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.
 

"IAFF Sends Giuliani Packing" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"IAFF Sends Anti-Giuliani Message to Florida Voters" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Fire Fighter Visits Jax to Speak Out Against Giuliani" (First Coast News)
"Schaitberger Fights Florida Tax Reform, Governor" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"New Orleans' Record on Rebuilding Firehouses" (CNN)
"Houston Fire Fighter Injured in Blaze Takes Turn for Worse" (Houston Chronicle)
"Round 25 AFG Awards Announced" (Firehouse.com)
"Fire Safety Road Map Complete" (San Diego Union Tribune)
"Garth Fights for Firefighters" (CBS News)
"S.F. Nears Settlement With Firefighters Over Back Pay" (Examiner.com)
"Fire Fighters' Union Files State Complaint" (Topeka Capital-Journal)
"Hero Back on the Job" (Ottawa Sun)
"Cincinnati Firefighters Dump Chabot" (Cincinnati Enquirer)
"Trial Slated for Farmington Firefighters' Lawsuit" (Associated Press)
"Concerns Over Killer Bees Have Fire Fighters Taking New Measures" (WFTV Florida)
"Arizona Fire Fighter Competes on Survivor" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Firefighters Miss Poles as Safer Alternatives Now Standard" (Detroit Free Press)
 

IAFF Sends Giuliani Packing
International Association of Fire Fighters (01/30/08)

IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger issued this statement on the decision by former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani to drop out of the 2008 race for president: "Rudy Giuliani's decision to end his campaign for president of the United States is good news for our country and is a clear repudiation of his shameless effort to profit - politically and financially - from a national tragedy."
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines

IAFF Sends Anti-Giuliani Message to Florida Voters
International Association of Fire Fighters (01/24/08)

"Rudy Giuliani was unprepared to protect New York, and he is unprepared to lead our country." That's the message Florida Republican voters are receiving in the mail this week from the IAFF. The direct mail piece is going to 128,000 Republican women between the ages of 40 and 80 (a.k.a. Security Moms). The direct mail is a part of the IAFF's "Fire Brigade" protesting former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani's presidential candidacy around the state of Florida. The "Fire Brigade," a group of retired New York City fire fighters and family members of fire fighter victims of the September 11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center, are exposing Giuliani's trumped up 9/11 credentials as a myth. "This is a first for the IAFF," says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. "We traditionally support a candidate, not oppose someone. We are taking this unusual step because it is important to our members and it reflects how opposed they are to a potential Giuliani presidency." 
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines

Fire Fighter Visits Jax to Speak Out Against Giuliani
First Coast News (01/18/08); Kamm, Grayson

One of the world's largest fire fighters' unions is launching a statewide campaign to speak out against Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani. The man speaking on the First Coast was Jim Riches, a retired New York City assistant fire chief. He lost his son Jimmy Riches, also a fire fighter, on September 11th, 2001. Riches is part of what the International Association of Fire Fighters calls its "Fire Brigade."
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines

Schaitberger Fights Florida Tax Reform, Governor
International Association of Fire Fighters (01/28/08)

IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger inspired a crowd of nearly 200 supporters at a public rally in downtown Jacksonville to get out and vote "No" on Amendment 1, a tax reform referendum that will reduce fire and EMS services around the state, cost hundreds of fire fighters their jobs and eliminate pay raises and promotions for thousands of others. Schaitberger's spirited speech chided Florida Governor Charlie Crist for not allowing local governments to run their own fire departments.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines

New Orleans' Record on Rebuilding Firehouses
CNN (01/24/08); Callebs, Sean

New Orleans has yet to rebuild a single fire station more than two years after Katrina destroyed or damaged 22 of the city's 33 firehouses. Appalled by the city's lack of action, an actor is leading the way in reconstruction of the fire stations. "I gave up on ever hoping that politicians in this country -- local, state or federal -- would step in to help these guys," said actor Dennis Leary. After Katrina hit, FEMA estimated it would take 10 years and millions of dollars to rebuild the fire stations. In the interim, fire fighters have been working and living in trailers attached to the decimated firehouses. "It's a bit heart-wrenching," said fire fighter Chuck Brokmeier.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines

Houston Fire Fighter Injured in Blaze Takes Turn for Worse
Houston Chronicle (01/31/08); Moran, Kevin

A Houston fire fighter who suffered serious injuries while fighting a January 21 house fire took a turn for the worse. "The doctors were thinking he was looking great over the weekend but he has taken a turn for the worse," said Irene Everette, wife of Brandon Everette, who is at Memorial Hermann Hospital. Everette and two other men were fighting a mid-day blaze when a portion of the ceiling collapsed on them and dislodged Everette's protective air mask.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines

Round 25 AFG Awards Announced
Firehouse.com (01/25/08)

The Federal Emergency Management Agency recently awarded $17 million in Assistance to Firefighter Grants. The funding went to 165 fire departments from around the country. The grants were the 25th round of funding awarded as part of the program.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines

Fire Safety Road Map Complete
San Diego Union Tribune (01/28/08); Gardner, Michael

