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.

 

"Economic Crisis News Headlines" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Massachusetts Fire Fighters Rally to Protect Jobs and Resources " (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"A Tribute to Two Fallen Houston Fire Fighters" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Winds May Have Been Factor in Fatal Fire" (Houston Chronicle)
"Senate Backs Firefighter Union Bill" (Associated Press)
"Manitoba Broadens Occupational Disease Coverage " (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"New Mexico Governor Signs State Presumptive Legislation" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Bill Would Provide Benefits to Firefighters With Cancer" (Cadillac News (MI))
"FIRE Act Grant Application Period Begins" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Plant Fire Forces Evacuation of Entire Minnesota Town" (Associated Press)
"IAFF Members Are Big Winners in Illinois Elections" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"City to Hire 10 Police Officers, Five Fire Fighters" (Springfield News-Leader)
"Peoria Fire Fighters Offering Scholarships" (The Arizona Republic)
"Governor honors fallen firefighters " (KRCG 23)
"Oregon Fire Fighters Teach Life-Saving Skills" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"5K Run Planned to Honor Charleston Firefighters" (Associated Press)
"Boy Gets Chance To Be Fire Fighter For Day" (KERO Bakersfield)
"Dodd Pledges Stimulus Help for Firefighters" (Connecticut Post (CT))

Economic Crisis News Headlines
International Association of Fire Fighters

The economy is affecting IAFF members throughout this union through staffing reductions, station closures, cost shifting and wage concessions as local governments lose revenue. To help IAFF members get a clearer understanding of the depth of the financial crisis, the effect it's having at every level of the economy -- including local and state budgets -- the IAFF has prepared the following summaries of and links to "economic crisis" news articles related to cuts in state and local budgets, fire fighter staffing, health care benefits, compensation, pension plans and other areas as a result of the economic downturn.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines

Massachusetts Fire Fighters Rally to Protect Jobs and Resources
International Association of Fire Fighters (04/15/09)

More than 1,500 IAFF Massachusetts fire fighters descended on Boston April 14 to call Governor Devel Patrick's attention to several serious issues, including fire fighter layoffs and equipment and training budget cuts. The Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts (PFFM) led a march in the streets around the state house, stopping on the building's front steps to hold the rally and press conference. Speaking to the crowd, Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts (PFFM) President Robert McCarthy said, "Today, we sound the alarm on the dire state of the fire service. With more layoffs, station closings and unsafe staffing levels, every day the public is put more and more at risk."
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines

A Tribute to Two Fallen Houston Fire Fighters
International Association of Fire Fighters (04/20/09)

Thousands of family and friends of fire fighters gathered at the Grace Community Church April 16 in Houston, Texas, to remember fallen Houston Local 341 fire fighters James Harlow, 50, and Damion Hobbs, 29. The two died responding to a house fire on Easter Sunday morning. IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger attended the service and offered these words in remembrance of the two Local 341 members. "Each one of our fallen is a great and tragic loss. Each one requires our undivided celebration and attention; thus we gather from across two great nations to honor and celebrate their lives and mourn their loss," said General President Schaitberger. Schaitberger later added, "I know James and Damion considered themselves lucky to be part of the Houston Fire Department and Local 341, but the truth is, we were the lucky ones to have had them among our ranks."
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines

Winds May Have Been Factor in Fatal Fire
Houston Chronicle (04/13/09); Pinkerton, James

Federal investigators will probe whether high-velocity winds played a key role in a fire that cost the lives of two Houston fire fighters on April 12. Houston Fire Department (HFD) officials have suggested that a midnight cold front contributed to the fire that killed the fire fighters, said Tim Merinar with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's fatality investigation program. Witnesses reported that the conflagration was being contained after fire trucks arrived not long after midnight, but flames "punched" through the roof and spread through the building around 12:30 a.m. "Wind would feed the fire, the wind blowing into the burning structure would present more oxygen -- feed it, fan it, accelerate it," Merinar said. The fire fighters caught in the blaze were searching for an elderly couple who had already fled the building. 

Return to Headlines

Senate Backs Firefighter Union Bill
Associated Press (04/14/09)

Legislation that would give fire fighters the right to form a union and broker contracts has cleared the Colorado Senate. SB 180 would allow fire fighters to organize. The bill would not apply to departments with less than 30 people unless a majority of fire fighters wanted to become involved.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines

Manitoba Broadens Occupational Disease Coverage
International Association of Fire Fighters (04/17/09)

Through a collaborative effort between Manitoba Premier Gary Doer, Labour and Immigration Minister Nancy Allan and the Manitoba Professional Fire Fighters Association, new provincial legislation that will expand fire fighter occupational disease coverage was introduced April 15. The new cancer legislation will add testicular and esophageal cancer for fire fighters. Brain, bladder, kidney, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, leukemia, ureter, colon, rectal and lung cancers are covered under previously passed legislation.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines

New Mexico Governor Signs State Presumptive Legislation
International Association of Fire Fighters (04/10/09)

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson has signed a new law which will presume 11 cancers and five infectious diseases are work-related for fire fighters. The law also covers fire fighters who suffer a stroke or heart attack within 24 hours of fighting a fire. New Mexico is the 43rd state to enact presumptive legislation for fire fighters. The new law is effective beginning in July 2010.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines

Bill Would Provide Benefits to Firefighters With Cancer
Cadillac News (MI) (04/14/09); Weatherhead, Tim

