March 15, 2017 Thirty-Ninth Edition

Bob Wolf, Former CAL FIRE Local 2881 President
BOB WOLF, A "FORCE OF NATURE' IN CAL FIRE, DIES AT 57
SAC BEE, 3/13/2017


Bob Wolf, a firefighter known as a "powerful force of nature" in uniform and later as a labor leader in Sacramento, has died. He was 57.

He was the longest-serving president of Cal Fire Local 2881, the union that represents state firefighters. Wolf, the son of a firefighter, led the organization from 2002 to 2012, carrying initiatives that raised pay and improved working conditions for thousands of firefighters.

Around Sacramento, he had a reputation as a determined advocate who loved his colleagues and held his teammates to high standards. Plus, at 6-foot-4, Wolf made a memorable first impression.

"He was a dancer inside the body of an offensive lineman," said Terry McHale, a lobbyist who represents public safety unions.

Wolf died unexpectedly on March 2 during a trip to attend spring training baseball games in Arizona with his family. Cal Fire Local 2881 and Wolf's family are planning a memorial that likely will take place on April 1 in Sacramento.

His brother, Darrell, wrote in a message to the union that Wolf had enjoyed "one of the best days of his life" in Phoenix. "We had great weather and seats behind home plate. He ate his favorite dinner and went to bed, passing away in his sleep."

News of his death traveled quickly among the state's firefighters. Friends have been posting  tributes to him at the union's website, and Cal Fire Director Ken Pimlott issued an all-staff message earlier this week praising Wolf's leadership.

"Bob Wolf was larger than life as a labor leader and advocate for Cal Fire firefighters," Pimlott said. "At the same time, he was a caring, passionate person and a great friend. He will be truly missed."

Tim Edwards, the union's rank and file director, remembered Wolf as a mentor. Early in his career, Edwards worked on teams that Wolf led as a captain in Riverside County.

"He was a hard-charger. He took everything seriously. He made sure we knew we worked for the public," Edwards said.

Over time, Edwards followed Wolf into the union. He credited Wolf with efforts that boosted overtime pay, improved schedules for seasonal firefighters and distinguished Cal Fire within the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

"He moved the department forward as a whole," Edwards said.

Mike Lopez, who succeeded Wolf as union president, called Wolf a charismatic leader "who always had an audience."

Wolf's father, Carl, is recognized on the state's memorial wall for fallen firefighters. Carl Wolf died from ailments that were connected to his firefighting career.

"Bob's first home was a Cal Fire firehouse. Bob never wanted to be anything but a firefighter. In the course of his remarkable career he earned the respect of his colleagues as one of the best and the brightest of our profession," Lopez wrote in a message to the union.














In Memoriam:  CAL FIRE Local 2881 BEU  &  CAL FIRE Local 2881  sadly announce passing of  CAL FIRE BEU  Captain Julie Freeman, who fell after a long and courageous battle with cancer at age 50. Sister Freeman was a proud member of the   CAL FIRE Local 2881 Honor Guard an officer with the local and a dedicated firefighter. RIP, Sister Freeman.

The memorial service for Julie will be on Thursday March 23, 2017 at 11 a.m. at the Church on the Hill, 500 Sands Drive in San Jose. Uniformed personnel are requested to wear Class A Dress uniform. A reception will follow at the Scottish Rite Center adjacent to the church.

IN THE NEWS

CAL Fire Local 2881 is committed to ensuring that all CAL FIRE current employees, seasonal and limited term employees, retiree and families of all employees have access to behavioral wellness benefits.

Click here to find out more.

