CPF

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."

Under gray skies, drums and bagpipes played Thursday for retired Alameda County firefighter Luster Knight, whose flagged-draped casket was lowered from a fire engine by pallbearers as nearly 200 firefighters in dress uniforms snapped to attention and saluted.

In the last week before the election, an advertisement has surfaced in support of Prop. 11 with a firefighter implying that all CA firefighters support the measure. In fact, the individual is not a member of California Professional Firefighters, and does not speak on behalf of any statewide firefighting organization, including those representing management. CPF has taken no position on Prop. 11 -- either for or against.

Alameda County Firefighters Local 55 is saddened to announce a line of duty death. Alameda County firefighter Luster Knight died of job-related cancer on Friday, Oct. 24, 2008. He was 59.

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

A statewide special election has concluded with the election of Los Angeles City firefighter Steve Norris as CPF Trustee.  

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.