Does CHP know that CDF has changed their name?

[edt]

Saw this on the CHP log;

Incident: 0480 Type: Location: info as of: 9/28/2009 8:43:55 AM
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
8:49AM 1039 CORONER * REF LNS 20-21
8:47AM 1039 CAPTAIN PER 97-204
8:37AM 1039 CDF TO 1022 AIRSHIP BUT TO CONTINUE THEIR CREW
8:37AM ROLL CORONER
8:37AM STILL ROLL FIRE
8:37AM PARTY IS 1144, CANCEL AIR SHIP
8:35AM 1039 COMPLETE TOW
8:34AM 1039 CDF
8:34AM START AIR SHIP -- FOR 1 SUBJ
8:30AM 1039 CDF
8:29AM WHI CHEV S10 PU O/TURNED
RESPONDING OFFICERS STATUS
8:31AM CHP Unit On Scene
8:33AM CHP Unit Assigned
8:47AM CHP Unit Assigned

Any CHP dispatchers care to explain? Easier to type than CAL FIRE?

[wolter]

The department still is CDF.

[antfreq]

What is CAL FIRE's mailing address?

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
P.O. Box 944246,
Sacramento, California 94244-2460

The declaration of fire season in California is actually a change in preparedness levels for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.


As a non-CHP dispatcher, I can still say it's easier to type CDF. Plus, people are creatures of habit and it still means the same thing. I do propose they change it to CALF or CAFI - I'd love to say that over the radio.

[gmclam]

Originally Posted by antfreq

As a non-CHP dispatcher, I can still say it's easier to type CDF. Plus, people are creatures of habit and it still means the same thing. I do propose they change it to CALF or CAFI - I'd love to say that over the radio.

Cal Fire is a fine name and I propose they use the abbreviation "CDF".

[brandon]

Cal Fire still voices their channel names over the air as CDF Command 2, CDF Tac 22, etc, so I don't think there is anything to worry about seeing CDF typed in the CAD.

[antfreq]

Originally Posted by brandon

Cal Fire still voices their channel names over the air as CDF Command 2, CDF Tac 22, etc, so I don't think there is anything to worry about seeing CDF typed in the CAD.

They could call it XYZ and I still wouldn't care. Some Sac Sheriff still call the jail the "New Main Jail" - NMJ. Sac PD still uses KMA from their KMA907 call sign.

Personally, I still use Rosenquist

Los Angeles Police Department Communications Division History

[cousinkix1953]

Originally Posted by brandon

Cal Fire still voices their channel names over the air as CDF Command 2, CDF Tac 22, etc, so I don't think there is anything to worry about seeing CDF typed in the CAD.

I also noticed that firefighters were wearing both the old CDF and the new Cal-Fire patches on their uniforms during the fires a few weeks ago. It might take awhile before everybody has the new ones; but collectors are already trading them on line...

[BlueZebra]

Heck, most of us in the field say CDF. It is old habit (which dies very hard) and easier. Plus I am just old and learn very slowly!

[selgaran]

...and typing "CDF" into the log is a lot faster than typing "Calfire".

[wolter]

Originally Posted by selgaran

...and typing "CDF" into the log is a lot faster than typing "Calfire".

Actually, it isn't for those with proper typing technique. Typing C-D-F requires two fingers from one hand, one being used twice -- difficult to do. A skilled typest can type C-a-l-f-i-r-e with ease, IMO easier and pretty much as quickly as C-D-F.

[JoeyC]

Originally Posted by wolter

Actually, it isn't for those with proper typing technique. Typing C-D-F requires two fingers from one hand, one being used twice -- difficult to do. A skilled typest can type C-a-l-f-i-r-e with ease, IMO easier and pretty much as quickly as C-D-F.

A skilled typist would have no trouble typing the three letter word irregardless of whether it takes the same finger to type 2 of the 3 letters. It takes the same finger to type 2 of the 7 letters in CALFIRE so how is typing 7 letters with 6 fingers easier and quicker than 3 with 2?
Anyway, who cares what abbreviations they use in the CAD, as long as they can read it.

[wolter]

Originally Posted by JoeyC

A skilled typist would have no trouble typing the three letter word irregardless of whether it takes the same finger to type 2 of the 3 letters. It takes the same finger to type 2 of the 7 letters in CALFIRE so how is typing 7 letters with 6 fingers easier and quicker than 3 with 2?

