacramento this June, part of a program that could expand statewide. The event will take place on June 4th at the State Controller's Office, 3301 "C" Street, Suite 750, in Sacramento.

In Fresno, where nearly 40 percent of residents are Hispanic, fire safety messages can get lost in translation. Firefighters still recall the story of the little girl, who was killed in a house fire in Fresno last year, because her family didn't know the importance of smoke detectors.

This 24-page report reviews CPF’s major events and accomplishments during the past calendar year, as well as identifies challenges for the future. It offers a snapshot not only of 2009, but also provides a primer on the range of services and benefits offered by your state association.

A Ventura County firefighter was recovering at UCLA Medical Center on Tuesday after surgery for a serious eye injury he suffered Monday evening when ammunition and other items exploded during an house fire in Thousand Oaks, authorities said. Local 1364 member Paul Torres, 36, underwent five hours of surgery to his right eye, Ventura County Fire Department officials said. 

Hemet firefighters and paramedics Chris Galetta and Dan Lamy felt like they made a difference. They spent eight days in the village of Titanyen, repairing broken bones that hadn't been set since the quake occurred on Jan. 12 and treating survivors for typhoid and malaria.

Whether an elderly man would have survived a recent apartment fire had a nearby fire engine been in service that day is debatable, given the quick response by firefighters. What isn’t up for debate is that the city’s decision to sideline up to eight fire engines per day in a cost-cutting “brownout” plan has led to longer response times in San Diego.

Citing problems with internal testing, NIOSH has recommended that fire departments discontinue use of four Champak N95 respirators. NIOSH's recommendation targets four of the units' approval numbers: TC-84A-4363, TC-84A-4364, TC-84A-4394 and TC-84A-4665.

California Professional Firefighters' online video news, Locals Fight Back with Video, Locals on the Web

Fire crews are taking longer to respond to emergencies since a budget-cutting plan that eliminates engines from several stations took effect last month, a new city report says.

When Sacramento Metro Fire Captain Barbie Law was a relief worker in Haiti, she befriended a 7-year-old Haitian boy with a heart defect. Law has since returned to the United States with a mission: To get him the surgical help that he needs.

A stretch of the I-215 Freeway in Perris has been named after fallen CAL FIRE firefighter John D. Guthrie this week. Guthrie valiantly battled the Decker fire with his crew on August 8, 1959 and was overrun by flames.

California Professional Firefighters' online video news, California Labor Federation's Legislative Conference, Firefighters On Your Side

California's labor community came together in Sacramento this week. Their mission: fight to protect middle-class families devastated by the Great Recession. As part of its 2010 Legislative Conference, the California Labor Federation brought lawmakers face-to-face with union workers from 19 regional Central Labor Councils, bringing the fight for jobs to the State Capitol.

CAL FIRE firefighter Becky Quigley was named 2nd Assembly District Woman of the Year this week in a ceremony recognizing the outstanding achievements of women from the State Assembly's 80 districts.

San Diego’s fire department has been operating under a money saving strategy for about a month. Under the plan, up to eight fire engines can be idled each day and their crews reassigned to cover for sick or absent firefighters. The plan saves money but could also impact the department’s response times.

 California Professional Firefighters' online video news. Local leaders pitch lawmakers on local fire funding; Alameda Co. Fire Ops helps locals "feel the heat."

Stepping up on their own time, two Marin County firefighters brought their skill and heart to the citizens of earthquake-ravaged Haiti. Spending their vacation time and their own money, Larkspur firefighters Jim Clark and Matt Cobb spent two weeks helping anyone they could find, armed only with a duffel full of medical supplies and a determination to make a difference. The two -- both proud members of Marin Professional Firefighters Local 1775 -- raised some $7,000, half of it their own money, for their personal relief mission. 

 Warning of the "growing cost" associated with California's rapid development and urbanization of the wildlands, the Los Angeles Times this week editorialized in support of the CPF-backed Emergency Response Initiative. The Times said the proposal was "reasonable" and reflected a level of burden-sharing that is appropriate in a disaster-prone state.

With California’s mutual aid system stressed to the breaking point by local budget rollbacks, California’s first responders took the issue directly to state lawmakers on Wednesday. Their pitch: Pass the Emergency Response Initiative. 

 California Professional Firefighters' online video news service presents Protecting Your Retirement: A Special Report on the 2010 Pension Fight.

 New evacuation orders have been issued as the Station Fire burn area continues to be hit with mudslides in the wake of a wet Southern California winter..

 Los Angeles County firefighters credited with saving lives in the aftermath of Haiti's devastation are back in the U.S. Task Force 2 -- one of only two teams in the nation certified for world-wide disaster response -- was on the ground less than 48 hours after the quake hit. They returned late last week.

California Professional Firefighters' online video news. Pension-slashing measures introduced; LA County FFs on the ground in Haiti; Terrorism Consequence Management behind-the-scenes.

The long-feared "second wave" of the Station Fire is hitting Southern California this week. Many areas ravaged by the massive summer blaze are now being evacuated because of the risk of mudslides. 

Members of Los Angeles County Firefighters Local 1014 are on the ground in Haiti. The firefighters, the core of California Task Force #2, have already been a part of some of the most dramatic rescue efforts seen since the Jan. 12 earthquake.

Want to stay connected with the stories that matter to you? Then you need to connect to CPF Firevision, CPF's twice-monthly online video update on the issues and stories that affect your life on the job and the safety and security of you and your family. 

Late last year, CPF led a united fire service in support of a measure designed to put more money directly into first responder services. When the bill failed we said we'd be back, and we are. As part of his 2010-2011 budget, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has re-introduces the CPF-backed Emergency Response Initiative.

Years of neglect, complicated by undocumented modifications, are believed to have played a role in the disastrous Modesto fire which left two firefighters injured ... one of them with burns over nearly half of his body. 

