Hundreds of firefighters, family members, grateful citizens and Governor Jerry Brown paused today in Sacramento's Capitol Park to honor 22 firefighters who died in the line of duty. The California Firefighters Memorial Ceremony pays tribute to those who have paid the ultimate price.
With dry desert winds forecast for much of California over the next few days, CAL FIRE and local agencies are pre-deploying resources to prepare for the worst.
Support in Times of Tragedy: The California Last Alarm Service Team (Cal-LAST), a partnership between the California Fire Foundation and the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation, is a comprehensive support team designed to help local fire departments and firefighter unions deal with line of duty deaths.
It's official: Anti-employee hard liners are going to the ballot to gut retirement security. Still-secret ballot language being shopped by San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed would restrict vested rights and could empower an end-run around collective bargaining.
Add your voice to the cause and help keep the pressure on Governor Brown to support the families of California's fallen heroes by signing AB 1373.
Is the "non-partisan" Pew Center for the States selling its good name and acting as the new front group for billionaire anti-pension ideologue John Arnold? You decide.
AB 1373 closes a cruel loophole and ensures that fallen firefighter families get access to the benefits they deserve – and that's why AB 1373 passed the legislature with overwhelming bipartisan support.
We need your help getting the message out. Please sign the petition urging Governor Brown to sign AB 1373.
Arriving early and fueled by abnormally dry conditions, this California wildfire season has been the worst in some time. With so many fires and resources stretched thin, it is taking its toll on firefighters and their families.
The Rim Fire: Already the third largest in California history, the Rim Fire is the most dangerous fire in a dangerous fire season. The unified mutual aid response involved nearly one out of seven California firefighters, safeguarding the lives and property of thousands of Californians.
It has been 12 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Today we honor and remember those who lost their lives that day, all the first responders who put their lives on the line to save others and those who continue risking their lives to keep us safe. We will never forget.
Investigative report unmasks secret campaign strategy meeting aimed at renewing ballot attack on retirement security for firefighters, other public workers.
Firefighting officials said Monday that they are gaining the upper hand on the massive Rim Fire burning in and around Yosemite National Park. Firefighters have also made great progress on other major wildfire incidents throughout the state.
Compromise was reached late Friday on CPF-backed legislation -- SB 594 -- to provide greater disclosure of campaign spending by taxpayer-financed non-profits and strengthen the ban on using public dollars for political campaigns.
Compromise was reached late Friday on CPF-backed legislation -- SB 594 -- to provide greater disclosure of campaign spending by taxpayer-financed non-profits and strengthen the ban on using public dollars for political campaigns.
More than 4,000 firefighters are hoping to gain more ground against the wildfire raging near Yosemite National Park. The Rim Fire has scorched over 280 square miles and continues to grow.
Prospective firefighters from all over California converged on the CPAT testing centers in Orange and Livermore to participate in two CFFJAC-sponsored Firefighter Career Expos.
Fire crews continue to implement defensive strategies against fires from the Corral Complex near Willow Creek which continue to scorch vegetation with no containment. Defensive strategies were also key to battling two other, much bigger fires at the Salmon River Complex and Butler areas.
In June, 19 firefighters from Prescott’s Granite Mountain Hotshot Crew were killed fighting a wildfire near Yarnell, Ariz. Six of the men were full-time city employees and their families are entitled to full-time survivors benefits. The other 13, though, were part-time. The city has a special category for those families: out of luck.
It is with great sadness that United Firefighters of Los Angeles City Local 112 announce the loss of one of their own, Fire Captain/Paramedic Matthew G. McKnight, in the line of duty.
Videos capture dramatic moments from Wednesday as the Silver fire swept through several small communities south of Banning. The fire has already burned 10,000 acres, destroying homes and other structures and injuring two firefighters and one civilian.
Dan Pellissier, president of California Pension Reform, told reporters that Los Angeles would follow Detroit to bankruptcy in the next few years. A coalition of firefighters, police officers, teachers and other public employees have joined Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to refute Pellissier's bold claim.
