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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://daily.iaff.org/frontline/morenews.html.

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

"IAFF Wins Passage of HELPS Retirees Bill" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Pension Threats Hit Providence" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Busy But Not Happy" (Sun News)
"Firefighters' union buys morning on radio show" (The Tribune-Star )
"Union fights city's appeal of contract" (Philadelphia News)
"9/11 Dust May Have Aged Rescuers' Lungs Early" (Boston Globe)
"Union Leaders Discuss Possible City-Wide Strike" (WNED-AM 970 News)
"New Online Jobaid Helps IAFF Affiliates Understand GASB 45 " (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"IAFF Talks About Global Alliance With Other Fire Unions" (International Association of Fire Fighters )
"Austin mulls extending bilingual stipend to all city workers" (American-Statesman)
"Cities' Disaster Plans Lacking" (USA Today)
"Locals get sneak peak at 9/11 flick" (Daily News)
"Firehouse Meals Made Easy!" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"More Women Joining Ranks of Firefighters" (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
"Firefighters Burn Over Proposed District Dissolution" (Trenton Times (NJ)
"House Bills Target Broader Emergency Communications" (TelecomWeb)
"Detroit Local Wins Court Favor on Public Safety" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Firefighting mountain biker wins gold medal" (Union Democrat)
"IAFF Announces Winners in 2006 Media Awards Contest!" (International Association of Fire Fighters )
"New Technology Helps Firefighters Stay Cool" (WTKR (VA)
 

"Frontline News Brief" is Sponsored By:

IAFF Wins Passage of HELPS Retirees Bill
International Association of Fire Fighters (08/04/06)

The IAFF has won an unprecedented congressional victory in the successful passage of its HELPS retiree health care proposal and the elimination of early withdraw penalties from Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) accounts. Both proposals have been top IAFF legislative priorities this year.
(Web Link)
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Pension Threats Hit Providence
International Association of Fire Fighters (08/04/06)

A recently unveiled plan to eliminate defined benefit pension plans in favor of a defined contribution pension plan for city of Providence, Rhode Island employees -- including fire fighters -- is one of many threatening fire fighters across the United States.
(Web Link)
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Busy But Not Happy
Sun News (07/27/2006); Prendergast, Ken

Cleveland, OH Local 93 reports that last year was the busiest year in the city fire department's history. Fire fighters answered 65,825 calls for assistance, a 17 percent rise over 2004's 56,236 answers. The 2005 figure surpassed the prior record, set six years ago, in which there were 56,316 answers. Among the largest gains in calls for assistance were for non-fire emergencies, including car accidents, gas leaks, bomb threats and industrial rescues, which rose 40 percent from 2004. The amount of structural fires rose by 15 percent. Local 93 authorities said that the larger workload was taken care of by a smaller fire department. Cleveland officials laid off 70 fire fighters in January 2004 and reduced the number of active fire companies from 44 to 40. "Cutting or not providing adequate resources at a time when citizens need our services more than ever cannot continue," the union noted in a statement.
(Web Link)
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Firefighters' union buys morning on radio show
The Tribune-Star (08/04/06); Greninger, Howard

Terre Haute, IN  Local 758 placed the winning bid of $1,725 to name and co-host rights to an August 15 morning radio show.The station, B-102.7, put its morning show, "The Morning Buzz," on sale on eBay. Hearing rumors that the station was for sale, hosts Chris Carter and Doug Edge decided to auction off their morning show for a day. Fire Captain Darrick Scott -- also a Vigo County council member -- said Local 758 will rename the morning show, "102.7 The Blaze." "We thought it would be good public relations for us, and allow the public a chance to know about us. We want to promote safety and get our views across," Scott said. "We also plan to kick off our MDA boot-a-thon and contributions for the United Way. " Terre Haute Local 758 approved a no-confidence vote against Fire Department Chief Jay Utz last month. The 97-8 vote came because of the union's concerns regarding Utz's decisions as fire chief, said Michael Morrison, president of Local 758. He says the union will use the air time to get its points across regarding staffing and other fire department issues, but also made it very clear that they really want to have fun with this and educate people about their job and what they do in the community.
(Web Link)
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Union fights city's appeal of contract
Philadelphia News (08/01/06); McDonald, Mark