On January 13, 2010, California Professional Firefighters will debut CPF Firevision, a twice-monthly Web video update on the issues and stories that affect the lives of front line firefighters, available through YouTube, iTunes and at www.cpffirevision.org. CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

After extensive interviews with dozens of contenders in both parties, CPF has identified a bipartisan list of candidates it believes would be the strongest firefighter choices for statewide office in this June’s Primary Election.

California’s firefighters and other hard-working public employees have a new voice for retirement security on the CalPERS Board of Administration. In a close runoff election, CalPERS investment officer J.J. Jelincic won the election for the CalPERS Board seat being vacated by retiring Charles Valdes. 

The story of property loss to major fires in the United States begins and ends in California. In its annual report on Large Loss Fires in the United States, NFPA says that California wildland fires caused a collective property loss of nearly $950 million in 2008. That means 40 cents of every dollar of major fire loss in the US in 2008 occurred in the California wildlands. 

When Vincent J. Bollon became a New York firefighter and IAFF member, Ike was in the White House, Elvis was in the army and Barack Obama hadn't been born. Today, General President Harold Schaitberger announced that Bollon was retiring from his post as IAFF General Secretary-Treasurer, effective January 15. Bollon served more than two decades as IAFF's chief financial officer, and nearly 35 years as an active IAFF leader.

On the front lines, firefighters and police are trained to work as a team. This past weekend, however, Ventura County’s firefighters and law enforcement officers were mixing it up … for a good cause … in their first-ever “Battle of the Badges” boxing match. 

 Firefighters have a reputation for being “Boy Scouts” – always doing good deeds. This year, California’s first responders are helping Bay Area Boy Scouts do their own “good deeds” by contributing to the annual Scouting For Food program.

At a time when the retirement security is under attack, CalPERS firefighters can make their voices heard by participating in the CalPERS Board of Administration runoff election. Ballots have been sent to all CalPERS members and retirees for the runoff in Position A. CPF believes J.J. Jelincic is the best choice for firefighters and their families. BALLOTS DUE THIS FRIDAY!

The new rules are in, and November 16th is the day that applications will open for the newly-expanded SAFER grants. The SAFER Grants can be used to rehire laid off fire fighters and birng back positions that have been left vacant due to the financial crisis.

 The brown-out at a fire station in Sacramento City added three minutes to the response time for a November 1st house fire. City fire officials say the blaze was closest to a fire station whose engine company was browned out, forcing crews to wait until the engine from the next-closest station arrived. Nobody was injured.

With the flu pandemic upon us, the state EMS Authority has set in motion a plan to allow local paramedics to administer the influenza vaccine. Under the plan, the LEMSA and the local health department may decide to temporarily expand the paramedic scope of practice to include administration of the pandemic vaccine, thereby enhancing community mass vaccination programs.  

 More than 1,000 uniformed firefighters, family members and dignitaries from throughout California gathered this weekend to pay tribute to those who gave their lives to protect the lives and property of Californians. In a solemn ceremony featuring honor guards and the traditional pipe and drum salute, 82 firefighters who fell in the line of duty – some from as far back as 1899 – were added to the California Firefighters Memorial.

This past Sunday marked Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s bill-signing deadline for 2009. Among the bills approved was CPF legislation -- five years in the making -- that won firefighters and many other injured workers the right to see their own doctor when injured on the job.  

Earthquakes. Fires. Floods. For Fresno's senior citizens, these are just a few disasters that can strike at any moment and Fresno Firefighters Local 753 has launched its latest program to reach this vulnerable community with disaster preparedness help. The program was created by the California Fire Foundation, which brings public service announcements and evacuation planning materials to elderly individuals.

More than 1,700 firefighters continue to make headway in the Sheep Fire, located in the San Gabriel Mountains. Calmer winds and colder temperatures helped aid firefighters Tuesday, as new record low temperatures were set in the region, specifically in Lake Arrowhead, Lancaster and LAX Airport. The fire is 75 percent contained and full containment is expected by Saturday.

 If you're a firefighter, chances are you're exhausted at the end of the day. That's the conclusion of a new study conducted by the job-rating firm CareerCast.com. In it's annual Jobs Rated Report, the organization lists "firefighter" as the most demanding job in the US, ahead of surgeon, corporate executive and police officer.

In order to properly respond to terrorist attack, irefighters need to know what to expect. In pursuit of that realism, Roseville streets were transformed into the scene of a nightclub car-bomb attack, as video crews with FireStar Productions shot the scenario for a new Web-based version of CFFJAC's Terrorism Consequence Management.  

In a move that underscores fire service solidarity on core public safety issues, CPF President Lou Paulson and CalChiefs President Sheldon Gilbert have signed an agreement outlining guiding principles for labor-management collaboration. The Labor-Management Initiative Guiding Principles is California’s implementation of the IAFF/IAFC Labor-Management Initiative.

Each year, the IAFF Media Awards recognizes the reporting, photography and other media that embody what it means to be a first responder in the United States and Canada. This year, CPF was honored with four IAFF Media Awards.

Despite a furious last-minute lobbying effort and a direct telephone pitch from firefighters across the state, the California Legislature adjourned early Saturday without approving desperately needed first responder legislation. But a unified California fire service is vowing to keep working to pass the Emergency Response Initiative, which would pump hundreds of millions into local and state fire protection services.

CAL FIRE is deeply saddened to announce the death of CAL FIRE captain Chaloa Lora Champion, who died of a brain aneurysm on September 2, 2009. She was 33 years old. 

 As cautious optimism builds in the battle against this week's fires, concern continues to grow about the state fiscal crisis and its impact on California's world-class mutual aid system. As part of an ABC News report, CPF President Lou Paulson makes the case for a new state Emergency Response Initiative.