When Andrew Ashcroft died with 18 of his brother firefighters in the Yarnell Hills fire last month, he was pulling full-time shifts. But the City of Prescott says he's only a "seasonal", denying his widow key survivor benefits.
Detroit's bankruptcy can't and shouldn't be blamed on public workers, and it shouldn't be used as an excuse to take away hard-earned benefits. So says an editorial in this weekend's New York Times.
More Fires, Less Resources: The 2013 Fire Season is off to a bad start: as of June 1st, the number of fires was up 35% over 2012, with nearly six times as many acres burned. But this heightened danger comes at a time when layoffs, station closures and a “cut-first” climate has decimated local capacity.
San Jose and its employee unions face off in court over public pension reforms in a case that has major implications for other local governments across the state.
According to the state Department of Finance, cities, counties, special districts and schools have nearly $4 billion more available for critical services, thanks to CPF-backed legislation that ended the costly and often-corrupt local redevelopment agencies.
Camp Pendleton Professional Firefighters Local F-85 is sad to announce that Firefighter Michael Lee of Engine Company 2, A-Shift, passed away unexpectedly on July 22.
Downey Firemen's Association, Local 3473 is saddened to announce the loss of one of their own, Battalion Chief Brian Wolf, in the line of duty.
Grant McKee and Robert Caldwell worked ... and died ... together on the front lines in the Granite Mountain Hotshots. The two men -- both killed in the Yarnell Hill Fire, were honored on Saturday, July 20, 2013 at 11:00am.
2,985 fire personnel now working the Mountain Fire in Riverside County. Blaze grows to 22,800 acres, forces over 6,000 mandatory evacuations. 15% contained, over 4,000 structures threatened, 22 structures damaged or destroyed, 4-6 vehicles destroyed.
The California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) today reported a 12.5 percent return on investments for the 12 months that ended June 30, 2013, outperforming its benchmark by 1.5 percentage points.
Kevin Woyjeck, 21, was among 19 Prescott AZ firefighters who died battling the Yarnell Hills Fire in central Arizona. On Tuesday, July 16th, at 11:00am, Kevin was honored with a memorial service in Long Beach.
Sean Misner 26, was one of 19 Prescott, AZ. who lost their lives June 30th battling the Yarnell Hill Fire. On Monday, July 15, 2013 at 7:00pm, Sean was remembered with a memorial service.
Saluting Our Fallen: On June 30, the fire service suffered its greatest one-day loss since 9/11 with the death of 19 Granite Mountain Hotshot firefighters from Prescott, AZ. A few days later, CAL FIRE engineer Christopher Douglas lost his life in the line of duty.
On Wednesday, July 10, 2013, fallen firefighters with California roots were flown home from Arizona to the Golden State aboard a National Guard C-130. A Memorial Ramp Ceremony upon their arrival gave all California firefighters the opportunity to pay their respects to those who paid the ultimate price.
More than 1,300 fire personnel working Chariot Fire in San Diego County. 4,700 acre blaze threatens 120 homes. 15% contained, 8 structures damaged or destroyed, 4 minor injuries.
CDF Firefighters Local 2881 is saddened to announce the line-of-duty death of CAL FIRE Engineer/Paramedic Christopher Douglas, who was fatally injured this morning after being hit by a car while working along eastbound Interstate 10 in the Thousand Palms area of Riverside County.
In the most devastating firefighter loss since 9/11, 19 Prescott Arizona firefighters died Sunday battling a devastating wildland blaze in central Arizona. A public memorial was held in Prescott on Tuesday, July 9 at 11:00am at the Toyota Center.
For some California families, Sunday's tragedy in central Arizona carries special pain. Five California natives were among the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots who died in Sunday's catastrophic burn over of the Yarnell Hills Fire.
CPF and UFLAC Local 112 are pleased to announce that parole has been denied for Mario Catanio, the arsonist who set fire to a North Hollywood restaurant and took the life of Los Angeles firefighter Thomas Taylor.
