When the Turlock Holiday Parade was in danger of being canceled due to lack of sponsorship money, the Turlock Fire Fighters Association Local 2434 stepped in with a significant cash contribution, becoming the primary sponsor for this 25-year community holiday tradition.
California’s firefighters once again answered the call this fall, responding to devastating fires and saving thousands of homes. Jay Leno wanted to say thank you in person. So Leno invited CPF members from throughout the state to fill his audience this past Wednesday, as part of his Thanksgiving Eve episode.
Fire officials reported more good news from the front lines. Firefighters achieved 95% containment of the 1,940-acre Tea fire, which started in Montecito on Thursday evening and damaged or destroyed 219 residences. The Sayre fire was 64% contained, and the Freeway Complex fire was 40% contained.
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.