 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today joined fire service labor and management in calling on the Legislature to revive and approve his Emergency Response Initiative. At a news conference in San Bernardino County, the governor joined CPF President Lou Paulson and CalChiefs President Sheldon Gilbert in urging passage of the measure, which would provide hundreds of millions of dollars to support the state's mutual aid disaster response.

Fire officials are watching the skies in Southern California, hoping that increased humidity levels will continue to slow the march of the Station Fire. The blaze has now burned more than 127,000 acres, and stretches over nearly 200 square miles, but cooling temperatures have aided firefighting efforts in the Angeles National Forest, and the blaze is now 22% contained.

Oxnard firefighters Graham Dunbar and Guillermo Garay are being hailed as heroes after rescuing an injured motorist from his disabled vehicle seconds before it was struck by a fast-moving Metrolink train.

A new study shows that firefighters are at high risk for developing cancer. Researchers at the University of Cincinnati said firefighters have a 100 percent higher risk of developing testicular cancer, a 50 percent higher risk for multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and 26 percent increased risk for prostate cancer.

California City Firefighters Local 3903 has partnered with the California Fire Foundation to bring public service announcements and evacuation planning materials to elderly individuals at their hosted disaster preparedness workshops. 

Firefighters and first responders up and down the state have been training for terrorism incidents since the California Fire Fighters Joint Apprenticeship Committee (CFFJAC) rolled out its new Terrorism Consequence Management (TCM) Train-the-Trainer course earlier this year. The CFFJAC is co-sponsored by CPF and the California State Fire Marshal.

The California Legislature and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger have ended a months-long budget standoff, capped with an all night legislative session with the approval of an $84 billion spending plan for California - over 7.2 percent lower than last year's budget and 17 percent less than spending in the last 2 years.

A united California fire service task force called on the state EMS Authority to take steps to increase fiscal and public accountability in the outsourcing of EMS services to private, for-profit providers. In a white paper issued July 22, California Professional Firefighters, CalChiefs and the League of Cities Fire Chiefs unanimously concluded that some Local EMS Agencies (LEMSAs) were overstepping their statutory authority in fashioning contracts with private ambulance companies. 

When firefighter David Wills received his pink slip from Alameda Fire Department in June, he was added to the Displaced Firefighters List. Two weeks later, on his termination date, he received a call from Moraga-Orinda Fire District, letting him know they were hiring. The very next day, he went for an oral interview and a paramedics skills assessment.

California’s critical disaster response network could break down as a result of the state’s cash crisis, leaving millions at risk in the event of an earthquake or catastrophic wildfire. That’s the concern being expressed by first responders, in the wake of a sobering report in the San Diego Union Tribune. In a July 15 story the Union-Tribune reports local fire officials are considering whether to opt out of participating in the state’s mutual aid disaster response system.  

In a ceremony at the Capitol, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed an executive order establishing the independent Blue Ribbon Task Force to oversee implementation of recommendations developed in the wake of the 2003 Southern California firestorm. CPF President Lou Paulson was named to co-chair the 14-member panel, along with Sheldon Gilbert, president of the California Fire Chiefs Association.

The state Senate took up AB 196 on the Floor this afternoon, which is one of two measures that seeks to implement the Emergency Response Initiative (ERI). The ERI proposes a 4.8% emergency response surcharge on all new or renewed commercial and residential fire or multi-peril insurance premiums in California. When the Senate votes were tallied, the final score was 23 "AYES," 14 "NOS," 3 "NOT VOTING", leaving AB 196 short the required 2/3 vote it needed to pass. The bill was granted re-consideration, which means it can be brought up at a future date for consideration and action.

Show your pride as a California firefighter by shopping at CPFUnionShop.org! Choose from a range of high-quality, USA-made gear including polo shirts, key rings and hats - all are union made and proudly carry the CPF logo.

Thousands of firefighters across the country face possible layoffs this year, prompting concern that deep local government budget cuts will delay emergency response times. Up to 5,000 firefighting jobs could be in jeopardy, according to an IAFF survey of members, which includes 292,000 firefighters.

Two Alameda firefighters were injured this past Sunday while responding to a house fire in a single family residence -- injuries that may not have happened but for public safety cuts in Alameda. The firefighters were injured responding to a Sunday evening structure fire call. At the time of the call, all three of the city's ALS ambulances were conducting transports. The lack of resources allowed the fire to intensify and hazardous conditions to exponentially increase.

In preparation for another summer of potentially devastating wildfires, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today directed his Department of Personnel Administration to exempt all CAL FIRE employees from the statewide furlough program during the 2009 and 2010 fire seasons. This action will ensure that all available personnel will be ready to mobilize when disaster strikes.    

Sacramento County ROP fire tech students spent the last year learning what it takes to be a firefighter. Last week, they met for their final class, which gave their families and friends a chance to see the students in action. The CPF co-sponsored CFFJAC and the Sacramento County Office of Education work in cooperation to make this ROP fire tech class possible.

Long Beach firefighters and lifeguards torched a 35-foot boat off the coast of Long Beach. It was a chance for firefighters and lifeguards to train in real-world conditions just in time for the summer boating season. Long Beach is one of more than 100 departments affiliated with the CPF co-sponsored California Fire Fighters Joint Apprenticeship Committee.

A Riverside man found guilty of touching off a 2006 blaze that killed five firefighters has received the death penalty. Raymond Oyler, 38, was convicted of multiple counts of murder for starting the 2006 Esperanza Fire. Five U.S. Forest Service firefighters died battling the deadly blaze.

Thanks to a strong push from California Professional Firefighters and technical support from the IAFF, a new standard has been adopted that will reduce first responders' risk of exposure to infectious disease.

Southern California fire officials have rolled out an updated fire preparation and evacuation plan to help citizens prepare for what's expected to be an exceptionally dangerous fire season. "Ready ... Set ... Go" emphasizes the need for homeowners in high-risk areas to make their homes fire safe and evacuate as early as possible. The new plan formalizes the fire service's unconditional rejection of the risky Australian model called "stay-and-defend".

