CPF Fire Wire

On this episode of Fire Wire, CPF President Brian K. Rice speaks to Misha McKinney,  VP of Clinical Programs, and Dr. Danielle Mellace, internal medicine physician, both with Kaiser Permanente, about the unique health challenges firefighters face, the importance of primary care and early detection, and how lifestyle medicine can reduce cancer risk. Active or retired firefighters who are members of...

In the past 90 days, we have lost four of our members to active-duty suicide. Each of these losses is devastating to their family and to their fire service family. We must come together and take action to open up and support each other. The battle with PTSI, struggles with addiction, struggles with the complexity of life, and seeking help are why we are reaching out to you today with a special mes...

On this episode of CPF Fire Wire, President Brian K. Rice sits down with Oxnard Fire Department Chief Alexander Hamilton for a candid and powerful conversation about mental health in the fire service. Together, they break down the challenges firefighters face both on and off the line, and share practical insights on recognizing the early signs of crisis in yourself and your crew, taking meaningful...

On this episode of CPF Firewire, President Brian K. Rice sits down with CPF Insurance Trust Chair Scott Austin and Director Jason Cervantes. They discuss their work as Board Members of the Insurance Trust, helping ensure CPF members, both active and retired, have access to the best available insurance coverage. Hear what inspired their involvement, how they're supporting firefighters and their fam...

On this episode of CPF Firewire, we talk with Brian Abney of Orange County Professional Firefighters, Local 3631, a recently retired Fire Captain/Paramedic and trusted resource on workers’ comp, about what firefighters need to know and why understanding the system is critical to protecting yourself and your career. Tune in as he shares what led him to take on this role, the lessons he has learned...

On this episode of the Fire Wire, President Rice is joined by Jerry May, President of San Jose Fire Fighters, Local 230, to discuss the California Firefighter Cancer Research and Prevention Program, created by CPF-sponsored AB 700, and how this research will impact firefighters for generations to come. Together, they explore the value of early cancer screening and why building strong peer networks...

On this episode of the Fire Wire, President Rice sits down with Firefighters First Credit Union Senior Vice President of Member Experience David Lillie and Vice President of Tax Services Mike Canny to discuss the credit union’s rich history and the extensive benefits they provide our members.

CPF President Brian Rice speaks with Dr. Katherine Warburton, the Medical Director of the California Department of State Hospitals, about the CARE Act and the role firefighters can play in connecting individuals with behavioral health services.   Links mentioned in this episode:  https://care-act.org/training-material/first-responders-the-care-act/ https://www.chhs.ca.gov/care-act/ https://care-ac...

On this episode of CPF Fire Wire, CPF President Brian Rice sits with Monterey Firefighters Association, Local 3707 President, Ross Pounds and Chula Vista Firefighters, Local 2180 Political Action Committee Chair, Drew Smith alongside with CPF's very own Deputy Political Director Joe Armenta to discuss the importance of why we need to get involved in issue affecting the California fire service at a...

For decades, CAL FIRE firefighters have been forced to work 72-hour workweeks despite the standard 56 implemented at many departments around the state.  This has led to retention issues for the department and caused harm to CAL FIRE firefighters' families, physical health, and mental health.  Governor Gavin Newsom has included the 66-hour workweek in his proposed 2024 budget, which is currently un...

CPF Pres. Brian Rice speaks with Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg on Proposition 1 and being part of the solution. For many Californians experiencing homelessness, firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics are the first and only resource they have when they are in crisis. This is an unacceptable and unsafe reality, both for the Californians who are in need of shelter, services, or treatment and for the...

The 2023 legislative session in Sacramento wrapped up with solid wins for California's firefighters, the result of CPF's strong advocacy that works across the partisan aisle. On this edition of CPF Fire Wire, CPF President talks with Republican Assemblyman Heath Flora of Ripon about the legislative year, significant measures for firefighters, and the importance of working with lawmakers on both si...

Funded by the Department of Justice, the Cal-LAST program is the result of a landmark partnership between the California Fire Foundation and the  National Fallen Firefighters Foundation . This critical team provides comprehensive rapid-response support for local fire departments that lose one of their own. The primary mission of the team is to provide assistance and comfort to the family and depar...