San Diego Fire-Rescue Department Chief Javier Mainar said Wednesday that firefighter retainment problems are starting to crop up because San Diego no longer offers competitive compensation when compared to nearby cities.
Despite hundreds of millions in concessions and give-backs by working people, anti-pension hard liners are doubling down on their attacks. Now, a billionaire Texas hedge fund operator linked with the defunct and discredited Enron is promising millions to a California campaign to gut retirement security for firefighters and other workers.
It is with deep sadness and regret that Los Angeles County Firefighters Local 1014, along with Chief Daryl Osby, report the passing of our Sister Janet Chatelain.
New figures from CalPERS put the lie to claims that pensions are swallowing up more public dollars. According to CalPERS, the state of California will be paying $71.3 million less on pension costs in 2013-2014. Classified school employees will also see pension costs drop by $31.5 million.
On June 16, Vallejo Firefighter Ben Crew became the "toughest competitor alive" at the 2013 U.S. Police and Firefighter Championships in San Diego.
CPF-backed legislation (AB 1373) would protect benefits for fallen firefighter survivors from an outdated and cruel "expiration date."
CPF-backed legislation (AB 1373) would protect benefits for fallen firefighter survivors from an outdated and cruel "expiration date."
The 2012 California Professional Firefighters Photo Contest offered some timeless images depicting the heroics and real life experiences taking place behind the front lines. The 2013 Photo Contest is coming soon ... watch for details.
It’s that time of year again—time for the California State Fair’s annual Best Firehouse Chef Challenge! Don’t miss this chance to show off your culinary masterpieces in a friendly competition with brother and sister firefighters from around the state.
At a time when the Central Coast is under siege from wildland fires, Vandenberg firefighters are getting furlough notices. Thanks to the federal sequester, all 57 firefighters will face furloughs of up to 32 hours a month from July through September, and will see the closure of the base Hot Shots program.
Pressing the Case: CPF members meet face-to-face with California lawmakers on firefighter issues at 2013 Daniel A. Terry Legislative Conference.
Pressing the Case: CPF members meet face-to-face with California lawmakers on firefighter issues at 2013 Daniel A. Terry Legislative Conference.
It is with deepest regret and sorrow that CDF Local 2881 reports the line-of-duty death of Engineer Alex J. Stevenson. Brother Stevenson, 39, passed away on Friday, May 24, 2013 after a nine-year battle with brain cancer.
Writing in an op-ed for The Sacramento Bee and Modesto Bee, CPF President Lou Paulson says benefits for survivors of firefighters who die of job-related cancer should not be closed off just because a stricken firefighter lives "too long."
Untrained or poorly-trained "rescuers" are increasingly becoming casualties themselves in multiple fatality incidents, both in and outside the workplace.
Six specialists from California will be on the ground in Oklahoma on Wednesday to help with search and rescue, first aid, hazardous materials, logistics and communications.
No new anti-pension measures are being eyed at either the state or local level in California, and those that have passed are facing increasing difficulty in the courts. With pension funds at record levels and voter indifference rising, the anti-retirement tide may have finally ebbed.
Ash Kalra, San Jose City Councilmember representing District 2, explains that Measure B has eroded employee morale and created the most toxic labor-management relationship in San Jose’s history. The San Jose City Council will be asked Tuesday, for the second time in five months, to fork over nearly another million dollars to continue battling for Measure B and against the city’s own employees.
CalPERS has launched a new video outlining the precedent-setting bankruptcy cases in Stockton and San Bernardino and explaining the impact that city bankruptcies will have on retirement security.
The Sacramento Bee -- and its affiliated newspapers in Modesto, Fresno and Merced -- has renewed an attack on legislation aimed at easing a 100-year-old restriction on firefighter survivor benefits.
The convicted murderer who set a North Hollywood arson fire that killed 34-year-old L.A. City firefighter Thomas Taylor in 1981 is eligible to be released from prison. Watch and share and find out why Mario Catanio deserves to stay behind bars.
