ACR230 - California Firefighter Appreciation Month and California Firefighters Memorial Day.

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 230 CHAPTER 215 Relative to California Firefighter Appreciation Month and California Firefighters Memorial Day. [ Filed with Secretary of State August 27, 2026. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST ACR 230, Schiavo. California Firefighter Appreciation Month and California Firefighters Memorial Day. This measure would proclaim the month of October 2026 as California Firefighter Appreciation Month and October 3, 2026, as California Firefighters Memorial Day. Digest Key Fiscal Committee: NO Bill Text WHEREAS, The California Firefighters Memorial, located on the grounds of the State Capitol Building, serves to honor and commemorate California firefighters who unwaveringly serve our great state with pride, courage, and honor; and WHEREAS, The California Firefighters Memorial is maintained by the California Fire Foundation to ensure that it continues to be a symbol of gratitude and appreciation to the men and women of the fire service who put their lives on the line each day to protect the people, property, and beauty of California; and WHEREAS, Each of the over 1,500 names engraved on the brushed limestone walls of the California Firefighters Memorial serves as a timeless tribute to the finest and bravest of our state who have made the ultimate sacrifice as firefighters; and WHEREAS, These names are currently listed chronologically and include the name of the department where the firefighter served; and WHEREAS, The California Firefighters Memorial is the only state monument capturing the names in perpetuity of those courageous firefighters in California who have put service to our great State of California above all else; and WHEREAS, The California Fire Foundation has embarked on an important effort to expand the California Firefighters Memorial to preserve and continue the everlasting tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our great state; and WHEREAS, To ensure that Californians can continue to honor the brave professionals who keep our communities safe, it is imperative that ample, respectful space remain available at the California Firefighters Memorial site for the inscription of the names of future fallen firefighters; and WHEREAS, The California Firefighters Memorial is undergoing expansion to modify it in a way that is sufficient in size to inscribe the names of the fallen for decades to come and these names are currently listed chronologically and include the name of the department in which the firefighter served; and WHEREAS, The design, construction, and maintenance of the California Firefighters Memorial is financed entirely by donations made to the California Fire Foundation, including those made by firefighters through the purchase of the special firefighter license plate, and funds generated by Californians through a special state income tax checkoff; and WHEREAS, Many of the fallen firefighters whose names adorn the California Firefighters Memorial died either under tragic, traumatic circumstances or suffered from and ultimately succumbed to job-caused diseases, such as occupational cancer, as a result of the hazardous nature of their work, including routine exposure to toxins; and WHEREAS, The California Firefighters Memorial Ceremony will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2026, in the City of Sacramento to commemorate the line-of-duty service and sacrifice of 37 California fire service professionals; and WHEREAS, As it did when the California Firefighters Memorial was formally unveiled over two decades ago on April 6, 2002, this year’s ceremony will feature a solemn, uniformed personnel procession, and state and local elected officials and other dignitaries, as well as hundreds of Californians, family members, and friends of fallen firefighters, will travel to the City of Sacramento to honor their lost loved ones; and WHEREAS, California firefighters respond to approximately 3,000,000 incidents across the state each year and the scope of their work goes beyond fighting fires, as they also provide emergency medical services and respond to natural disasters, hazardous materials incidents, water rescue emergencies, high-angle and confined space emergencies, and other general public service calls; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby proclaims the month of October 2026 as California Firefighter Appreciation Month and October 3, 2026, as California Firefighters Memorial Day; and be it further Resolved, That Californians are urged to always remember the firefighters who have given their lives in the line of duty and express their appreciation to those firefighters who continue to protect our families; and be it further Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.