Welcome to the IAFF Frontline News Brief, distributed twice a month to IAFF affiliate leaders and IAFF members. We encourage you to forward this news to your members and others in the fire service.

The Frontline News Brief is delivered directly by email and is also published on the IAFF web site. You can view past issues at http://www.iaff.org/Comm/frontline/news.htm.

Your feedback is also welcome - email pr@iaff.org with questions and comments.
 

"Fighting Fires, Fighting Cancer" (International Fire Fighter)
"Firefighters Sue Phila., Saying Cuts Jeopardize Lives" (Philadelphia Inquirer)
"NIOSH Releases Report on Baltimore LODD" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Cal Fire Fire Fighters Dismissed Early" (The Press Enterprise)
"ICC Rejects NAHB Residential Sprinkler Appeal" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Other Groups Join City Unions' Bid to Keep Contracts" (Vallejo Times Herald (CA))
"Ohio City Bucks Trend, Adds Police, Firefighters" (Associated Press)
"Newton Fire Fighter Leaves Patriotic Helmet Behind" (The Boston Globe)
"Retired San Jose Officers and Firefighters Again Seek Benefit for Spouses They Marry After Retirement" (Mercury News)
"Anchorage Fire Fighters Get New Contract" (Anchorage Daily News)
"After Boys Go Through Ice, Natick Fire Fighters Save Day" (The Boston Herald)
"Arbitrator Rules Ohio Fire Fighter Reinstated" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Rescue Reignites Feud Over Firehouse Staffing" (New York Daily News)
"Tennis Pros Or Fire Fighters?" (WKRG 5)
"Ohio Fire Fighters Band Asked To Perform In Inaugural Parade" (Newsnet 5)

Fighting Fires, Fighting Cancer
International Fire Fighter (12/11/08)

"Working to Death" is a series of articles in the International Fire Fighter that examine the health risks fire fighters face. More importantly, the series looks at what can be done to prevent fire fighter deaths and illustrates how some are improving the health and safety of fire fighters.
(Web Link)
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Firefighters Sue Phila., Saying Cuts Jeopardize Lives
Philadelphia Inquirer (12/17/08); Matza, Michael

Philadelphia, PA Local 22 sued Philadelphia twice December 16 in an attempt to have Mayor Michael Nutter rescind his plan to cut five engine and two ladder companies, reassign 150 fire fighters and decommission some equipment, citing the fact that Nutter’s proposals unnecessarily risk lives. In the Court of Common Pleas filing, the union demanded an injunction to stall the mayor’s proposed cuts until an arbitrator can consider the union grievance, which claims that the city violated its contract with the union by “jeopardizing the safety and health of fire fighters in a manner that is likely to cause death or serious physical harm.” A similar plea was made to the state Supreme Court. The underlying suit is on appeal from the Commonwealth Court, where in 2007 the city won a ruling requiring an independent, third-party impact study be performed prior to the dismissal of fire companies. This time around, the fire department performed an internal study to ascertain the effect of the cuts. The union contends the city should wait for the Supreme Court to rule on the appeal from the Commonwealth Court before implementing any measures.
(Web Link)
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NIOSH Releases Report on Baltimore LODD
International Association of Fire Fighters (12/17/08)

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has released its investigation report on the February 9, 2007, line-of-duty death of Baltimore City fire recruit and Baltimore Local 734 member Rachael Wilson. The Baltimore City Fire Department was charged with "intentionally" and "knowingly" violating safety rules resulting in "a substantial probability [of] death or serious physical harm" during the live fire training exercise that killed Wilson.
(Web Link)
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Cal Fire Fire Fighters Dismissed Early
The Press Enterprise (12/15/08); Asbury, John

California's fire department has laid off about 160 seasonal fire fighters in the Inland area sooner than planned, partly because the recent weather has diminished the threat of wildfire and partly because of the state budget crisis, fire officials said. Cal Fire, the state agency that contracts with Riverside County and portions of San Bernardino County for fire protection, cut 79 seasonal fire fighters in each county and will close 11 Inland fire stations. Terry McHale, public policy director for the state fire fighters union, said while the layoffs are ominous, given the state budget crisis, the cuts were the best option.
(Web Link)
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ICC Rejects NAHB Residential Sprinkler Appeal
International Association of Fire Fighters (12/17/08)

The appeals committee of the International Code Council (ICC) has voted unanimously to reject an appeal of recently approved residential sprinkler requirements filed by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The requirements, slated for inclusion in the 2009 edition of the International Residential Code (IRC), follow affirmative votes last September in Minneapolis, where ICC's Voting Governmental Members overwhelmingly supported Proposals RB64 and RB66 to require fire sprinklers in all new single and two-family dwellings and townhouses. The IRC is a model code that regulates new home construction in 48 states and the District of Columbia. 
(Web Link)
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Other Groups Join City Unions' Bid to Keep Contracts
Vallejo Times Herald (CA) (12/16/08); York, Jessica A.

