California Professional Firefighters

California Professional Firefighters has lost two members this week, both to hard fought battles with cancer.

 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.

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. 

Hundreds of firefighters and friends from throughout California gathered in Riverside to say a last farewell to a fallen colleague. Riverside City Firefighter Eric Botkin died late last year at the age of 41 from job-related cancer.

Riverside City Firefighters Local 1067 and the City of Riverside Fire Department are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Eric Botkin from brain cancer on December 27th.  He was 41 years old.