The Michigan House has passed legislation to broaden compensation to fire fighters contracting respiratory tract, bladder, skin, brain, kidney, blood and lymphatic cancers. Fire fighters who contract occupational lung and heart cancers are already covered under the law. To be eligible, fire fighters must be full-time employees and have not smoked for five years prior to the discovery of the disease. "Fire fighters risk exposure to unknown carcinogens when they rush in to save lives," said Representative Jennifer Haase (D-Richmond). "We must do everything we can to ensure the proper treatment is accessible." Thus far there are 24 states with laws presuming that a fire fighter's cancer is caused by his occupation. "There's quite a bit of evidence to show that fire fighters have a higher rate of cancer than other individuals do," noted House Labor Committee Chair Representative Steven Lindberg (D-Marquette).
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines

FIRE Act Grant Application Period Begins
International Association of Fire Fighters (04/13/09)

The application period for Fiscal Year 2009 Assistance to Firefighters Grants (FIRE Act) ) program begins at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on Wednesday, April 15, 2009. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has posted program guidance online. Applications for these grants must be received by Wednesday, May 20, 2009, at 5:00 p.m. EDT. The IAFF encourages its affiliates to work with their fire departments to apply for these grants.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines

Plant Fire Forces Evacuation of Entire Minnesota Town
Associated Press (04/18/09); Riggs, Liz

Authorities evacuated St, Charles, a southeastern Minnesota town of about 3,600, as a large fire at a meat processing plant threatened the anhydrous ammonia tanks inside but, despite a scare, fire fighters were able to prevent the tanks from exploding. Some 200 fire fighters and emergency workers from several agencies responded to the fire, including a hazardous materials team from Rochester.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines

IAFF Members Are Big Winners in Illinois Elections
International Association of Fire Fighters (04/08/09)

Fourteen candidates in the April 7 Illinois general election were IAFF members, and seven of them were elected to four-year terms for their their respective office. All 14 candidates received a FIREPAC contribution during their campaign.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines

City to Hire 10 Police Officers, Five Fire Fighters
Springfield News-Leader (04/22/09); Johnson, Wes

Despite a city hiring freeze that will continue into next year, the Springfield, Missouri, City Council has decided to hire 10 police officers and five fire fighters in July. City Manager Greg Burris got full council backing for his recommendation during an overview of the 2009-2010 city budget. Burris said the fire department will be short 20 fire fighters by June 30, and the police department will be 34 officers below budgeted strength.  
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines

Peoria Fire Fighters Offering Scholarships
The Arizona Republic (04/08/09)

The Peoria Fire Department and Peoria Firefighter Charities are offering two scholarships to Peoria graduating seniors, the annual Johnny Valentine Memorial Scholarship and the General Education Scholarship. Valentine was a Peoria fire fighter who died of a brain tumor. The $2,500 scholarship in his name is available to any Peoria graduating senior who is seeking to pursue a career in fire service or medicine. The General Education Scholarship is available to any Peoria graduating senior who will continue with higher education. This scholarship is for $1,000.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines

Governor honors fallen firefighters
KRCG 23 (04/09/09); Madeja, Monica

Fire fighters from across the state paid tribute to the fallen April 8, gathering at the State Capitol to watch as Governor Jay Nixon declared the day "Fire Service Tribute Day." He recognized fire fighters for their efforts and remembered those who have died in the line of duty. Last year, seven fire fighters died while serving.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines

Oregon Fire Fighters Teach Life-Saving Skills
International Association of Fire Fighters (04/21/09)

Four members of Clackamas County, OR Local 1159 have left for Hanoi, Vietnam, as part of an emergency medical services development team under the authority of Medical Teams International (MTI) to train Hanoi city fire fighters in basic fire skills and first aid. Local 1159 fire fighters Steve Hoffeditz, Brandon Paxton, Josh Santos and Don Davis are facilitating the training.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines

5K Run Planned to Honor Charleston Firefighters
Associated Press (04/15/09)

Charleston, SC Local 61 has organized a 5K race to commemorate the deaths of nine fire fighters killed fighting a furniture store blaze in 2007. Proceeds raised from the race will go toward the purchase of extra air packs for Charleston fire fighters, according to fire fighter Jason Williamson. An official cause of the June 18, 2007, fire has never been released, though investigators have said the air packs of each of the fire fighters found in the Sofa Super Store were empty. The fire may possibly have been caused by a burning cigarette.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines

Boy Gets Chance To Be Fire Fighter For Day
KERO Bakersfield (04/09/09)

Recently the Make A Wish Foundation held an auction fundraiser dinner where different prizes were awarded. One of the prizes, donated by the Kern County Fire Department, was to become a fire fighter for a day. An unknown successful bidder paid $1,000 for that prize, then handed the prize over to 11-year-old Jeffrey Reed. The young man got the change to meet some of the guys who fight real fires. There was the instruction and the opportunity to act like a fire fighter himself by using some of the equipment on the truck.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines

Dodd Pledges Stimulus Help for Firefighters
Connecticut Post (CT) (04/14/09); Reilly, Genevieve

Any federal stimulus funding Connecticut receives that is earmarked for public safety should go directly to fire fighters and emergency medical services (EMS), Senator Christopher Dodd (D) said at a meeting of the Connecticut Career Fire Chiefs and the Connecticut Fire Marshals Association. The state will receive about $80 million for EMS, and Dodd pledged to “insist when public safety is mentioned, it includes fire fighters and EMS.” Local officials were able to get a waiver on a local match requirement for $20 million in grant money to put more fire fighters on rigs, allowing them to use the funding without having to put up local money to match. Dodd says he is “very much aware how dangerous it is to send less than four people out on a rig. That waiver will make some difference.”
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines