SIXTY-SIXTH EDITION

Photo by_ Kevin Morris
MESSAGE FROM CLIFF


July 2, 2018


TO: CAL FIRE Local 2881 Members

FROM: Cliff Allen


Brother & Sisters,

As we celebrate 242 years of this great country's independence - the land of the free because of the brave - many of our brave will be fighting fires and protecting communities. 

We are experiencing a busy and early fire season with many months ahead of us.  As you are away from family working long and arduous hours, please remember to check in with them and each other.  Keep your head on a swivel, stay safe, watch out for each other and continue to do the outstanding job you do for the citizens of California. 



Standing strong together,
signature
Cliff Allen
President

VIDEO REPORT: CAL FIRE UNVEILS NEW FIREFIGHTING TECH TOOL DURING PAWNEE FIRE 


Cal Fire unveils new firefighting tech tool during Pawnee fire
Cal Fire unveils new firefighting tech tool during Pawnee fire

LAKEPORT, Calif. - Cal Fire officials are using a new tool in the battle to contain the Pawnee fire east of Clearlake Oaks.

On Wednesday, at the command center located at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Lakeport, Cal Fire hosted a small gathering to unveil the new firefighting technology.

The modeling program is called  Simtable , produced by a company based in Santa Fe.

John Heggie, a fire behavior analyst with Cal Fire's Incident Management Team 3 who led the demonstration, said that to his knowledge this is the first wildfire incident on which the program has been utilized.

Among those on hand for the demonstration were Sheriff Brian Martin, Northshore Fire Chief Jay Beristianos and Lakeport Fire Chief Doug Hutchison.

"This is a marriage of the science and fire service," Heggie said, adding it's a great opportunity to use private sector technology to fight fires.

In the video above, Heggie and Cal Fire staff use Simtable to do a 3-D illustration of the Pawnee fire's progression in its first burning period.

Story by Josh Jensen, Lake County News

BRAD NIVEN ON LEADERSHIP TRAINING IN SEATTLE

Recently, General Vice President Darren Dow and myself travelled to Seattle and represented L2881 at the International Association of Firefighters June Executive Board meeting. The IAFF Board meetings are open to all IAFF members and we were welcomed with open arms! It was great to hear first-hand about the incredible efforts the IAFF is involved in membership drives to organize the southeast portion of the United States and grow the membership. Networking with the leadership of IAFF and IAFF Local 27 - Seattle, was invaluable. The IAFF membership is now over 311,000 strong throughout our great International! 

Day 2 consisted of the board meeting and was especially memorable as the Seattle Fire Department's 100th recruit class was sworn in as Seattle Firefighters Local 27 and IAFF members. It was great to be see the excitement on the new members faces and be there to support our new brothers and sisters. We were also able to meet with the IAFF staff in attendance and ask questions as well as share ideas on how to better lead and serve our membership. We had numerous discussions with the different IAFF District Vice Presidents about their labor issues and found similarities throughout the United States and Canada about attacks on labor. What was striking was whether it was north or south of the border, east coast or west coast, the attacks on labor are real and coordinated throughout the United States and Canada. The house of labor must stand STRONG!

In Solidarity,
Brad Niven
3rd District VP
 

DID YOU KNOW?

A bill was introduced by California Department of Forestry Employees Association in early 1969 to reduce the workweek from 96 to 84 hours for permanent employees in fire suppression classes. It was signed by Governor Regan in 1971 and became effective July 1, 1971.

PASSING OF LONG BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT FIRE CAPTAIN 
DAVE ROSA

Feud between residents at Long Beach senior living facility led to fatal shooting of firefighter, authorities say.

firehouse.com

A 77-year-o ld man sus pected of s hooting and killing a Long Beach Fire Department captain during an emergency call at a high-rise senior living facility had set off an explosive device in an apparent attempt to kill a neighbor, according to prosecutors.

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office charged Covenant Manor resident Thomas Kim with one count of murder, one count of attempted murder of a firefighter, two counts of attempted murder and one count each of arson of an inhabited structure and explosion with intent to murder.

"Kim also faces a special circumstance allegation that the murder was committed while a firefighter was on duty and the special allegation that he personally and intentionally discharged a handgun that caused great bodily injury and death," said Greg Risling, spokesman for the district attorney's office.

According to prosecutors, Kim had been feuding with a female neighbor who lived above him at the 11-story housing complex for seniors and disabled people. On Monday morning, Kim set off an explosive device in his apartment "with the intent to kill her," prosecutors said.

After the explosion, Kim sat at the opposite end of the hallway from his apartment on the second floor, authorities said.
Firefighters descended on the complex to investigate reports of an explosion and the smell of gasoline. Among them was Capt. Dave Rosa, a 17-year veteran of the Fire Department, and firefighter Ernest Torres. 

Around 4 a.m., prosecutors said, Kim opened fire on the pair, killing Rosa and wounding Torres. An elderly man who lives in the building was also injured by gunfire.

