California Fire Foundation lauds increase in Firefighter plate fees

Saturday, October 9, 2010

California Fire Foundation lauds increase in Firefighter plate fees

Legislation Bolsters Services for Families of Fallen Firefighters

It's been over 15 years since the California firefighter license plate made its debut on the highways and byways of the Golden State.
Now, families of fallen firefighters will be able to hold on to their keepsake plate, and firefighters will enjoy continuing protection through the services of the California Fire Foundation, a 501(c) (3) charitable organization, founded by the California Professional Firefighters.
SB 88, authored by Mark DeSaulnier (D-Antioch), will raise the cost of issuing a firefighter license plate from $35 to $50 and of renewing registration for these plates from $20 to $35. All proceeds benefit the California Fire Foundation and its victim assistance programs, public education campaigns and its maintenance of the California Firefighter Memorial in Sacramento's Capitol Park.
The increase in fees is the first ever imposed in the 15-year history of the license plate program. The hike brings these fees into line with those of all other specialty license plates in California.
"We are grateful for the support of our firefighter license plate program," said CPF President and California Fire Foundation Chair Lou Paulson. "With the passage of this legislation, the California Fire Foundation can continue to meet the needs of our fire service community in California. It will benefit us all."
The legislation also strikes the previous requirement that forced spouses of fallen firefighters to surrender or request to keep their spouse's firefighter license plate within 60 days. Firefighter license plates will now be automatically transferred to spouses of fallen firefighters or to specified family members for heirloom purposes, if there is no surviving spouse.
The California firefighter license plate program was designed and created by California Professional Firefighters. Using an image from the 1991 box office hit, "Backdraft," the California firefighter license plate has become a key trademark within the fire service, enabling only active and retired firefighters to purchase these plates for display on their automobiles, trucks, trailers and motorcycles.

Source article: California Fire Foundation Link

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How fires get their names

Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state. In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start – a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name. For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.

CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States. CDF - CAL FIRE Firefighters answer the call more than 300,000 times a year. CAL FIRE Firefighters make up the fire department for 30 of our 58 counties in California and more than 100 local communities. We serve as the incident command during many of California’s most serious disasters. CAL FIRE Firefighters respond to many various types and forms of calls ranging from structural fires, to auto accidents, to earthquakes, to floods, to the spilling of hazardous materials, to every conceivable disaster; CAL FIRE answer's the calls. CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States . CAL FIRE firefighters protect 33 million acres of State Responsibility Area (SRA). We have over 4,000 members within CAL FIRE and CAL FIRE is associated with the California Professional Firefighters (CPF) and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF).

CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS

Saturday, October 9, 2010