Firefighters are exposed to stresses on the job that few can contemplate. Sometimes, the job can take its toll. Nationally, firefighter suicides now consistently exceed the number killed in traumatic incidents. As part of the joint fire service Suicide Prevention and Awareness Stand Down in May, CPF President Brian Rice reconnects with Oxnard Fire Chief Alex Hamilton. A former Oxnard Firefighters...

CPF President Brian Rice continues his conversation with retired Sacramento Area Firefighters Local 522 President Richard Mayberry about the Sacramento firefighters strike of 1970. Mayberry and over 400 of his fellow firefighters walked off the job in October of 1970 in an action that had broad ramifications for the firefighter labor movement. Mayberry himself was arrested, tried and acquitted for...

At a time when firefighters were underpaid, disrespected and subject to the whims of their employers, the firefighter union movement asserted itself in the early 1970s with an unprecedented wave of strikes. On this edition of CPF Fire Wire, we present Part One of a two-part episode that tells the story of one of those strikes, and how it was part of a pivotal moment for firefighters and the labor...

Civilian federal firefighters  have finally won a protection that state and local firefighters in California have had for 40 years -- a workers' compensation presumption for firefighter cancer. The victory, part of the federal defense authorization passed last year, caps a decades-long fight that was led by California's federal firefighters. On this CPF Fire Wire, CPF President Brian Rice discusse...

The California Firefighters Memorial is a touchstone of remembrance for frontline firefighters and their families. The centerpiece of this tribute -- the Memorial Wall that carries the names of more than 1,500 fallen firefighters -- is running out of space. CPF President Brian Rice talks with California Fire Foundation Executive Director Rick Martinez about the meaning of the Memorial and plans to...

On this edition of CPF Fire Wire, CPF President Brian Rice discusses CPF’s legislative wins, the legislative process and the importance of building relationships at the local political level with CPF Director of Governmental Affairs, Doug Subers and CPF Governmental Advocate, Meagan Subers. CPF closed out a successful legislative session as Governor Newsom signed many priority bills, including SB...

Cancer remains the leading cause of job-related illness and death among active firefighters. Now, a worldwide scientific panel -- the International Agency for Research on Cancer -- has said it more plainly than ever --  being a firefighter can cause cancer. On this edition of CPF Fire Wire, CPF President Brian Rice discusses the IARC finding and what it means for firefighters who've been denied pr...

The cause of protecting the lives and livelihoods of firefighters must be defended every day.  Nothing is forever. On this edition of CPF Fire Wire, CPF President Brian Rice talks with Dave Coker, president of the Professional Firefighters of Greensboro (NC) Local 947. A longtime labor leader who cut his teeth as a lineman and CWA organizer,  Brother Coker talks about the importance and value of t...

Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams are an indispensable part of major disaster response. California is the birthplace of USAR, and firefighters form the foundation of the state's eight USAR Task Forces. CPF President Brian Rice talks with one of the founders of USAR, Cal-OES Director Mark Ghilarducci. 

As the behavioral health challenges faced by firefighters come out of the shadows, peer support has become an important way for firefighters to comfortably share their struggles. CPF’s sponsored legislation signed in 2019 — AB 1116 — is designed to bring peer support into every fire department, with groundbreaking confidentiality provisions. On this edition of CPF Fire Wire, CPF President Brian Ri...

CPF President Brian Rice provides an update on CPF's work in Sacramento to protect its 32,000 front line firefighter members. Among the issues CPF is working on at the Capitol include: -- Workers' Comp Presumptions -- Firefighters are facing months, and sometimes years of needless battles fighting insurers over presumptive workers' comp claims. CPF's signature legislative effort would crack down o...

Fighting side-by-side in the halls of power, CPF and the building trades have formed a united front that has won many battles for working people, from retirement security to stopping contracting out services to low-wage, undertrained workers. This month on CPF Fire Wire, CPF President Brian Rice has a conversation with one of the toughest and most influential labor leaders in the state: Robbie Hun...