Vallejo, CA Local 1186 has joined other labor groups in opposing Vallejo, California's bid to terminate the city's contracts with employees in bankruptcy court. The move comes months after the city filed for bankruptcy protection and made its case to a federal court for why it met the requirements to file for Chapter 9 municipal bankruptcy. Vallejo cites as evidence of its financial plight labor costs that account for almost 75 percent of its annual general fund budget. However, labor groups argue that the city's request would set a dangerous precedent. A suit filed by the California Labor Federation AFL-CIO says a favorable decision by the court would prompt other cities throughout the state to "attempt to solve their budget problems by shedding their labor agreements and by making the employees who work for the taxpayers carry the burdens of fiscal challenges."
(Web Link)
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Ohio City Bucks Trend, Adds Police, Firefighters
Associated Press (12/14/08)

Despite many Ohio cities and communities cutting down on their safety forces, Newark Mayor Bob Diebold announced that he will be adding fire fighters to the city payroll regardless of the difficult financial climate. He will look to cut costs in other areas, however.
(Web Link)
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Newton Fire Fighter Leaves Patriotic Helmet Behind
The Boston Globe (12/18/08); Terris, Ben

A Newton fire fighter has decided to stop wearing his red, white and blue helmet, after Fire Chief Joseph LaCroix deemed it inappropriate to the uniform. Fire fighter Richard Busa, an Iraq war veteran, had been wearing the spray-painted, red, white and blue helmet for nearly three years, when LaCroix objected. Facing a possible suspension, Busa decided it would be best to don another helmet lest he jeopardize his career.
(Web Link)
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Retired San Jose Officers and Firefighters Again Seek Benefit for Spouses They Marry After Retirement
Mercury News (12/12/08); Woolfolk, John

San Jose, California, fire fighters and police officers are lobbying for changes to their pension plan that would allow benefits for a surviving spouse who was married after the employee's date of retirement. There are currently 30 retirees who married after retiring, and their request would pertain only to those existing retirees and not future ones. Retirees say the current rules cause financial hardship for many widows and should be changed. "The fact is that these women are left out in the cold without insurance when their husband dies,” says retired fire fighter Ken Heredia. Current rules allow survivorship benefits to spouses married after retiring only if the employee had agreed to a reduced pension, and no health benefits are offered.
(Web Link)
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Anchorage Fire Fighters Get New Contract
Anchorage Daily News (12/17/08); Hunter, Don

A five-year contract that sets work rules, wages and benefits for Anchorage fire fighters until 2013 has passed the Assembly in a 7-4 vote. Only two people spoke at a public hearing before the fire contract vote, both in favor. One of them was union president Tom Wescott, a captain at station 5, who tried to reassure Assembly members that his union would be willing to renegotiate if times get tough and the city needs help shrinking its payroll. "Whatever does happen, we'll be there" and willing to help make ends meet. City unions did exactly that in 2004, when the city faced a $30 million budget shortfall and both police and fire fighters agreed to forgo scheduled increases.
(Web Link)
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After Boys Go Through Ice, Natick Fire Fighters Save Day
The Boston Herald (12/21/08); Jordan, Katy

Two Natick fire fighters risked their own safety to rescue a pair of frostbitten teenage boys who had fallen through the ice at Natick's Pickerel Pond, plunged into the frigid waters below and then dragged themselves out only to remain nearly paralyzed by cold 60 feet out on the ice.
(Web Link)
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Arbitrator Rules Ohio Fire Fighter Reinstated
International Association of Fire Fighters (12/11/08)

An arbitrator has ruled that Union Township, OH Local 3412, President Jamie Osborne be reinstated and that union officers are not required to divulge union activities. "We believe that the arbitrator handed down fair rulings in these grievance cases," says Osborne. "I am looking forward to returning to work."
(Web Link)
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Rescue Reignites Feud Over Firehouse Staffing
New York Daily News (12/18/08); Lemire, Jonathon

A drunken woman was rescued from the frigid waters off City Island by fire fighters, reigniting the debate whether their firehouse should have its staffing cut in half overnight. When the 40-year-old woman toppled off a dock and landed in the water at 4:15 a.m., a neighbor ran to her aid and called 911. Within minutes, Lt. Chris Kelly and fire fighter Walter Henning of Ladder 53 pulled the woman to safety. The company is one of four FDNY units that will be closed between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. daily as a cost-cutting measure. Critics of the plan pointed to the rescue as evidence that the ladder company - the only one on City Island - should stay open 24 hours a day.
(Web Link)
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Tennis Pros Or Fire Fighters?
WKRG 5 (12/16/08); Alexander, Steve

After laying off 21 employees, the City of Gulf Shores may hire tennis pros. Among the layoffs were three fire fighters.
(Web Link)
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Ohio Fire Fighters Band Asked To Perform In Inaugural Parade
Newsnet 5 (12/09/08)

A northeast Ohio band has been given the honor of being asked to perform in next month's presidential inaugural parade. The Cleveland Firefighters Memorial Pipes and Drums Band wants to go to Washington, but getting there is tough. Because the invitation just came, the band of fire fighters from 18 different northeast Ohio departments quickly found they had a problem. "When we finally got the nod that we were going we had already looked around and found out we were not going to get any hotel rooms and transportation would be difficult so we figured we'd just scrub it," said Cleveland fire fighter Andy Clark. But then came the early wave of support from the community and other departments, and the hope that maybe they could make it work.
(Web Link)
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