Wisconsin’s First Statewide Fire Ops Is Huge Success

May 27, 2010 – More than 60 elected officials and members of the media from throughout the state participated in the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin’s (PFFW) Fire Ops held May 12 at the Madison Area Technical College. The event was co-organized by the PFFW and Madison Local 311.

“This was our first time organizing a Fire Ops event of this size and we are extremely pleased with how well it was received,” reports PFFW Executive Board member Mahlon Mitchell, co-organizer of the event. PFFW cites the IAFF Fire Ops 101 online resource as a valuable tool to help organize the event. In addition, Madison Wisconsin Local 311 President Joe Conway and Professional Firefighters of Vermont President Matt Vinci provided assistance in the planning process.

Governor Doyle signs legislation important to fire fighters

Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle kicked off the event, signing two pieces of legislation important to the fire fighters – Infectious Disease Presumption and a Line-of-Duty Death (LODD) Health Care Premium benefit. The new presumptive legislation adds infectious diseases to the list of presumptive illnesses (heart and lung disease and certain cancers) already covered in the state.

The LODD Health Care Premium benefit was proposed after Green Bay Local 141 fire fighter Arnie Wolff’s family health insurance was canceled immediately after Wolff died in the line of duty. The new benefit allows for spousal insurance to be covered until the spouse reaches the age of 67 or remarries. Fallen fire fighter children can keep the insurance until they are 18, or 27 if they are in college.

After the bills were signed, media representative and elected officials participated in several drills, including search and rescue, hose maneuvering, live burn, auto extrication, ventilation, special teams and EMS. Ninety fire fighters from around the state served as wranglers.

Fire Ops organizers say that participants gave positive feedback and several media reports called the event an “eye-opening” day.