The tough times we're all facing got tougher when voters rejected a package of budget-balancing ballot propositions. Their anger is understandable, but the voters’ judgment will have a profound impact on firefighters.

For CFFJAC Women's Commissioner d'Lisa Davies, the chance to participate in the Soroptimist International of Riverside's event was a dream opportunity to show middle school girls that firefighting is a career option for them. CPF is a co-sponsor of the California Fire Fighter Joint Apprenticeship Committee (CFFJAC).

In one of the lowest-turnout elections in California history, voters vented their frustration with the state's political leadership by rejecting Propositions 1A through 1E. In response to the election results, CPF President Lou Paulson said the election results complicate the task of fixing California's broken budget system. 

The last of the three Ventura County firefighters injured while fighting the Jesusita Fire in Santa Barbara was released this week from a Sherman Oaks burn center, authorities said. Firefighter Robert Lopez, 44, is recovering at home. He is a proud member of Ventura County Professional Firefighters Local #1364.

Recognize the symptoms of a heart attack and call 9-1-1 as early as possible. This was the message that CFFJAC Women's Commissioner Lisa Beaty brought home to the crowd of over 400 women that gathered at the annual American Heart Association's Go Red for Women Luncheon in Sacramento. The California Fire Foundation was a top sponsor of this event.

The latest issue of our award-winning newspaper, The California Professional Firefighter is now available online. In this issue, we focus on California's economic crisis. We have brought together guest columnists with a variety of perspectives on our current troubles and how, working together, we can bring our state back.

CLICK HERE to read the newspaper. (Please note: Corrected version)

When the going gets tough, the tough choose firefighting. Nearly 1,000 young men and women did, packing the 2009 Firefighter Recruitment Fairs at the Candidate Physical Ability Testing (CPAT) Centers in Sacramento, Livermore and Orange. It was hosted by the California Fire Fighter Joint Apprenticeship Committee (CFFJAC), which is co-sponsored by CPF.

The Santa Barbara fire is now 70 percent contained, thanks to the dedication of the 4,500 California firefighters on the front lines. The Jesusita Fire has ripped through 8,700 acres, destroyed 77 homes and forced the evacuation of 30,000 residents since the fire began last Tuesday.

Three Ventura County firefighters are recovering in a Sherman Oaks burn center after narrowly escaping a deadly burnover while protecting a structure in the Santa Barbara fire yesterday. Fire Captain Brian Bulger, 57, and Ron Topolinski, 51, are resting at the Grossman Burn Center at Sherman Oaks Hospital, as is 44-year-old Firefighter Robert Lopez. All three are proud members of Ventura County Professional Firefighters Local #1364.

California’s ability to respond to catastrophic wildland fires could be dealt an immeasurable blow if the state follows through with cuts reportedly under consideration by the Schwarzenegger administration. According to state budget documents, a new budget shortfall could leave California short nearly 2,000 CAL FIRE firefighters during the peak wildfire months this summer. CPF believes this poses a real threat to public safety.

California is looking for a few good women (and men) to serve on public safety's front lines. That's the message offered today by lawmakers and fire professionals as they renew efforts to build the next generation of first responders.

There have already been twice as many wildland fires in the first three months of 2009 as there had been during the same period in 2008. And that's the good news. According to two reports -- one federal and one state -- California and the rest of the nation should brace for another bad fire year in 2009, and that, down the road, the state could see fire losses average $2 billion a year. 

California’s new Emergency Management Agency (Cal-EMA) has joined with labor and management to reject efforts to impose an inadequate physical ability test on both incoming and incumbent firefighters. In a joint statement, Cal-EMA, CPF and CalChiefs conclude that the National Wildfire Coordinating Group’s “Pack Test” can’t and shouldn’t be used as a “fit for duty” test.  

With the shadow of another difficult fire season looming over California, a silver lining may be shining our way, courtesy of the federal stimulus plan. California Professional Firefighters is aggressively moving to secure sizeable portions of the stimulus money for long-delayed priorities, including staffing and equipment.

Some 150 CPF local affiliate leaders brought the message from the front lines directly in the halls of the State Capitol this week, at CPF’s Daniel A. Terry Legislative Conference. The two-day conference brought lawmakers face-to-face with firefighters from their home districts, and put firefighters in touch with the key players in Sacramento. 

In what appears to be a focused bid to break its firefighters union, the city's negotiators Friday rejected even the most fundamental concessions proposed by Vallejo Firefighters Local 1186. The city's hard-line stance comes days before a federal bankruptcy judge is expected to take the unprecedented step of voiding lawful collective bargaining agreements.

They climbed stairs, pulled ladders and dragged dummies. By Tuesday afternoon, seven Sacramento County ROP fire tech students had run through the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) at the Sacramento CPAT Testing Center, which is operated by the CPF co-sponsored CFFJAC. It was the first time that Sacramento ROP students had the opportunity to try the test, which has become the industry-standard physical ability testing system for firefighters.

As California approaches another dreaded fire season, tax-weary legislative leaders have put a hold on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's contentious plan to impose a surcharge on property insurance bills that could raise $278 million a year for more crews, engines and helicopters.

 The arsonist responsible for touching off a massive 2006 blaze that killed five firefighters has been convicted of murder. Raymond Oyler, a 38-year-old former auto mechanic, was found guilty of five counts of first-degree murder, one for each of the five US Forest Service firefighters who died in the 2006 Esperanza Fire in eastern Riverside County. The five firefighters died defending a home that had been overrun by the fast-moving blaze. Oyler was also convicted of 20 counts of arson, meaning he could face the death penalty.

Affirming its tentative ruling from last week, L.A. Superior Court Judge Helen Bendix has tossed out a lawsuit by the Orange Co. Board of Supervisors seeking to take away negotiated retirement benefits. Rejecting legal arguments that the payments are unconstitutional, Judge Bendix affirmed a judgment favoring the Orange County Deputy Sheriffs  two months before the case was set to go to trial. The decision is a major victory for retirement security and yet another stinging defeat for anti-retirement ideologues.