Because the keystrokes for typing C-D-F, two with the same finger, are much sooner for that finger and they are on different rows of the keyboard and they are with the same hand. This would be more prone to errors. With c-a-l-f-i-r-e, there is a greater time lapse between using the same finger and the same hand more than once, giving fingers time to return to home position on the keyboard. I can type c-a-l-f-i-r-e nearly as fast as C-D-F. Time difference is not "a lot faster"; really it is nearly unnoticable.

If you are not an experienced typer, typing let's say 75 wpm or more, it would be difficult for you to understand.

My guess is that CHP continues to use CDF because (1) they have been for years and (2) that is the department abbreviation.

[avtarsingh]

calfire is what the bureaucrats came up with to make it sound cool ..

most cdf people (see i said cdf) i work with all call it cdf

just like cdc changed to cdcr ..bureaucrats..
when there is no responsibility to rehab inmates...
cdc s mission is to keep scum in prison - rehabilitation is a cherry on top..
nice if it happens but it doesnt change the mission

[KMA367]

Originally Posted by edt

Saw this on the CHP log

There are lots of abbreviations on the CHP logs, but CDF did not change their name. "CAL FIRE" is actually a new moniker or nickname if you will.

As originally introduced in the Assembly in 2006 as AB1423, the legislature would have changed the agency's name to "California Department of Fire and Forestry" and "permit reference to the department, where appropriate, as CAL-FIRE."

But when it got to the Senate a number of issues came up, and the final compromise was to keep the name "Department of Forestry and Fire Protection" but allow the "CAL-FIRE" references/logos.

As eventually passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor, it became only a PERMISSIVE change ("may", not "shall" or "must") in how the agency is referenced, codified as §701.6 in the California Public Resources Code,

"701.6. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, on and after
January 1, 2007, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection may
be referred to, where appropriate and as determined by the director,
as CAL-FIRE.
(b) No existing supplies, forms, insignias, signs, or logos shall
be destroyed or changed as a result of the authorization to use
CAL-FIRE where appropriate to refer to the department, and they shall
continue to be used until exhausted or unserviceable."

It is still the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

[Kingscup]

Originally Posted by KMA367

But when it got to the Senate a number of issues came up, and the final compromise was to keep the name "Department of Forestry and Fire Protection" but allow the "CAL-FIRE" references/logos.

Just a little correction. It is CAL FIRE and not CAL-FIRE

[KMA367]

Originally Posted by Kingscup

Just a little correction. It is CAL FIRE and not CAL-FIRE

I think we've been here before, and I know CAL FIRE is what they always use on their logos, documents, and website, but the law specifically included the hyphen:

• "http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=prc&group=00001-01000&file=700-716"
• "http://law.onecle.com/california/public-resources/701.6.html"
• "http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/cacode/PRC/1/d1/2.5/1/s701.6"
• http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/05-06/bil..._chaptered.pdf

Not that it matters. LAFD = L.A.F.D., USFS = U.S.F.S., A rose = a rose

EDIT: And back kind of on topic, CAL FIRE (or CAL-FIRE) would use up too many display characters on most two-way radios they use, and not leave room for the frequency's ID: CDF T3 or CDF C10 fit on an 8-character display, but CAL FIRE itself uses up all 8 spaces.

[Citywide173]

Just an east coaster butting in here. I have to agree with the poster that pointed out that humans are creatures of habit. I work for Boston EMS, which used to be under the Department of Health and Hospitals (DH&H or "H&H") until 1996 when the city sold off the hospitals and created the Public Health Commission. It's still quite prevalent for BPD officers to ask for "H&H" over the air rather than just saying EMS. 13 years and counting......whatever you're used to, you're probably going to stick with.

[Exsmokey]

The Cal-Fire name is similar to Caltrans, which is still the California Department of Transportation. In other states such as Nevada and Arizona, they are known as N-DOT and A-DOT.

[Exsmokey]

I deleted this post as it was too off topic.

[wolter]

Originally Posted by Exsmokey

The Cal-Fire name is similar to Caltrans, which is still the California Department of Transportation ...

Right. And CHP usally refers to it as DOT.