12 • THE CALIFORNIA FIRE SERVICE MAGAZINE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 elcome to 2024! CSFA is proud to start the year with two huge events. First, we saw many of you at our Second Annual CSFA Training Academy. As you can see on pages 6 – 9 of this magazine, we had great participation from fire departments throughout California. Special thanks to Woodland, Yocha Dehe and West Sacramento Fire Departments for their support and to our trainers for making this a truly memorable event. We are already gearing up for our third annual Training Academy. Watch your weekly CSFA Connection for dates and information. Also on tap for 2024 is the Second annual California Training and Education Expo (CTEX) being held in Riverside later this month. We are offering this event in cooperation with Firehouse magazine, and have lined up engaging speakers and a variety of training. I hope to see many of you in Riverside for CTEX. During CTEX one area of importance that we will be discussing is an issue that affects the entire nation: The recruitment and retention of firefighters at both paid and volunteer departments. Until we can solve this challenge as a society, I would like to suggest that those who have retired from the fire service and are still able pay it forward for the next generation, do so for the survival of the fire service. As a seasoned veteran you have skills and experiences that you can share with the new generation, and they need these skills to be safe and successful in their fire service careers. I know that there are many of you out there who have retired from the fire service and are looking for a way to give back and pay if forward to our profession. You may just need to get out of the house a few days a week. For those with less time you can still give back by becoming or renewing your Legacy Membership in CSFA at a modest cost of only $42.50 a year. For those of you that have a little more time, believe me, every volunteer department in the state needs volunteers. Volunteers can serve multiple roles and not just firefighting, there is a need for volunteer administration help, fundraising efforts, or maybe helping train and mentor the next generation. Before CTEX this year, CSFA is sponsoring a fire muster for Explorers from throughout the state. At this time we have over 200 fire Explorers set to compete at this event at the Ben Clark Training Center in Riverside, and we expect over 100 spectators cheering on the teams as well. If you care to help with this event sign up at www.csfa.net or call CSFA at 800-451-2732. W By Marty Creel, CSFA Executive Director Make 2024 the year you pay it forward and give back Give back and pay it forward If you have extra time, how about volunteering to help mentor the next generation of firefighters? CSFA is sponsoring a Muster for Fire Explorers from throughout the state in Riverside at the Ben Clark Training Center on Feb. 25. If you can’t make that event, check with your local fire department or Explorer program for volunteer opportunities. Executive Director Message
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