 A plan to close California's cavernous $41 billion budget hole was approved early Thursday morning by the California Senate, after one lone holdout switched his vote from "no" to "yes. The budget plan mixes $15 billion in spending cuts with $13 billion in temporary tax hikes and a hefty round of borrowing to close the hole. Sen. Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria) made the switch after being promised a series of proposed constitutional amendments, including one that could aid his chances for statewide office. 

The California fire service -- management and labor -- have come together to reaffirm the core principles of fire and emergency response in the state's wildland-urban interface. FIRESCOPE and the California Blue Ribbon Task Force have issued a joint statement repudiating the Australian so-called "stay and defend" model. If you're in California, the advice is clear: Prepare, Leave Early, Follow Evacuation Orders.

As Australia's wildfires claimed the lives of over 180 people, new concerns are being raised about that country's highly controversial "Stay And Defend" fire policy. Scores of those who perished in the blazes were residents that stayed behind to protect their property or evacuated too late. Residents armed with garden hoses were ill-equipped to protect themselves against the ravaging blazes that tore through towns and were fanned by hot winds and drought conditions. 

CalPERS is getting a new chief investment officer, but don't expect any immediate wholesale changes in how the big pension fund invests its money. Joseph Dear, the newly appointed chief investment officer at CalPERS, says this isn't the time to panic. (SacBee registration may be required.)

If you're a fan of social networking, CPF has another way to keep current and spread the word and show your pride. On CPF's official Facebook page, you can keep updated on the latest news, check out videos and photo galleries and connect with those both in and out of your profession. If you're on Facebook, you can add us to your group list. If you're not on Facebook, the page instructs you how to set up your own free login.

AB 128 enacts the "William Dallas Jones Cancer Presumption Act of 2009," which seeks to eliminate the existing statute of limitations in favor of expanding it in a manner that more accurately reflects the risk to those types of job-related cancers that are contracted by firefighters and other public safety personnel.

The man who spearheaded the 2005 attacks on public employee pensions is at it again. Former Assemblyman Keith Richman says he's going to use the Internet to gather signatures for a proposal that would increase the retirement age and cap pensions at a level nearly 1/3 lower than current law.

Although lawmakers continue to argue over how to resolve the state's fiscal crisis, both parties appear to be willing to reduce funding for public schools, colleges, transit programs and programs that help a wide range of people with special needs.

California Professional Firefighters and the CFFJAC are moving to temporary offices this week as repairs continue on the Sacramento headquarters building. Both organizations are open for business to serve you. But because of this move, CPF and CFFJAC telephone lines are experiencing sporadic outages that could continue for the next few days. Email is unaffected -- info@cpf.org. We apologize for the inconvenience.

The International Association of Fire Fighters has surpassed last year's record breaking year for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger, who is also an MDA Vice President, made several check presentations on the Labor Day Telethon and spoke very movingly about the IAFF support in the fight against muscular dystrophy.

FEMA Region IX is hosting a series of firefighters grant workshops in California from January to March, in order to help departments qualify for the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG). The free workshops will provide information to departments about submitting applications for the upcoming FY 2009. 

It's a new year and we've got a new issue of our award-winning newspaper, The California Professional Firefighter. Beginning with this issue and going forward, we will publish every newspaper online, from cover to cover. All of the features you count on, from legislative updates to the latest news from local affiliates, will be only a click away. And don't worry ... full editions will continue to be published in print and online.

The IAFF is preparing to move forward with reintroducing the federal firefighter presumption bill -- Federal Fire Fighter Fairness Act -- in the 111th Congress. Our federal brothers and sisters need your help to win this core benefit at the federal level, and are asking you to reach out to your representative and urge them to sign on as co-sponsors.

As state lawmakers and the governor continue to work towards a solution to the state's projected $42 billion budget deficit, CPF expresses concerns over any cost-cutting measures that would bypass the collective bargaining process.

While the 2007-2008 Legislative Session was a huge success, CPF is now turning with new urgency to the 2009-2010 Legislative Session. To this end, the CPF Executive Board unanimously approved an ambitious legislative agenda for the upcoming session, which began this week.

The votes were finally counted on Monday, and Barack Obama has won California by a vote of 55 to 0. And the man doing the counting was a familiar face to California's first responders. Participating in a ritual dating to the founding of the Republic, California's Electoral College was convened December 15th at the State Capitol in Sacramento. CPF President Lou Paulson was chosen by Senator Barbara Boxer to serve as one of the 55 electors.

When the Turlock Holiday Parade was in danger of being canceled due to lack of sponsorship money, the Turlock Fire Fighters Association Local 2434 stepped in with a significant cash contribution, becoming the primary sponsor for this 25-year community holiday tradition.

California’s firefighters once again answered the call this fall, responding to devastating fires and saving thousands of homes. Jay Leno wanted to say thank you in person. So Leno invited CPF members from throughout the state to fill his audience this past Wednesday, as part of his Thanksgiving Eve episode.

One October shift, Palo Alto Fire Fighters Local 1319 Secretary Barry Marchisio looked every bit the classic picture of a firefighter - well, apart from the petal pink helmet that he wore proudly atop his head. "It was definitely a radical departure from our traditional black helmet, but I enjoyed it. I played it up," laughed Marchisio, who responded to a natural gas leak while wearing the pink helmet.

California Professional Firefighters and its affiliates proved once again that the issues that matter to first responders are issues that resonate with the state's voters. In a year with a record election turnout, CPF-endorsed candidates have won or are leading in all but three of the 91 Assembly and Senate contests in which we made a recommendation -- a whopping 97% success rate! Firefighters also helped lead the defeat of a ballot measure that could have diverted millions away from state fire protection programs. 