Brian McBride, president of Philadelphia, PA Local 22, promised to "use every means at our disposal" to oppose Mayor John Street administration's appeal of an arbitration award that gave 2,400 fire fighters a three-year contract and a 10 percent pay raise. "The city has shown blatant disrespect for the arbitration process by appealing the award," he said. "The city is fighting provisions that will keep citizens safe and fire fighters healthy." One provision requires the city to vent toxic diesel fumes from inside firehouses . " The city's decision to appeal is mean-spirited and a slap in the face to fire fighters," he said.
(Web Link)
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9/11 Dust May Have Aged Rescuers' Lungs Early
Boston Globe (08/02/06); Larkin, Catherine

An article in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine indicates that New York City fire fighters and paramedics' lungs may have aged an average of 12 years following exposure to the dust and smoke at the World Trade Center collapse site in 2001. Those arriving first on the scene have had more frequent and severe instances of wheezing and chest pain than those who arrived two days later, for instance. The study noted that exposure to the dust and smoke could have put them at risk for developing chronic breathing problems and lung function loss. Only 22 percent of the responders in 2001 used protective masks and breathing equipment, and a lack of adequate equipment led to compliance problems and, ultimately, the ailments many fire fighters and other rescuers are experiencing.
(Web Link)
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Union Leaders Discuss Possible City-Wide Strike
WNED-AM 970 News (08/03/06); Caya, Chris

Buffalo, NY Local 282 President Joe Foley met with leaders of the police union and the teacher's union to discuss a possible city-wide strike. Mayor Byron Brown has promised to lift the city's wage freeze, but Foley says he's not sure how much longer union members will wait. "I have been without a contract and a pay raise for five years...I am past the breaking point," Foley said. It is illegal in New York state for public employee unions to strike under the Taylor Law. 
(Web Link)
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New Online Jobaid Helps IAFF Affiliates Understand GASB 45
International Association of Fire Fighters (08/09/06)

IAFF affiliates and members need to be aware of the new U.S. Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) Statement 45 (GASB 45) and its effect on health care and other non-pension benefits for retired public sector employees, including fire fighters and emergency medical personnel. The IAFF urges its affiliates to become involved in the decision-making process for any changes local and state governments propose as a result of GASB 45 and to be prepared to discuss with employers solutions and alternatives to any cost-cutting measures that jeopardize retirement benefits.  
(Web Link)
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IAFF Talks About Global Alliance With Other Fire Unions
International Association of Fire Fighters (07/28/06)

A delegation led by IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger met with representatives from the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) of the United Kingdom; the United Firefighters Union of Australia (UFUA); and the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) July 25-27 in Hawaii, to begin discussions and set parameters for an information sharing process that could develop into a powerful global alliance, after the unions involved take the information they learned at the meetings to their respective memberships for review and consideration.
(Web Link)
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Austin mulls extending bilingual stipend to all city workers
American-Statesman (08/03/06); Alexander, Kate

In Austin, Texas, fire fighters and other emergency responders receive additional compensation for speaking languages other than English. The City Council is considering a proposal to expand the bilingual stipend to all eligible city employees. An estimated 600 people in jobs where speaking Spanish is critical to communicating with the public have been identified as eligible for the $150 monthly stipend, which would begin in January and cost $650,000 for the remainder of the fiscal year. Encouraging bilingual workers is a key part of responding to the changing demographics of the city, where about one-third of the population is Hispanic. For police, the stipend is available for American Sign Language, French and Korean. In the Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services, the benefit is limited to those who speak Spanish and is given to 13.5 percent of fire fighters and 6 percent of paramedics. Several other Texas cities offer a similar stipend. Dallas started the stipend in 1987 and now offers up to $100 monthly to employees who prove proficient in Spanish, Cambodian, Cantonese, Kurdish, Korean, Laotian, Thai or Vietnamese. Council Member Mike Martinez, formerly an Austin fire fighter and president of Austin Local 975, said Austin can only benefit from employing more people able to communicate with non-English speakers. "It improves service and makes the city more accessible for its constituents." He added that Local 975 recently offered a Spanish-language course that drew 120 fire fighters. "Many more had to be turned away," he said. "They just saw how much of a better service you could provide when you could communicate."
(Web Link)
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Cities' Disaster Plans Lacking
USA Today (07/26/06) P. 1A; Hall, Mimi