Nearly 32 years ago, Los Angeles firefighter Thomas Taylor plunged to his death in a restaurant fire set by arsonist. The man who set that fire -- Mario Catanio -- was convicted of murder, but is up for parole. UFLAC Local 112 and CPF are urging members to help keep Catanio behind bars.
Rain and cooler temperatures provided a much-needed break for firefighters battling the 28,000 acre Springs Fire in Ventura County. But the real miracle may have been the work of the firefighters themselves.
UPDATED: Dry winds and hot temperatures are fanning fires throughout the Southland. A wind-whipped fire in Glendale is forcing school and neighborhood evacuations. Meanwhile, the 18,000 acre Springs Fire in Ventura Co. has reached the ocean and is threatening high-priced homes in Hidden Valley and Malibu.
Windswept wildland fires in Riverside and Ventura counties have forced the evacuation of hundreds of local residents, the leading edge of what could be a record-setting fire season.
Even as his home was being evacuated, Assm. Jeff Gorell stood up for firefighters by supporting AB 1373 -- CPF-sponsored legislation designed to help the survivors of firefighters who die from job-related cancer.
Even as his home was being evacuated, Assm. Jeff Gorell stood up for firefighters by supporting AB 1373 -- CPF-sponsored legislation designed to help the survivors of firefighters who die from job-related cancer.
California Professional Firefighters' 2012 Annual Report is now available for download. This report reviews CPF’s major events and accomplishments during the past calendar year, as well as identifies challenges for the future.
CalPERS' investment portfolio hit a record $261.7 billion last Friday, earning back all of the investment losses suffered as a result of the 2008 market meltdown.
Drought conditions in California have caused a 45% increase in wildland fire activity, signaling the early beginning of a potentially bad fire season.
At a time of increased fire danger and already depleted fire services, budget cuts are causing longer response times and putting both citizen and firefighter lives in danger.
Redlands firefighters grant a dying man's lifelong wish to become a firefighter. Kevin Kunf Jr., who was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer after graduating from a fire academy, received an honorary badge and a helmet.
The National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA’s) new report on home fires from 2007-2011 shows that seven people died each day from U.S. home fires, and roughly one in every 320 households per year had a reported home fire during this five-year period. These fires caused an estimated average of 2,570 civilian deaths, 13,210 civilian injuries, and $7.2 billion in direct property damage per year.
The presidents of UFLAC Local 112 and the LA. Chief Officer's Assn. have condemned a new staffing proposal that would divert critical life-saving resources to BLS response, putting firefighters and the public at risk.
Feeling the Heat: CPF brings the fire to the State Capitol with Fire Ops 101. State legislators get a first-hand experience of what it's like to be a firefighter.
A thoughtful editorial by Paula Ready of the San Bernardino Public Employees Association calling for politicians to stop using public employee pension systems as the scapegoat for their poor budgeting decisions.
Art Hurtado, Pasadena Fire captain and paramedic, helped save the life of a man at Home Depot after the victim apparently tried to cut his arms off using handsaws found at the home improvement store.
An NIST study, released April 10 in Phoenix, concludes that larger crews (5-6 firefighters) respond faster, put out fires faster and are more effective in search and rescue in high-rise fires.
Full-time, year-round firefighters, with shifts often lasting 48 hours or more, put in more hours per week on average than any other profession in the Sacramento region, according to the latest census data.
Marin firefighter chalks up "the best rescue ever" to his search-and-rescue "swift-water" training as one of 28 members of an elite emergency preparedness group called Marin County Swift Water Rescue Team 11.
With rainfall at less than a quarter of what is normal for this time of year, an earlier start to the fire season is expected in local areas.
A retired fire captain from Bakersfield has become the public face in support of an effort to ban discrimination based on caregiver status. Derek Tisinger, the former president of Bakersfield Firefighters, testified this week on behalf of SB 404, which is also backed by CPF.