San Diego's firefighters won an important victory Tuesday, when they helped oust one of the most hostile anti-retirement politicians in California. With room to spare, voters in San Diego threw out City Attorney Michael Aguirre, who has waged a single-minded legal war against the retirement security of San Diego City Firefighters Local 145. His replacement -- local judge Jan Goldsmith -- has pledged to take the politics out of the City Attorney's office and be "a watchdog, not an attack dog."

Firefighters, family members and dignitaries from throughout California came together Saturday, October 18, 2008 in remembrance of those who paid the ultimate price to protect the lives and property of Californians.

We are proud to announce that Governor Schwarzenegger has signed ALL of the CPF-sponsored bills that were approved by the Legislature in August with overwhelming bi-partisan support. Indeed, this truly is a banner legislative year for our organization.

The Governor signed legislation to boost California's wildfire prevention and firefighting capabilities, including measures that update existing fuel management laws, promote healthier forests and make it easier to access firefighting equipment and private donations.

The emergency medical services will see reforms and the creation of a statewide EMT registry, thanks to CPF-sponsored landmark legislation, which was signed this week by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

California’s longest budget stalemate in history came to an end yesterday, when the Legislature approved a state spending plan in the early hours of the morning and sent it to the Governor. Shortly after the budget deal was approved, lawmakers released some 850 bills, including a handful of CPF-sponsored or co-sponsored measures that had been approved by the Legislature in recent weeks, but were held back in light of the “No Budget. No Bill Signatures.” moratorium issued by the Governor last month.

The CFFJAC’s groundbreaking system for testing the next generation of California firefighters is expanding again, with the announcement of the third CPAT Testing Center. Located a stone’s throw from the State Capitol, the new Sacramento CFFJAC CPAT Testing Center is dedicated solely to the administration of the CPAT – the Candidate Physical Ability Test.

For the first time ever, the second year of the regular two-year legislative session recessed August 31st with the passage of roughly 1,000 bills … the 2008-09 State Budget bill, however, was not one of those bills. As of this writing, California faces the 67th day in what has turned out to be the longest state budget impasse in our state’s history.

CPF joined local public safety agencies and Gov. Schwarzenegger Tuesday morning in a call for a state budget resolution. CPF President Lou Paulson joined health care workers, school and other public safety officials, to highlight the impact of the budget impasse on the communities they serve.

With California in the grips of its third catastrophic fire season in five years, CPF is backing an effort that seeks to check uncontrolled growth in the state's fire-prone wildlands. Assembly Bill 2447 would require that any new construction in the wildland-urban interface pass a simple test before it is approved -- can it be protected from devastating wildfire.

A Special Election to fill the post of CPF 2nd District Vice President has ended with the election of Ventura County Professional Firefighters Local 1364 President Chris Mahon. Mahon, who currently serves on CPF's Health and Safety Committee, was the only individual nominated for the post and was elected by acclamation.

A CPF Trustee and proud member of Long Beach Firefighters Local 372 has won decisive re-election as the IAFF Western Trustee. Tony Mejia won an overwhelming vote during the IAFF Convention in Las Vegas this week. Mejia was first elected IAFF Western Trustee in February, winning a vote to complete the term of Trustee Bob Greenwood, who died in January. 

As part of its unprecedented bankruptcy filing, Vallejo has petitioned to have all of its labor contracts voided by the bankruptcy court. If allowed to stand, Vallejo’s attack on its own employees would send shock waves throughout the labor movement, setting the stage for a cascade of tactical “bankruptcies”, all filed with the sole purpose of reneging on their employees. 

If you've been watching the news from Sacramento, you know that California is in the second month of a difficult budget stalemate. Some retirees have expressed concern that their benefits might be caught in the fiscal crossfire. But CalPERS Chair Rob Feckner says retirees ... and those about to retire ... have nothing to fear from the budget battle.

A 60-day Special Election to fill the post of CPF Secretary-Treasurer has ended with the election of Burbank Fire Fighters Local 778 President Lew Stone. Stone, who has served as CPF 2nd District Vice President since 2001, was sworn in this week at a meeting of the CPF Executive Board. 

Even as it faces one of the most aggressive management attacks, Vallejo Firefighters Local 1186 has been able to count on united and active labor support. This week, Local 1186 was recognized for its part in creating that steadfast labor unity, winning the California Labor Federation's award for Outstanding Volunteer Mobilization.

The future of a critical source of support for fallen firefighters and their families was assured with the signing of CPF-supported legislation, AB 1812. Authored by Assemblyman Juan Arambula (D - Fresno), AB 1812 extends the California Fire Foundation's Memorial Tax Check-Off to 2016.  

 As weather on the front lines continues to assist the firefighting effort, the sobering toll of the 2008 Firestorm is, in one area, without precedent. According to CAL FIRE, the month-long siege of fires has swallowed up nearly 850,000 acres, surpassing the 2003 Southern California Firestorm, which officially consumed about 650,000 acres. All but 80 of the more than 2,000 fires have been contained.

 A break in the scorching heat and low humidity in Northern California has allowed firefighters to get an upper hand on the firestorm that has gripped it for the last month. Nearly 85% of all of the state's fires have been contained, tthe same rain that helped with the firefighting effort also created flash flooding in areas damaged by fires in 2007.

For the residents of Paradise, east of Chico, July 11th looked almost exactly like June 11th -- fire raging on their doorstep, smoke darkening the skies, and first responders urging them to evacuate. As the Siege of 2008 enters its second month, crews from throughout California and the nation continue to battle the elements and fatigue to protect our state.

Another 2,000 National Guard ground troops will join its aerial mutual aid assets in battling the swarm of lightning fires burning throughout much of Northern California. That brings the total to 2,400 troops ordered by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to provide personnel for hand crews, transportation and command and control support. More than 1,700 fires have been sparked in California over the last month, consuming more than 700,000 acres.