Long Beach police said that they are still trying to determine a motive in the slaying, but that a note written by Kim and left at the crime scene leads them to believe the incident was a murder-suicide attempt.

In a statement released Monday, Long Beach police said it did not appear Kim started a fire to lure first responders to the location to ambush them, as reported by media outlets earlier in the week.

If convicted on all charges, Kim faces the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole.

After the shooting, about 80 seniors were evacuated from the facility and taken to Silverado Park. A handful of them were taken to nearby Covenant Presbyterian Church before being transported via bus to the park. Many felt fatigued and needed a place to rest and use the restroom.

Rosa, 45, is survived by his wife and two sons, ages 25 and 16.

Story by Melissa Etehad, LA Times

HAVE A SAFE HOLIDAY!

IN THE NEWS
Firefighter Joe Zambrano
HI-DESERT STAR, 6/25/2018
 
MORONGO BASIN - Firefighter Joe Zambrano, wearing full firefighting gear, is walking through the Morongo Basin Monday as part of a cross-state trek to honor 19 Hotshots who died in the Yarnell Hill Fire June 30, 2013.

Zambrano is walking and running from the Los Angeles County Fire Museum in Bellflower to the Granite Mountain Hotshot Memorial State Park in Yarnell, Arizona. He started Saturday and expected his 360-mile journey to take eight days.

He is honoring the fifth anniversary of the deaths of 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots, who were overcome by flames while fighting the Yarnell Hill Fire in 2013. Money he raises will be donated to the Kevin Woyjeck Explorers for Life Association, which supports young men and women in the Fire Explorer Program.   READ MORE

MARY CALLAHAN, 6/27/2018

Nature delivered the heat and the wind just as expected Saturday, with temperatures that topped 100 degrees, sapping whatever moisture was left in the air and in the crop of dry grass and brush that surrounded the remote Lake County community of Spring Valley.

Relative humidity had dropped into the single digits before the Pawnee fire broke out, so when the flames ignited, they spread quickly, destroying 22 structures in the initial hours.

But crews were ready to respond, their staffing ramped up and both ground equipment and aircraft poised for call-up in anticipation of weather conditions that can spawn catastrophic wildfires. The planning was due in part to changes made since the October fires, when local agencies were short of needed help and a potent aerial attack did not begin until the third day of the fires.  READ MORE

FIREFIGHTERS MUST PRACTICE SELF-CARE TO ACHIVE POST-TRAUMATIC GROWTH
SARA JAHNKE, 6/26/2018
 
With the thousands of first responders who have been called on to help with the natural and man-made disasters, it's more important than ever to pay attention, not just to the response efforts, but  to the responders themselves.

Disaster response - whether it's a  hurricane, an  active shooter incident or a terrorist attack - is particularly challenging because it has so many layers. In  Houston, for example, many of the first responders were not only facing the trauma in their communities, but also were managing the  risks and losses their families, friends and neighbors were facing. 

It is not uncommon for responders to have negative behavioral health responses in the wake of a disaster, including feelings of burnout and compassion fatigue in the form of secondary traumatic stress. In particular, responders are vulnerable to feelings of anger, sorrow and guilt.   READ MORE


  • All-you can eat Picnic at your favorite theme parks!
  • Get set for Summer with purchasing power
  • Accidental death & disbursement insurance plan
  • Liberty Mutual auto and home insurance

Visit Cal CSEA for more information!

 
SHARE YOUR PHOTOS!
 
Do you have a awesome photo of yourself or other L2881 members working in your unit or on an 
out of county assignment?

Share it with us & we may use it on social media, the website or submit it to a contest! 


Does your photo have a backstory? Email our Communications Officer the details!  dgarcia@l2881.org

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UPCOMING EVENTS

EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING
JULY 24 - 26

IAFF  CONVENTION
AUGUST 6 - 10

BUDGET PREP MEETING
AUGUST 21 - 22

IAFF MEMORIAL
SEPTEMBER 15

EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING
SEPTEMBER 18 - 20

CALIFORNIA FIREFIGHTERS MEMORIAL
SEPTEMBER 29

NATIONAL FIREFIGHTERS MEMORIAL
OCTOBER 7 - 8

CDF FIREFIGHTERS BENEVOLENT
 FOUNDATION
Provides funds for immediate life sus taining assistance to firefighters and their families who have suffered debilitating injury or loss of life.

For more information or to donate, visit the website.

CAL FIRE LOCAL 2881
NO ONE LEFT BEHIND
Proceeds support the Firefighters Cancer Support Network.

For more information, visit the website.

UPCOMING EVENTS

October 28, 2018
Half Moon Bay Golf Links

INDIVIDUAL SPONSORSHIP
    • $1,000 Golf Foursome Participation
    • $250 Single Player
    • $35 Adult BBQ Guest
    • $10 Child BBQ Guest
Click  here for more information!

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  dkelsch@L2881.org to update your address.







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