After the 2003 infernos exposed alarming shortcomings in California's fire fighting capabilities, the state now appears to be making progress toward remedies that in some cases were proposed years ago. Included in a new review are several familiar proposals, from bolstering frontline defenses to adding aerial support. The Blue Ribbon Commission Task Force report is described in a cover letter by fire officials as "a road map to serve our collective efforts to improve fire and life safety for all Californians."
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines

Garth Fights for Firefighters
CBS News (01/25/08)

Garth Brooks performed five concerts over the course of two days in Los Angeles to raise money for Southern California fire fighters and victims of the recent forest fires. Brooks hoped to raise $10 million for the fire fighters' cause. In a recent interview, Brooks expressed his admiration for fire fighters, saying, "The love that these guys have for people they don't even know kills me. And they don't have any hesitation. Their first thing is to go."
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines

S.F. Nears Settlement With Firefighters Over Back Pay
Examiner.com (01/21/08); Begin, Brent

The city of San Francisco has agreed to a $755,000 legal settlement to resolve a dispute over fire fighters' back pay. Retired fire fighters Dennis Kruger and Francis Kelly filed a lawsuit in March 2005 along with 14 other former employees of the San Francisco Fire Department. They alleged that when they retired, they were denied full compensation for retroactive sick pay, overtime and vacation time. The lawsuit also claimed the fire fighters should have been paid higher rates for Terrorism Response Training, Training and Education Achievement Pay and Retention Pay. Those who get a college degree and return to the department or those who have worked for more than 10 years are entitled to a 6 percent pay increase. The terrorism training pay is part of a statewide initiative for emergency responders.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines

Fire Fighters' Union Files State Complaint
Topeka Capital Journal (01/29/08); Hrenchir, Tim

The Topeka fire fighters' union has filed a complaint with the Kansas Public Employee Relations Board contending Fire Chief Howard Giles altered working conditions to punish union members for taking part in union activities. Kent Dederick, president of Local 83 of the International Association of Fire Fighters, said in the complaint filed by Topeka attorney Clint Patty that Giles and Deputy Chief Rick Pardee ordered the transfer of more than 50 fire fighters in an effort to hamper union activities.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines

Hero Back on the Job
Ottawa Sun (01/30/08); Casey, Dona

John Chatterton remembers falling, just like a leaf from a tree. The 48-year-old fire lieutenant figures it took him only a few seconds to drop three storeys when he jumped from a smoke-choked, flame-filled building nearly a year ago. The man many hail as a hero for his quick thinking and leadership is back on the job after a difficult year clawing back from a calamitous day.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines

Cincinnati Firefighters Dump Chabot
Cincinnati Enquirer (01/18/08); Rulon, Malia

Cincinnati, OH Local 48 has pulled its support from U.S. Representative Steve Chabot (R-OH). Instead, the union will back his opponent, Democrat Steve Driehaus. Local 48 representatives say they made the decision to stop backing Chabot because he voted against a recent bill to give fire fighters nationwide collective bargaining rights. Despite his opposition, the bill passed the House 314-97.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines

Trial Slated for Farmington Firefighters' Lawsuit
Associated Press (01/23/08)

Farmington, NM Local 2850 and the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit in September 2005 against the city of Farmington regarding violations of fire fighters' free speech rights under a collective bargaining ordinance. The ordinance prevents fire fighters from endorsing candidates or issues in elections, conducting union business on city property, and conducting no confidence votes against city officials. The suit will be heard in U.S. District Court in Santa Fe on February 5.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines

Concerns Over Killer Bees Have Fire Fighters Taking New Measures
WFTV Florida (01/16/08)

Concerns over killer bees have one county putting new measures in place after several recent attacks. Fire fighters call it a dangerous situation. In just the last year, there have been at least six incidents involving possible Africanized killer bees in Osceola County. Every fire fighter now has hoods they're called sting shields and it's what they will wear if they have to rescue someone who has been caught in a swarm.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines

Arizona Fire Fighter Competes on Survivor
International Association of Fire Fighters (01/22/08)

Tune in to CBS for the premier of "Survivor: Micronesia" February 7, 2008, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time as Phoenix, AZ Local 493 fire fighter Joel Anderson will compete to become the second IAFF member to win the reality show contest. 
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines

Firefighters Miss Poles as Safer Alternatives Now Standard
Detroit Free Press (01/17/08); Witsil, Frank

Fire poles are major icons for fire fighters, but most poles are being replaced with stairs, slides or single-story firehouses. Officials say the replacement is mostly for insurance reasons. Fire poles have been linked to a number of injuries in the past. A number of firehouses in Michigan are making renovations or are under construction. The fire departments there must decide if the tradition is worth the extra financial and physical risk. In Detroit, most firehouses are being built without poles. And in Chicago, under 10 percent of firehouses still have them. However, many fire fighters are finding ways to keep the tradition alive. In Royal Oak, Michigan, for example, fire fighters keep a six-foot pole covered with comments and quotes. The pole moves from station house to station house as departments try to gain and keep possession of the pole. Other fire fighters are choosing to keep poles discarded from remodeled firehouses. One firehouse in Farmington Hills, Michigan, keeps an 18-foot brass pole rescued from a Detroit firehouse; new recruits polish it as part of tradition.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines