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.
 

"Fire union wants changes" (The Post and Courier)
"Fatal Fire Draws Charges" (Baltimore Sun)
"Thousands Honor Charleston Fire Fighters" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"MP Joins Fire Fighters in Fight to Establish PSOC Benefit in Canada" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Firefighters Protest Tax Cuts" (News-Press (FL))
"Fire Fighters Battle Angora Fire " (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"House Panel Approves IAFF Bargaining Bill" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Charleston Message Clear During Safety Stand Down Week" (Firehouse.com)
"Salt Lake City Fire Fighters Back Labor-Friendly Candidate " (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Feds Balking on Payouts of Death Benefits to Firefighters" (Associated Press)
"Mesa Endorsed Candidates Sweep Election " (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Edmonton visitor describes harrowing fall from bridge on West Coast Trail" (Times Colonist)
"Arbitrator Rules to Reinstate 16 Pennsylvania Fire Fighters " (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Unions question petition signatures" (The Monitor)
"Firefighters send troops packages from home" (Daily Sentinel)
"Stamford firefighters face layoffs after budget cuts " (Stamford Times)
"Firefighters told to remove ribbons backing troops" (Cnews)
"When Academics Double as Expert Witnesses" (Wall Street Journal)
"Naples Firefighters Comfort Victims With a Warm Fuzzy Feeling" (Naples Daily News (FL))
"Firefighters urged to extinguish bad habits " (Times Union)

 

Fire union wants changes
The Post and Courier (06/28/07)

The head of the local union that represents nearly half of Charleston's fire fighters says the department's operating rules are inadequate and need to change. Roger L. Yow, president of the Charleston Firefighters Association and a former captain with 25 years of service in the department, called on Chief Rusty Thomas to improve safety standards for the department's fire fighters, which he said are at odds with nationally prescribed guidelines. The union represented three of the nine fire fighters killed in last week's furniture store blaze.
(Web Link)
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Fatal Fire Draws Charges
Baltimore Sun (06/27/07); Linskey, Annie

A state agency has charged the Baltimore City Fire Department with "intentionally" and "knowingly" violating safety rules resulting in "a substantial probability [of] death or serious physical harm" during a February 9 training exercise that killed a fire cadet. The Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, after a five-month investigation, cited the department for 33 safety violations and singled out two fire commanders for the haphazard planning and execution of the live burn that claimed the life of Racheal M. Wilson, 29, and injured two others in a vacant rowhouse on South Calverton Road in Southwest Baltimore.
(Web Link)
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Thousands Honor Charleston Fire Fighters
International Association of Fire Fighters (06/22/07)

Thousands of fire fighters from across the nation gathered at the North Charleston Coliseum June 22 to honor their nine colleagues killed in a furniture store blaze June 18. The nine fire officers and fire fighters were Captain William "Billy" Hutchinson, 48; Captain Theodore M. "Mike" Benke, 49; Captain Louis Mulkey, 34; engineer Mark Kelsey, 40; engineer Rodney Bradford "Brad" Baity, 37; assistant engineer Michael French, 27; fire fighter James "Earl" Drayton, 56; fire fighter Brandon Thompson, 27; and fire fighter Melven Champaign, 46. Baity was treasurer of Charleston Local 61.
(Web Link)
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MP Joins Fire Fighters in Fight to Establish PSOC Benefit in Canada
International Association of Fire Fighters (06/25/07)

A New Democratic Party (NDP) member of Parliament from British Columbia has shone a spotlight on the need for a national Public Safety Officer Compensation (PSOC) benefit in Canada. MP Catherine Bell (Vancouver Island North) joined forces with members of Campbell River Local 1668 at a press conference May 23 to call on the government to act on a private member's motion that was adopted in 2005.
(Web Link)
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Firefighters Protest Tax Cuts
News-Press (FL)(06/14/2007) ; Hiraki, Ryan

Florida fire fighters came together in Tallahassee on June 14 to protest legislation intended to reform property taxes in the state. There were at least 500 fire fighters in attendance to speak out against the tax cuts. If passed, these cuts would reduce funding for independent fire departments by 3 percent. International Association of Fire Fighters General President Harold Schaitberger spoke out against the dangers of slashing funding to fire departments, urging lawmakers to consider the safety implications of their actions. "It's about the next time a storm comes through, you're going to be there. This is about the core of service and being able to serve the community."
(Web Link)
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Fire Fighters Battle Angora Fire
International Association of Fire Fighters (06/27/07)

