California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection - 1999/2000
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF) is one of the most unique statewide fire fighting organizations in the world. Initially, when CDF started operations in the ?1920s, they were responsible for protecting the areas between the cities and the mountains from wildfires. The cities were protected by the city fire departments, and the mountains were protected by the US Forest Service. Wildfire fighting in the low lying hills and valleys became the responsibilty of CDF per the orders of the State Legislature.
During the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, more and more residents moved from the cities into the areas under CDF protection. In order to provide a better relationship between volunteer fire departments, rural fire districts, and the CDF, state laws were passed allowing the CDF to take over management, training, and dispatching of many smaller fire departments across the state. Typically, the county commissioners would band together their local volunteer fire departments into a County Fire Department and then contract with CDF to supervise it. Elaborate legal documents were formulated to spell out who would pay for what and who would report to whom.
Now, in 1999, CDF maintains a strong presence throughout California. In the counties of Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Kern, and Marin, the CDF pays the county FDs to protect the state-responsibility areas. Therefore in these counties you will not find any CDF stations nor CDF fire equipment. In every other county in the state (except Imperial, Sacramento, and San Francisco), CDF operates lookout towers, engine stations, and aerial bases. Extensive cooperation and cross funding of federal wildfire engines is also done.
Most CDF engines are staffed by 3 firefighters. They are trained and equipped for both structural, emergency medical, and wildfire operations. Fulltime staff works yearround. Seasonal staff works just thru the "fire season". Northern fire season runs just thru the summer - Southern California fire season runs almost yearround.
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Official CDF Website - Oct 2000 - there are pdf files on the site now with info on their standard Engine models
the CDF Union has a website also
June 1999 CDF Radio Plan - CDF Radio Plan - 1999
Model 25 Engine - Info and Photos at http://www.cdf-firefighters.org/CDF_Model_25.htm - 17Dec00
See www.norcalfire.org for detailed CDF in Northern California - see the central California Scanning site also (I think there is extensive CDF info on there also)
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October 1999 CDF Info
CDF is the third largest fire department in the United States of America, just behind FDNY and Chicago FD. CDF has direct responsibility for the protection of more than one third of California.