California Professional Firefighters

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.

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.

In 2008, CDF Firefighters Local 2881 netted more than $140,000 for MDA in its statewide series of Fill-The-Boot fund raisers. For Local 2881, however, it appears 2009 was twice as nice.

It is with great sorrow that the City of Montclair Fire Department announces the passing of Deputy Fire Marshal Timothy J. Bissett on Saturday, February 20th of occupational cancer.  He was 58 years old.

 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. 

Ontario Firefighters Local 1430 and the Ontario Fire Department are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Battalion Chief Richard "Chip" Smith on February 21st, after a corageous battle with cancer.  He was 46 years old. 

 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.