6TH DISTRICT REPORT | TIM EDWARDS

CAL FIRE 2881 To Address the Human Toll of Firefighting

Tim Edwards, President of CAL FIRE L2881, was asked how it is that 35 new names of brave firefighters who died from presumptive causes have been the most recent addition to the Memorial Wall in Capitol Park. He answered that he was concerned too many more have died without being recognized for their contributions and many more are in peril.

The risk of wildfire is the secret being exposed. Consider what the California Air Resources Board (CARB) wrote recently as a warning to private citizens. “Health problems related to wildfire smoke exposure can be as mild as eye and respiration tract irritation and as serious as heart and lung disease, including asthma and premature death.”

The Lung Association confirmed the very serious concerns. Their study released the following: one of the many pollutants found in wildfire smoke is particle pollution, which is a mix of very tiny solid and liquid particles suspended in the air. How tiny? Many of the particles are no larger than one-third the diameter of a hair. These particles are so small that they enter and lodge deep in the lungs. They trigger asthma, heart attacks, and strokes.

January Meeting of the CAL FIRE Conservancy

CAL FIRE L2881 has invested time, money, scholarship, and personnel in a conservancy commitment to delineate and understand the risks firefighters face not only on a daily basis but seasonally and through the entirety of a career.

The WildFire Conservancy is convening a symposium of experts in firefighter health and safety to share studies and experiences and write a resultant White Paper. The ultimate goal is to not only understand the risks - the ultimate goal is to have strategies to avoid them.

Simple Goals

The long fire seasons have taken a toll on CAL FIRE L2881. We continue to work toward the pay parity and the work-hours schedule that strengthens the Department by engendering safe conditions and appropriate salary structure.