During the hot summer, the risks of heat exhaustion and heat stroke increase. A new CalOSHA warning about heat stress is especially important for firefighters as fire season kicks into high gear in Northern California.

The extraordinary rash of lightning-caused wildland fires in Northern California has dramatically underscored the critical statewide natural disaster risk facing California in the 21st Century. This week, the Blue Ribbon Fire Task Force renewed its call for California’s policy makers at all levels to “get real” about the ongoing fire threat with more equipment and personnel and a serious commitment to fire-safe land-use planning.

Lawyers representing the city of Vallejo have asked the courts to validate their attempt to renege on commitments made to their employees, including their firefighters. In a filing before state bankruptcy court, the city sought the unprecedented step of canceling all of its collective bargaining agreements. 

When LA City firefighter Harold Burba was dispatched to the Ambassador Hotel on the night of June 4, 1968, his job was to photograph possible fire code violations. He wound up as a witness to history. Just after midnight on June 5th,  documented the immediate aftermath of the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Burba's photos were published late last month by the Los Angeles Firefighter, the official newspaper of United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, Local 112.

In a ceremony held June 3rd at San Diego Fire Station 47, five local fire agencies took delivery of an OES Type 3 Engine to boost local firefighting capabilities and pre-position assets for fire season. The new apparatus is a “down payment” on one of the core recommendations made by the CPF co-sponsored Blue Ribbon Fire Task Force. 

California Professional Firefighters and its non-profit California Fire Foundation have launched a statewide campaign, in Spanish and English, on the importance of having and practicing a fire escape plan. "Firefighters On Your Side/Bomberos A Tú Lado" is designed to teach families how to safely evacuate a home that is on fire.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger continues to move away from the harsh attacks on firefighter retirement security that characterized his first two years in office.The governor this week has announced he is supporting a series of bipartisan recommendations aimed at protecting public employee pension and retiree health benefits.

Rejecting all offers of assistance -- including substantial labor concessions, help from the state and from a private financier -- the City of Vallejo filed for Chapter 9 Bankruptcy on Friday, becoming the largest city in California to declare bankruptcy. According to Reuters, city officials have acknowledged that bankruptcy is intended as a tool to give them leverage in labor talks.

At an emotional memorial held in his fire service hometown of Downey this past Tuesday, CPF Secretary-Treasurer Dallas Jones was remembered as a man who, in his modest but firm way, changed the face of the California fire service and the fire labor movement. Brother Jones, who served sixteen years as president of Los Angeles County Firefighters Local 1014 as well as five years as state OES Director, died May 10th after battling lung cancer. 

In anticipation of another blistering fire season, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has issued an Executive Order to allocate additional resources to protect the state. The governor's order authorizes additional staffing "as warranted, based on fire threat conditions" and urges expanded enforcement of defensible space and fireworks laws. 

Want to win some cool cash for those hot-shot fire line photos? Then enter CPF's 2008 Photo Contest. Whether you're a serious photographer or a weekend shutterbug, you can win up to $1,500 for your best shots of fires and firefighters, whether they're in the hot zone or working at the station. Deadline for submitting photos is June 15th. CLICK HERE FOR RULES AND DETAILS

At a time when budgets are tight, a new national study has revealed a "miracle" at work in state capitals and city halls: Fully funded pension systems. The report, conducted by the Center for State and Local Government Excellence, indicates that overall, pension systems in the U.S. are doing better than private systems, and are 90% funded.

Would-be California firefighters converged on the CPAT testing centers in Orange and Dublin for the second California Firefighter Recruitment Fairs. Presented by CPF co-sponsored California Fire Fighter Joint Apprenticeship Committee (CFFJAC), the fairs gave candidates an “up close and personal” look at what it takes to be a first responder. Nearly 600 people attended the two sessions -- April 12th in Orange, and April 19th in Dublin.

State lawmakers proposing opening up the CalPERS retirement system to private sector employees have won the support of Governor Schwarzenegger. The plan would let private employees have retirement accounts managed through CalPERS. CPF is watching the proposal, but has no position to this point.
 

A new audit at the U.S. Justice Dept. has confirmed what many grieving families already know -- the Department has improperly denied and delayed death benefits owed to the families of fallen first responders under the 2003 Hometown Heroes Act.

Los Angeles City Firefighter Brent A. Lovrien. Lovrien died Wednesday from injuries sustained in an explosion that occurred during a response near LA Airport. Engineer Anthony J. Guzman was also injured in the explosion. Memorial services are scheduled for Friday, April 4, 2008, at 9:30am at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles. A candlelight vigil will be held Thursday evening. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has ordered state flags lowered to half-mast.  CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST DETAILS.

As part of the statewide Californians for Health Care and Retirement Security (CHCRS) coalition, CPF is planning to join the legal defense of Orange County employees retirement benefits. The Orange County Board of Supervisors is suing to take away existing pension benefits from retirees. Though it doesn't affect firefighters, CPF plans to join legal efforts to fight the take-away.
 

For the third year in a row, CPF joined in partnership with California’s teachers, to participate in the 11th Annual Read Across America Day on March 3rd. Elementary schools across California invited celebrities and community leaders to come into the classroom and read to help get kids excited about books.

California firefighters and fire departments can now obtain the latest in online EMS training from the National Paramedic Institute (NPI) at a discount, thanks to a new partnership agreement between IAFF, NPI, and California Professional Firefighters.

The unprecedented natural disaster risk facing California has prompted the California Blue Ribbon Task Force to recommend  increases in permanent state and local emergency services, building additional response to meet catastrophic needs, and a new commitment to fire-safe construction and land-use planning.

The needs of California firefighters were a major focus of attention for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger at a community meeting in San Diego on Jan. 17th where he strongly defended his proposal to significantly improve the ability of firefighters to respond to devastating wildland fires like last fall's southern California firestorm.

