The California State Firefighters' Association's Achievements and New Member Benefits for 2010

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The California State Firefighters' Association continues to expand and offer their members additional benefits each year.  FDNNTV.com's Barbara Brooks tells us what is new for CSFA in 2010.

CSFA's 88th Annual Conference Co-Located With Firehouse World

For the first time, the California State Firefighters' Association held its annual conference in San Diego during Firehouse World in February.  John Dane, CSFA's Executive Director, explains the historical decision saying, "We have enjoyed for many years exhibiting at Firehouse World, but this year we stepped it up, and we are running our conference, our 88th Annual Conference in association with Firehouse World."

CSFA members attending the conference were able to attend business sessions, vote in the 2010 Board of Directors election, and take part in classes offered by both Firehouse World and the California State Firefighters' Association.

Online Access to Leading Fire Service Magazines

Another new benefit CSFA has made available to its members in 2010 is online access to several popular fire service magazines, including Fire Engineering, Fire Rescue Magazine, JEMS, and The California Fire Service.  This significant partnership with fire and EMS news publications gives CSFA members more information about developments and events in the fire service nationwide.

CSFA's Facebook Page

CSFA also recently expanded into social media by developing a page on Facebook, which has quickly become very popular.  John Dane describes the success of the organization's social networking campaign, saying, "We have certainly found that there are many friends of California firefighters there that we've been able to reach through Facebook that are not normally accessible through our website."

Assisting Fire Departments With Solutions in Tough Economic Times

Since its inception in 1922, CSFA has worked towards an understanding between members, elected officials, and the public, and in 2010 this has become especially important given the country's economic downturn.  According to Kevin Nida, who was elected for the sixth year as CSFA's President during the CSFA/Firehouse World Conference, "One of the most important projects we have this year at CSFA is improved local political assistance for the fire service."  During these difficult financial times, city councils are having to make budget cuts, many involving fire departments, and CSFA has spearheaded significant initiatives to help maintain public safety.

Kevin Nida explains one facet of their efforts, saying, "We have a program that we took from Fresno Fire, which is "4 Minutes to Excellence", and we are expanding that to "4 Firefighters in 4 Minutes".  But when we talk to the electeds, we find that they really don't know exactly why we need to be there in four minutes.  Four minutes to flashover, four minutes to hemorrhage, for to six minutes to brain death or damage during cardiac arrest.  We have large cities with seven, eight, nine minute average response times.  The public doesn't really understand what the ramifications of that are."

Another part of CSFA's efforts to help fire departments during tough economic times is assisting them in finding alternative services and ways to fund them.  The program allows fire departments to bill for previously unbilled fire services, and is administered through a third party subcontractor.

Kevin Nida explains this program, saying, "The insurance company would pay the fire department a certain amount of money and it wouldn't come directly out of the homeowner but it would be through the insurance company.  And we have seen actual firefighter positions being restored through the program.  So CSFA is a kind of "out of the box" thinking organization.  We see a problem, we try to find a solution, and many times we find solutions that are ways that haven't really been thought of before."

Additional Information

For more information on the California State Firefighters' Association, including membership enrollment, visit www.csfa.net.

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