A San Jose firefighter went back on duty Monday after suffering a massive heart attack while fighting a fire last summer. Frank Ryan, a 17-year-veteran, collapsed and went into cardiac arrest at least three times on the way to the hospital. The care he received on the scene was critical to his survival.
Fight Fire with Education: Thanks to our partnership with Kaplan University, members of California Professional Firefighters are eligible for special opportunities to save time and tuition on a Bachelor's or Associate's degree in fire science or fire science and emergency management.
Firefighter and author Joseph Garces' keen ability to think like a kid helped him rescue a 4-year-old boy who went missing in a Santa Paula Canyon in October 2012. Now, he uses that talent to connect with students who visit the Oxnard Fire Department to learn about safety.
Seven years after a horrific auto accident, and a prognosis of 3-5% chance of survival, burn survivor thanks Roseville firefighters that saved his life in June 2005.
Cities and counties are far and away the biggest spenders on lobbying at the California State Capitol. According to the LA Times, local agencies spent nearly $100 million last year on lobbying, a total that "dwarfs" spending by unions, oil companies and energy firms.
A new national study is vindicating the efforts of dozens of California local unions to negotiate common-sense changes to retirement security.
Less than a month after issuing a groundbreaking ruling against San Diego’s pension-slashing ballot initiative, the Public Employees Relations Board (PERB) has filed an action against a similar law in San Jose.
In the ongoing debate over reforming public pensions, retirees are often portrayed as living the high life, which is an unfair characterization -- and one that's clouding the issue.
The Sacramento Bee has renewed an attack on legislation aimed at easing a 100-year-old restriction on firefighter survivor benefits in a harsh, and in CPF's view, misleading editorial
A groundbreaking new study published by environmental toxicologist Dr. Susan Shaw and co-authors provides new evidence that brominated flame retardants in burning household materials endangers the health of U.S. firefighters.
Building the Next Generation: This May, would-be firefighters will have the chance to meet department reps and learn if they have what it takes at the annual Career Expos in Orange and Livermore, co-sponsored by CPF through the CFFJAC and its Women's Commission.
More than 700 California firefighters are scheduled to get layoff notices tomorrow, and local public safety grants face steep cuts ... all courtesy of the latest round of federal budget brinksmanship.
A Santa Cruz Fire Department ladder truck, an engine and a battalion chief all responded to the call for help when detectives Sgt. Loran "Butch" Baker and Elizabeth Butler were shot. Firefighters even shielded innocent bystanders from bullets.
It is with great sadness that Ventura City Firefighters Local 3431 announces the passing of Retired Fire Captain John Duff. John passed away with his family at his side on Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013 after a long and hard battle with job-related cancer.
The next generation of retirees will be measurably worse off thanks, in large measure, to the end of defined benefit pensions. According to the Washington Post, the U.S. faces a $6 trillion retirement savings deficit that will likely mean greater pressure on the social safety net and more poverty among the elderly.
The next generation of retirees will be measurably worse off thanks, in large measure, to the end of defined benefit pensions. According to the Washington Post, the U.S. faces a $6 trillion retirement savings deficit that will likely mean greater pressure on the social safety net and more poverty among the elderly.
Sacramento Area Firefighters Local 522 is remembering the legacy of one of its own, whose profound impact extended well beyond his profession and his community.
Retired Local 522 member Cliff Haskell, who died at home in Sacramento Feb. 11, was the driving force behind the creation of the Firefighters Burn Institute. The Institute – co-founded by Haskell and Local 522 – has raised millions of dollars regionally to build up the Sacramento area’s burn treatment response, help train burn unit staffing and support fire survivors.
Sacramento Area Firefighters Local 522 is remembering the legacy of one of its own, whose profound impact extended well beyond his profession and his community.
Retired Local 522 member Cliff Haskell, who died at home in Sacramento Feb. 11, was the driving force behind the creation of the Firefighters Burn Institute. The Institute – co-founded by Haskell and Local 522 – has raised millions of dollars regionally to build up the Sacramento area’s burn treatment response, help train burn unit staffing and support fire survivors.