A new survey of 183 cities by the U.S. Conference of Mayors finds that 44 percent of the cities surveyed have not created or updated evacuation plans since the Gulf Coast was pounded by Hurricane Katrina nearly a year ago. In addition, nearly five years since the September 11 terrorist attacks, a whopping 80 percent of cities polled say that their first responders are unable to communicate with each other or with nearby jurisdictions. In addition, about 75 percent of the cities surveyed say they are not ready for a flu pandemic. The survey, released July 26, finds that most cities lack the funding to purchase communications equipment that would allow fire fighters, police and other first responders to communicate with each other. The survey examines cities in 38 states, with populations ranging from 30,000 to 8 million. Dearborn, Michigan Mayor Michael Guido, chief of the mayors' group, says that cities must take more initiative on disaster planning by making plans to share equipment during crises, signing mutual-aid agreements with local towns and forming agreements with disaster-response companies before a disaster strikes.
(Web Link)
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Locals get sneak peak at 9/11 flick
Daily News (08/03/06); Halliday, Ryan J.

Dedham, MA Local 1735 fire fighters got a sneak peak of "World Trade Center," Oliver Stone's 9/11 movie about the heroic efforts to save two Port Authority police officers trapped in the Ground Zero wreckage. The film documents the heroic rescue efforts by fire fighters, Marines and EMTs to find the men -- two of only 20 people pulled from the wreckage alive. Among the first responders who attended the screening was Robert McCarthy, president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts, one of the thousands of fire fighters, police and EMTs who assisted at Ground Zero. He said he was not sure if he was ready to see a 9/11 film, but that he was encouraged to learn that the filmmakers had the support and blessing of victims' families. "It's something that we don't want anyone to forget," McCarthy said. "It's a part of our history." John "Spike" Lawless, a retired Cambridge fire fighter who worked for three weeks at the World Trade Center wreckage, said he knew seeing the images of Ground Zero on the big screen was "going to create a certain amount of emotion." Lawless, a past district vice president emeritus of the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts, said his time at Ground Zero was more difficult than his one-year tour in Vietnam as a Marine.
(Web Link)
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Firehouse Meals Made Easy!
International Association of Fire Fighters (08/07/06)

Fit to Survive, the International Association of Fire Fighters' online guide to health and nutrition, now offers an exciting new meal planner featuring simple, healthy meals that fire fighters can prepare on the job. This valuable new tool provides nutritious breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner menus based on a 2,200-calorie diet.
(Web Link)
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More Women Joining Ranks of Firefighters
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (07/30/06); Leone, Emily

More women are becoming fire fighters. Women in the Fire Service, which fosters and backs female fire fighters, reports there were more than 5,800 professional women fire fighters in action last year. Rebecca McDowell has been a fire fighter for Uniontown, PA Local 955 for a little more than a year. She says fire fighting is a great job. 
(Web Link)
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Firefighters Burn Over Proposed District Dissolution
Trenton Times (NJ) (07/28/06); Rich, Lisa

Washington Township, New Jersey, is holding hearings on whether the township's independent fire district should be dissolved, returning fire fighting operations to township government. Fire fighters attending the hearings strongly protested the proposal, arguing that it would reduce the department's ability to provide effective fire protection to the community. However, the township's mayor, David Fried, is concerned that the fire district is not accountable to the government for its spending, and that dissolving it would allow the township to reduce property taxes. Fire fighters counter that the township has not given the district enough time to respond to its concerns about spending and accountability, and that these problems could be solved without dissolving the district.
(Web Link)
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House Bills Target Broader Emergency Communications
TelecomWeb (07/24/06)