Even though his latest attack on pensions has failed to qualify for the ballot, former assemblyman and failed statewide candidate Keith Richman has promised to renew  his bid to qualify an initiative that would dramatically roll back retirement security for firefighters, law enforcement and other hard-working Californians.

California Professional Firefighters is backing Governor Schwarzenegger's proposal to improve our state's fire response capability. The governor's budget includes a plan to add more than 100 new mutual aid fire engines, all pre-positioned with local governments and immediately available for response to major fires, as well as stable, permanent funding to fully staff CALFIRE engine companies.

More than two years after the defeat of statewide efforts to take away the retirement security of public workers, San Diego City Attorney Michael Aguirre has continued a rogue legal assault against public employee retirement. This week, more than 100 firefighters, city employees, teachers and other public workers gathered Tuesday at the state building to urge the San Diego County Democratic Party to withhold their endorsement for Aguirre.

The fires of 2007 exposed a key deficiency that has made the battle for resources difficult: There are no standards of coverage for firefighting in the urban-wildland interface. California Professional Firefighters is on the front lines to bring such groundbreaking standards to California. In conjunction with CalChiefs, CPF has formed a Standards of Coverage Committee to fully explore critical tasks needed for effective fire management in wildland-urban interface. The concept behind the Standards of Coverage Committee is to create an NFPA 1710 equivalent for wildland firefighting.

The enactment of the landmark Firefighters Procedural Bill of Rights gives California firefighters the fairest, most extensive privacy protection enjoyed by any public employee in the state. Its approval in 2007 caps a 20-year legislative effort by California Professional Firefighters and ranks as one of the cornerstone accomplishments of CPF history. But as grueling as the struggle has been, the legislative fight is only the beginning. CPF is following through by insuring you know your rights, and your advocates are equipped to protect them for you. BOOKMARK THIS PAGE FOR THE LATEST ON HOW THIS LAW CAN WORK FOR YOU!

For 25 years, the California Fire Fighter Joint Apprenticeship Committee (CFFJAC) has remained steadfast in its mission to ensure that California’s first responders receive the highest quality of education and training. Sponsored by the Office of the State Fire Marshal and California Professional Firefighters, the mounting success of the CFFJAC and its firefighter training and education programs is due in large part to the collaborative effort of fire department management and local union labor representatives. The CFFJAC's unparalleled legacy was celebrated this past month at the CFFJAC's Biennial Conference in Palm Springs.

California's first responders will be better prepared to meet the challenges of domestic terrorism thanks to CPF-backed legislation signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The CPF-backed legislation, AB 587, authored by Assemblywoman Betty Karnette (D-Long Beach), earmarks $2.5 million for firefighter anti-terrorism training -- half of the $5 million allocation made out of proceeds from a special 9/11 license plate fund.

Legislation designed to protect the decades-long history of firefighters giving back to their communities has been signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Senate Bill 582, by Senator Ellen Corbett (D-San Leandro), securing California firefighters' right to raise money to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association, local burn institutes and other causes through its signature "Fill The Boot" program. The bill clarifies differences in local anti-solicitation ordinances that had been interpreted, by some, to outlaw or limit the iconic firefighter charitable efforts.

In a solemn ceremony featuring a procession of uniformed firefighters and presentations to family members, 29 firefighters who fell in the line of duty were added to the California Firefighters Memorial. Located in historic Capitol Park, adjoining the California State Capitol in Sacramento, the Memorial carries the names of nearly 1,000 firefighters who died in service since California became a state in 1850. This year, the Memorial marks its fifth anniversary by honoring, among others, two Contra Costa firefighters killed in a San Pablo house fire in July and five U.S. Forest Service firefighters who died in the deadly Esperanza Fire last fall in Riverside Co.

Giving all federal firefighters and their families the respect they deserve is at the heart of legislation that has been signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The California Fallen Firefighter Survivor Assistance Act of 2007 -- Assembly Bill 384 -- guarantees that survivors of California's fallen federal firefighters have access to the same survivor health benefits program available to survivors of state and local firefighters. The measure, sponsored by California Professional Firefighters, was approved unanimously by both houses of the Legislature, with more than 40 members signing on as co-authors.

After an outpouring of anger from firefighters and the citizens they serve, Palo Alto city officials have apologized for the insult leveled at the memories of two fallen Contra Costa County firefighters. In a letter to California Professional Firefighters President Lou Paulson, Palo Alto Fire Chief Nicolas Marinaro offered personal apologies for "the controversy and consternation" surrounding City Manager Frank Benest's refusal to honor the sacrifices of firefighters Matt Burton and Scott Desmond. Benest refused to permit Palo Alto fire station flags to be lowered for the two because, in his words, "you can't lower the flags willy-nilly." Benest -- while saying he "doesn't recall" making the widely-quoted statement, has also offered an apology.

In the classic holiday movie “It’s A Wonderful Life,” Jimmy Stewart’s guardian angel showed him that he was the “richest man in town.” Ventura County Firefighter Greg Chavez’ “Guardian Angel” has made him a rich man, too. Chavez, a member of Ventura County Firefighters Local 1364, has won the nationally broadcast American Inventor contest – and a $1 million prize – for his holiday fire safety device disguised as a Christmas tree ornament. His “Guardian Angel” design beat out five other finalists and literally thousands of entries to with the contest, which aired on ABC television on Wednesday nights.

Former Assemblyman Keith Richman -- a termed-out politician and failed statewide candidate -- has introduced a new and even more mean-spirited version of the pension destruction plan that tanked in 2005. Richman who put forth the idea of privatizing the entire retirement  system for new employees, threatening to eliminate death and disability benefits for  firefighters and law enforcement. Unlike the previous proposal, Richman's proposed initiative doesn't couch its plan in a desire to "help" new employees. It just punishes them ... and punishes them  ... and punishes them some more.