IAFF locals throughout northern California and Nevada have battled a wildfire burning near Lake Tahoe this week. Fire fighters from Lake Valley Professional Fire Fighters Association Local 4409, South Lake Tahoe Firemen's Association Local 4427, Tahoe Douglas Local 2441, North Tahoe Professional Fire Fighters Association Local 3729, North Lake Tahoe Local 2139, Carson City Local 2251, El Dorado County Local 3556 and CDF Fire Fighters Local 2881 were among the IAFF affiliates that assisted in containing the wildfire. The wildfire, called the Angora fire, is spread over 2,730 acres near South Lake Tahoe, California, by the California-Nevada state line.
(Web Link)
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House Panel Approves IAFF Bargaining Bill
International Association of Fire Fighters (06/20/07)

Years of hard work by IAFF members across the country have paid off with the June 20 House Committee vote of 42 to 1 to guarantee collective bargaining rights for every fire fighter in the nation. The vote sends HR 980, the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act, to the full House of Representatives. "The brave men and women who risk their lives each day and serve as our first line of defense against medical emergencies, criminals, natural disasters and terrorist attacks deserve the right to bargain with their employers," says Representative George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the committee.
(Web Link)
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Charleston Message Clear During Safety Stand Down Week
Firehouse.com (06/21/07); Snowden, Lisa

In an emotional coincidence, June 2007 marks both the loss of nine fire fighters who died in South Carolina while battling a fire, and the annual Fire and EMS Safety Stand Down. The Safety Stand Down is a yearly event that gives fire fighters a chance to reassess operating procedures and to improve safety in the fire fighting profession. In Charleston, Pat Morrison, Health and Safety Director for the International Association of Fire Fighters, is working with grieving fire fighters as they deal with the loss of their comrades. Morrison acknowledges that the industry must study what went wrong, to learn from the tragedy, but emphasizes that the "proper" time to do so is after the grieving period.
(Web Link)
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Salt Lake City Fire Fighters Back Labor-Friendly Candidate
International Association of Fire Fighters (06/28/07)

When Salt Lake City, Utah Mayor Rocky Anderson -- a long-time fire fighter supporter -- announced he would not be seeking a third term, Salt Lake City Local 1645 looked for a mayoral candidate who would continue Anderson's commitment to public safety. Local 1645 recently endorsed County Council member Jenny Wilson for mayor. "In her time on the Salt Lake County Council, Wilson has demonstrated her fire fighter support," says Jack Tidrow, president of Local 1645. "We have endorsed her because we are confident that she will continue that support and work to uphold the high level of service the Salt Lake Fire Department now delivers."
(Web Link)
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Feds Balking on Payouts of Death Benefits to Firefighters
Associated Press (06/21/07)

Fire Engineer/EMT Mark Carter of the Phoenix Fire Department passed out and died while on his lunch break June 4. Although the cause of death is still undetermined, it is suspected he died of a heart problem, the number-one cause of death in on-duty fire fighters. If these suspicions are confirmed, Carter's family stands to receive $295,000 in benefits from the federal government under the Hometown Heroes Survivor Benefits Act. Unfortunately, the Department of Justice has been sluggish in processing these claims. Even though then-Attorney General John Ashcroft ordered in 2004 that all Hometown Heroes claims be handled within 90 days, 80 percent remain unprocessed three years after the law's inception.
(Web Link)
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Mesa Endorsed Candidates Sweep Election
International Association of Fire Fighters (06/26/07)

United Mesa Fire Fighters Local 2260 in Arizona is celebrating as four Gilbert Town Council candidates it endorsed won in the Town Council election held May 15, 2007. Thanks to Local 2260's hard work, Les Presmyk, Linda Abbott, Steve Uri and Dave Crozier won Council positions. Presmyk, Uri and Crozier are all incumbents, and Abbott is returning after a 15-year absence from the Town Council. "It was very important for us to support these four candidates, not only because of their proven track record of fire fighter support, but because there were many anti-fire fighter candidates running against them," says Bryan Jeffries, president of Local 2260.
(Web Link)
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Edmonton visitor describes harrowing fall from bridge on West Coast Trail
Times Colonist (06/25/07); McCulloch, Sandra

They'd looked forward to the trek for months, but an Edmonton couple's experience on the West Coast trail ended shortly after it began, with Kristie Wenger tumbling off a log bridge near the Port Renfrew trailhead. An off-duty Victoria fire fighter who was in Port Renfrew attending a wedding is getting credit for rushing to Wenger's assistance to give first aid and coordinate her rescue.
(Web Link)
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Arbitrator Rules to Reinstate 16 Pennsylvania Fire Fighters
International Association of Fire Fighters (06/21/07)