GPS CANCER: BREAKTHROUGH TESTING FOR CANCER TREATMENT STRATEGIES
IAFF

Cancer is now the leading cause of death for fire fighters nationwide - 60 percent of the names on the Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial Wall in Colorado Springs are  IAFF members who have died from occupational cancer. In fact, research suggests that the prevalence of cancer in fire fighters is 9-12 percent higher than the general population.
Everything - furniture, electronics, drapes, carpet and other household goods - is made of a chemical property that, when on fire, release countless carcinogens that fire fighters breath in or absorb into their skin over the course of their career.
The health and safety of members has always been this union's number-one priority. The  IAFF  has taken the lead in promoting studies and research programs on cancer in the fire service as part of continuing efforts to prevent and reduce cancer and cancer deaths. The  IAFF  has also been successful in 35 states and 11 provinces in getting presumptive laws passed that recognize many cancers as job-related diseases.   READ MORE

CAL/OSHA FINES CONTRACTORS OVER SOBERANES FIRE CASUALTIES
KQED, 3/14/2017

State workplace regulators are issuing tens of thousands of dollars in fines against two private contractors that employed men who were killed and seriously injured working the costliest wildfire in U.S. history.

California's Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) is handing down  five citations to Czirban Concrete Construction, a small Coarsegold (Madera County) firm that employed Robert Reagan.

The 35-year-old resident from the Fresno County town of Friant died July 26, 2016, four days after the Soberanes Fire began. The bulldozer he was operating near Big Sur tipped over on a steep embankment and pinned him to the ground, marking the first bulldozer operator fatality in a California wildfire in nearly nine years.   READ MORE




Medicare will cover yearly screenings to detect lung cancer for certain people with Medicare who have been heavy smokers and have no symptoms of cancer. The service includes a yearly Low Dose Computed Tomography (LDCT also called low dose CT) chest scans. Before the first scan, you must have a visit with your physician, nurse practitioner, or physician's assistant to discuss the benefits and risks of the scan. The provider will also advise you about the importance of quitting or avoiding smoking and provide information about smoking cessation services when appropriate. After the first scan, the written order for the scan can be provided during any visit with a health care provider. A separate counseling visit is not required.

To qualify for this benefit you must:
  • Be age 55 to 77 and currently smoke or have quit smoking in the past 15 years;
  • Have smoked an average of one pack per day for at least 30 years;
  • Have no symptoms or signs of lung cancer; and
  • Receive the chest scan at a qualified radiology facility.
Speak to your radiology facility to see if it is a Medicare-approved to perform this preventive scan.

If you have Original Medicare, there is no coinsurance or deductible for the lung cancer screening if you use providers who take assignment. Doctors and other health care providers who take assignment cannot charge you more than the Medicare approved amount.



Click here to check out this message from President Mike Lopez.
For more informaiton follow, 



CAL FIRE Firefighters in Crisis is making it our mission to keep our members and community informed on issues regarding:

  • Firefighters and Cancer
  • PTSD
  • Right to work issues
  • Political updates and what that means for our Unions
Check out our CAL FIRE in Crisis Facebook page.

UPCOMING EVENTS

REPRESENTATION CLASS
MARCH 27 - 31

IAFF PEP 10TH DISTRICT 
APRIL 10 - 11

NOLB ATWATER GOLF TOURNAMENT
APRIL 14

CPF LEG. CONFERENCE 
APRIL 24 - 25

ADVANCED LEADERSHIP TRAINING 
APRIL 25 - 27

MEMBERSHIP SUPPORT/FAMILY LIAISON TRAINING 
MAY 9 - 10

EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING
MAY 15 - 16

For the full even t  calendar:

CDF FIREFIGHTERS
BENEVOLENT FOUNDATION
 
We provide funds for immediate life sustaining assistance to firefighters and their families who have suffered debilitating injury or loss of life.

Fore more information or to donate visit our website.


CAL FIRE LOCAL 2881
NO ONE LEFT BEHIND

Proceeds support the Firefighter Cancer Support Network.

For more information visit our  website. 

UPCOMING EVENTS

April 14th

May 21st
CAL FIRE Local 2881 
likes to stay connected with our membership.  We want to make sure every member has an updated mailing address.

Below is a list of both Active and Retired members that have bad addresses.  If your name is on the list or you have recently moved,  please contact Danielle at (916) 277-9885 or  [email protected] to update your address.






FOR MORE UPDATES, EVENTS & NEWS VISIT OUR WEBSITE: