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CPF President Praises Newsom Commitment to Wildfire Response and Prevention
Statement from Brian K. Rice, President of California Professional Firefighters, on Governor Gavin Newsom’s Commitment to Wildfire Prevention, Suppression and Mitigation In the last five years, wildfires have burned over 8 million acres, destroyed thousands of homes, and claimed the lives of over 100 people. This is a crisis and Governor Gavin Newsom understands, better…
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All CPF Priority and Sponsored Bills Signed by Governor
At the end of an interrupted legislative session, CPF is proud to report that every bill both sponsored or considered a top priority for the organization has been signed by Governor Newsom and passed into law. Below is a summary of the new laws either taking effect immediately or on January 1, 2021. CPF Sponsored…
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Wildfire Response Will Remain A Priority in State Budget Revision
Governor Gavin Newsom has made it clear that wildfire preparedness and response will remain a critical priority, even as the state faces a budget hole caused by the SARS-Cov2 (COVID-19) pandemic. In his May Budget Revision, due Thursday, the governor proposed an $85.7 million enhancement for CAL FIRE, which will help with surge capacity ahead…
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CPF Praises Governor’s Executive Order on COVID-19 Workers Comp Presumption
Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive order, providing a workers’ compensation presumption for COVID-19, sets the table for important protections for firefighters and front line workers who are bravely responding to the pandemic. Since the virus’ outbreak, California firefighters have responded to COVID-19 medical emergencies across the state, putting their own health at risk and potentially exposing…
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Confronting Wildfire Season in 2020 – The New “New Normal”
California continues to be in a drought of historic proportions – the worst megadrought in centuries. The state recorded less than half of the normal amount of rainfall and snow for the current time of year. Even without the COVID-19 outbreak, California’s firefighters would be bracing for a long, hot summer. The coronavirus has made a…
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Statement from California Professional Firefighters President on LAO Analysis in CAL FIRE Staffing
The Legislative Analyst Office (LAO) has rejected Governor Newsom’s plan to invest more resources to respond to wildfires. California Professional Firefighters President Brian K. Rice has issued a statement on the issue. “We praise Governor Newsom for his proactive plan to add 550 firefighters and invest more resources into combating wildfires across the state. The…
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CPF President Responds to President’s Statements on Wildfire Aid
President Trump has issued statements via Twitter that suggest federal disaster assistance could be withheld over forest management practices. California Professional Firefighters President Brian Rice has issued a statement on the issue. “As with last year’s fires, any suggestion that disaster assistance for fire victims and firefighting efforts could be withheld because of the state’s…
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Governor signs historic CPF-sponsored bills
As the 2019 legislative session comes to a close, California firefighters gain a historic win as Governor Gavin Newsom signed significant CPF-sponsored bills that reached his desk. CPF-backed behavioral health bills SB 542 and AB 1116 and EMS dispatch bill, SB 438, go into effect January 2020. Firefighters made their voices heard. It is through the…
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Retiree Protection Act Secures Pension Promise From Unfair Take-Back
In 2012, a firefighter employed by the City of Davis retired after serving the public for nearly 30 years. Before retiring, the firefighter twice asked her employer to provide an estimate of her fixed-income benefit – benefits that she and her city had paid into the system to provide funding. Five years after the firefighter…
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CPF President Praises Gov. Newsom’s Wildfire Emergency Announcement
With California’s back-to-back unprecedented wildfire years, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state wildfire emergency to address the urgency of protecting our most vulnerable communities. California Professional Firefighters President Brian K. Rice made the following response: We commend Governor Newsom’s quick action to address the state’s increasing wildfire risks. In the past two years alone, catastrophic…
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CPF President Praises Emergency Response Commitment in Gov. Newsom’s New Budget
On Jan 10, Governor Gavin Newsom today unveiled his 2019-2020 California State Budget The new spending plan includes a substantial new commitment to emergency preparedness and response, and also boosts funding for CAL FIRE for equipment and personnel. It also includes a new budget commitment to efforts to combat post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) among firefighters.…
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New IAFF Behavioral Health Center Coming to California
The IAFF Center of Excellence on Behavioral Health in Maryland has become an indispensable resource to provide treatment and healing for firefighters facing post-traumatic stress. Soon, that important service will be closer for California firefighters. At the CAL FIRE Local 2881 Convention in Sacramento, IAFF General President Harold A. Schaitberger announced that a second IAFF…
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CPF President Responds to President’s Threat to Cut Off Aid to Fire Victims
With California’s fire-ravaged communities only beginning to recover from the devastation of 2018, President Donald Trump has issued a threat via social media to cut off FEMA aid to these communities because of his views about forest management. California Professional Firefighters President Brian Rice made the following response. President Trump’s threat to cut off FEMA…
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Working For You: Key CPF Leaders Appointed to Important State Fire Positions
Gov. Jerry Brown has named two strong firefighter advocates to an important state board directly involved in fire policy. IAFF 10th District Vice President Frank Lima and Los Angeles County Firefighters Local 1014 Dave Gillotte have been re-appointed by Brown to the State Board of Fire Services. The SBFS is responsible for developing fire training…