An emergency-alert system that voluntarily enlists traditional television and radio networks -- as well as service providers of Internet email and instant messaging, wireless voice and text messages, BlackBerry server systems and cable communications -- is the centerpiece of two separate proposals, the Warning, Alert, and Response Network Act and the 21st Century Emergency Communications Act, currently under examination in the House of Representatives. The bills' consideration comes at a point where the Department of Homeland Security, the Association of Public Television Stations, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and wireline, wireless, and cable community members are testing multimedia alert technologies that tap common traits of digital television, digital paging and IP network transmissions. "With nearly 200 million Americans carrying cell phones and other wireless devices, it seems only natural to also look to the wireless industry to help communicate in times of emergencies," said House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet Chair and Representative Fred Upton (R-MI). The legislation appears to be partially driven by the shortcomings of public alert communications systems exposed by the Hurricane Katrina disaster. The Warning, Alert, and Response Network Act includes no restrictions on available technology usage, a promise not to choose or dictate communications-alert media and an allocation of $106 million to broaden the alert network and help coordinate various federal initiatives to enhance the system. Meanwhile, the 21st Century Emergency Communications Act would facilitate the creation of interoperable emergency communications standards, ban the expenditure of homeland security funding on equipment that does not conform with standards and statewide compatible communications strategies and set up a new Office of Emergency Communications.
(Web Link)
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Detroit Local Wins Court Favor on Public Safety
International Association of Fire Fighters (08/08/06)

A Michigan Court of Appeals has released its opinion that the City of Detroit must investigate and negotiate in arbitration the impact on public safety when considering fire department reductions. "This is a great victory for our members," says Dan McNamara, president of Detroit, MI Local 344. "The city can no longer layoff fire fighters or close fire stations with impunity. They must consider the impact of their actions on public safety."
(Web Link)
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Firefighting mountain biker wins gold medal
Union Democrat (07/27/06); Parkinson, Cameron

California Department of Forestry (CDF) Local 2881 fire fighter Bruce Lodge has won a gold medal in the 40-and-over age group in the 35th annual California Firefighter Summer Olympic Games in Santa Clara County.  Lodge, 48, competed in the same event in 2004 and was not happy with the result. " I was thoroughly embarrassed," he said. "I'm not sure where I finished, but it was quite a poor effort." That was one of his goals this year, to come back and have a much better performance.  Lodge competed in three mountain bike races leading up to this year's games. He trains on U.S. Forest Service and logging roads and also has a stationary bike at work. Stationed in Arnold, California, Lodge likes the difficult and often-dangerous job and says he wouldn't think of doing anything else. "The physical demands of the job have been motivation for my cycling activity, and the cycling has provided the physical activity needed for the job," he said. The California Firefighter Summer Olympic Games have been held since 1970, with 29 individual and team sports governed by the California Firemen's Athletic Association.
(Web Link)
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IAFF Announces Winners in 2006 Media Awards Contest!
International Association of Fire Fighters (08/01/06)

The IAFF has announced the winners in the 2006 Media Awards Contest, conducted annually to honor reporting and photography that best portray the professional and dangerous work of fire fighters and emergency medical personnel in the United States and Canada.
(Web Link)
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New Technology Helps Firefighters Stay Cool
WTKR (VA); Straeten, Sara

The recent heat wave has been tough on fire fighters, who are required to wear insulated gear that further boosts their body temperature. Fire fighters in James City County, VA Local 3306 are using a new technology to help them cope with the warm weather. After rotating out, fire fighters take off their gear and slip into "cool shirts." Ice water is pumped through tubes connecting these thin, blue vests to a cooler, lowering their body temperature without making them wet. More frequent rotations, cooling fans and a truck stocked with water are also used to help fire fighters keep cool.
(Web Link)

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