Sixteen fire fighters may soon be called back to work in Erie, Pennsylvania, after an arbitrator handed down a decision in a grievance case between Erie Local 293 and the City of Erie. In September 2005, then-Mayor Richard Fillippi ordered the now former fire chief, Russell Smith, to close one fire company, effectively eliminating 12 positions. Chief Smith eliminated engine 12, expecting fire fighters from one of the aerial trucks to respond with the engine or the aerial depending on the call. The members of Erie Local 293 filed a grievance, saying that the City violated the local contract, which states that the City cannot make any decisions that could potentially affect the safety of Local 293 fire fighters without first bargaining over the issue. The IAFF assisted in the case by giving testimony and providing supporting data.
(Web Link)
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Unions question petition signatures
The Monitor (06/22/07); Holeywell, Ryan

Pharr's police and fire fighter unions are asking a judge to invalidate May's vote that repealed their collective bargaining rights on the grounds that some signatures on the petition used to put the issue on the ballot were collected improperly. The unions' newest allegations follow their original complaint that the vote shouldn't have taken place because a similar vote was held on the issue in 2006. The allegations of improper signatures were filed in the 275th state district court last week and name the city of Pharr and Mayor Leo "Polo" Palacios as defendants. Pharr voters approved a measure in 2006 to give the unions collective bargaining rights. But on May 12, the city's residents voted to repeal those rights.
(Web Link)
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Firefighters send troops packages from home
Daily Sentinel (06/24/07); Peveto, Kyle

For the past few weeks, local fire fighters have assembled a few of the comforts of home to send to local troops stationed in Iraq. They packed several boxes full of movies, magazines, Kool-Aid, beef jerky and junk food, threw in a few T-shirts from the local fire fighters union and shipped them to the units of Nacogdoches-area servicemen. "It's kind of like sending them a box of home," said fire fighter Travis Vanscoder. Members of the Nacogdoches Professional Firefighters Association, the local chapter of the International Association of Fire Fighters, decided to do something in honor of Captain Ed Ivy, a veteran fire fighter who died of a heart attack after a training session in late April. Leaders from the union asked fire fighter Tony Cruz to head the project. As a nine-year veteran of the Marine Corps, Cruz said he knew what it was like to be far away from home.
(Web Link)
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Stamford firefighters face layoffs after budget cuts
Stamford Times (06/28/07); Wright, Chase

After failed negotiations between the city of Stamford and the volunteer fire chiefs, further budget cuts were announced, this time in the form of layoffs. At least 10 paid Stamford fire fighters working within the five volunteer fire departments could become unemployed as of July 1.
(Web Link)
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Firefighters told to remove ribbons backing troops
Cnews (06/19/07); Warmington, Joe

Our brave troops will still be fighting in Afghanistan this September even if the magnetic ribbon support decals on Toronto fire trucks and ambulances won't be. The city has ordered the Support Our Troop decals to be removed from all fire trucks and EMS vehicles on September 4. The reason? It depends on who you talk to. And there are lots of contradictions.
(Web Link)
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When Academics Double as Expert Witnesses
Wall Street Journal (06/22/07) P. A1; Armstrong, David

Thousands of fire fighters have sued the makers of fire truck sirens on the premise of induced hearing loss. Chicago fire fighter Larry Lempa worked on the job for 30 years, usually standing near the siren in the back of the truck; now Lempa says he needs a hearing aide. When Washington University's William W. Clark conducted a 2005 study testing this theory, he noted that "fire fighters are not at risk for occupational noise-induced hearing loss, even though they work nonstandard shifts and are occasionally exposed to high levels of noise." However, the study failed to mention that Clark was being paid by the company being sued.
(Web Link)
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Naples Firefighters Comfort Victims With a Warm Fuzzy Feeling
Naples Daily News (FL) (06/16/07); Mills, Ryan

Fire fighters in Naples, Florida, are working together with the national organization Hugs Across America to bring comfort to local children touched by disaster. Hugs Across America will make sure the fire department will be constantly supplied with teddy bears to give to children when they respond to an emergency. The organization was started by a New York City teacher to provide bears to children who lost loved ones in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The Naples chapter of the organization, started by Ashlee Griffin and Michael Brauer, has already collected more than 100 bears. Local fire fighters have enthusiastically supported the new partnership because they feel it helps children to have something to hold during a crisis.
(Web Link)
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Firefighters urged to extinguish bad habits
Times Union (06/16/07)

Tofu or soy won't replace hamburgers on tables at city anytime soon. But healthier meals could be on the menu, along with an emphasis on exercise and regular cardiac testing to ward off heart attacks for fire fighters whose jobs are stressful and physically demanding.
(Web Link)
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