CSFA Membership e-Newsletter - May 2008

As always please send any items for consideration and any feedback to ggiacomo@csfa.net.

Gary Giacomo
Editor, The California Fire Service magazine

Announcements

Survey says….try to win an iPod Nano
As a reader of this eNewsletter, you are already among the digitally savvy members of the fire service. Put that computer literacy to use and take CSFA's fire-ever online survey. It only takes a few minutes, and your responses are completely confidential. Follow here to enter the survey.

Behavior Health Subcommittee Volunteers Sought
The Behavior Health Subcommittee of the CSFA Health and Wellness Committee is looking for interested CSFA members from Central and/or Northern California as well as Inland/San Diego County. Committee volunteers should have CISM training and have at least three years of experience as a Peer Supporter/Peer Counselor in a Critical Incident Stress Management or Behavioral Health/Wellness Program. Please submit a short letter of interest to Robert.Scott@lacity.org or call at 213/485-9431.

Member's Only Discount Program

CSFA/Dell Deal for May 2008
This offer is only valid through 6/6/2008

Add some color to your computing! These 2 new CSFA Member Dell Deals are in two flavors: loaded and basic.

Around The Nation

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Democrats drop first responder bill
WASHINGTON - Senate Democrats dropped a bill allowing all police, firefighters and other first responders to unionize after Republicans complained they didn't get enough time to offer amendments.

FLORIDA
Manhunt net arson suspect
PALM BAY - Florida authorities this morning arrested a man they believe is behind at least one arson and who may be involved in a string of man-made fires that have destroyed more than 20 homes in the state and damaged an estimated 120 more.

MASSACHUSETTS
Brockton's Strand Theatre fire disaster recalled
BROCKTON - Edward Burrell heard the desperate cries of a firefighter trapped underneath the Strand Theatre roof after it caved in during the roaring early-morning fire on March 10, 1941.

MARYLAND
Five rescued from burning apartment
BALTIMORE - Firefighters were able to rescue four people from a burning building Wednesday in dramatic video captured by Sky Team 11. A fifth person jumped from the building.

OKLAHOMA
Three firefighters hurt in crash
TULSA - Three Tulsa firefighters were hospitalized Tuesday after their firetruck crashed while on a call.

PENNSYLVANIA
Novelty lighters with child appeal under attack
PITTSBURGH - Mike Burns has seen it many times.
A small child picks up a cigarette lighter that looks like a toy truck, gun or cell phone, and curiosity takes over. The child begins to tinker and, before long, manages to ignite the flame.

WASHINGTON
Seattle pays damages to firefighter
SEATTLE -- Seattle has ended its efforts to fight a lawsuit it lost in 2004 by paying about $1.8 million to a firefighter injured during training.

Around California

ALAMEDA COUNTY
Pot-Growing Operation Found At Oakland Apt. Fire
OAKLAND - Oakland police seized about 150 marijuana plants Tuesday morning after a two-alarm fire broke out in a seven-story apartment complex near Lake Merritt, officials said.

BUTTE COUNTY
Retired firefighters honored at 135th anniversary
CHICO - Several active firefighters and more than a half-dozen long retired Chico firefighters were on hand Wednesday as the department marked its 135th anniversary.

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Fire plan goes up in smoke
BRENTWOOD - The Brentwood City Council will investigate the possibility of obtaining fire service through the district that serves Antioch after a decision by the Oakley council to back out of a plan to share control over the present district

LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Brush fire believed caused by copper thief
INDUSTRY - A 2-acre brush fire that broke out near the 605 Freeway Sunday is believed to have been caused by a thief trying to steal copper wire from electrical equipment, officials said.

MARIN COUNTY
4-alarm blaze guts San Rafael Victorian
A four-alarm fire in San Rafael gutted a historic Victorian residence Thursday night, rendering seven apartments uninhabitable and causing at least $350,000 in damage.

MONTEREY COUNTY
Carmel firefighters push city officials on a three-city fire department merger
CARMEL - Carmel-by-the-Sea officials are now cautiously open to merging the city's fire department with Monterey's and Pacific Grove's, according to City Administrator Rich Guillen.

NAPA COUNTY
American Canyon assistant chief resigns
AMERICAN CANYON - American Canyon's assistant fire chief will leave the city in June, less than a year after he joined the American Canyon Fire Department.

SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY
Historic SF firehouse turns 100
San Francisco - A century ago, Engine Company No. 31 opened at the top of Russian Hill as San Francisco struggled to rebuild out of the rubble from the 1906 earthquake and fire.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY
Study: OT For Firefighters Saving Poway Money
POWAY - A $20,000 analysis of the Poway Fire Department's increasing use of overtime has concluded that the city is saving money, not wasting it, it was reported Thursday.

SANTA CLARA COUNTY
San Jose Firefighter Competes On National Broadcast
SAN JOSE -- This season's premier of the NBC show American Gladiator will feature San Jose Firefighter Elena Maskalik as a contestant.

Benefits Corner

What's All This Talk About Long-Term Care Insurance?
By Bob Hamilton
General Manager, CSFEWBC

By now it is certainly no secret that CSFA is making long-term care insurance coverage available to firefighter's families. The CSFA endorsed LTC plan offers tremendous discounts to the CSFA firefighter's spouse, parents, parents-in-law, siblings, and other extended family members. Many of you have been asking questions about long-term care insurance so we thought it would be a good idea to give you some useful information. [more]

Event Calendar

• June 2 – 5 NFPA World Safety Conference & Exposition, Las Vegas. For more information visit: www.nfpa.org/wsce

• June 30 – Interface Firefighting San Rafael.

Digital Magazines

Your may 2008 digital issues of The California Fire Service and Fire Engineering are available for your reading pleasure.

In this CA Fire Service issue, you will find:

• Don't be a do-it-yourselfer: You have too much to lose
• Breaking barriers: Forcible entry for security screen doors
• The test begins: Online fire officer classes

Follow here to begin reading the current issue of The California Fire Service in PDF format.

Member's can now access an online archive of The California Fire Service in PDF format by following here.