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.
 

"House Approves IAFF Recommendations to Strengthen U.S. Fire Administration" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Alaska Presumptive Legislation Heads to Governor" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Council OKs Disability Plan for Firefighters With Cancer" (Providence Journal (RI))
"Firefighters Gave Help, Hope in New Orleans" (Green Bay Press-Gazette (WI))
"Fire Department Mergers Ahead" (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)
"Detroit's Fire Fighters Confront a Tableau of Fire and Failure" (Detroit News)
"IAFF Urges House Scrutiny of Public Safety Communications Network" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Proposed Law Speeds Blood-Test Court Process for Emergency Workers" (CBC News)
"Coroner: 2 Cincinnati-Area Firefighters Killed by Burns, Hot Gas" (Ohio.com)
"Farmington Firefighters Win Lawsuit Against City" (Las Cruces Sun-News (NM))
"Virginia Fire Fighters Take Aggressive Political Action Approach" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Councilmembers Walk in Fire Fighters' Boots" (The Olympian)
"Utah Desk Jockeys Suit Up, Face Real Fires" (Salt Lake Tribune)
"New York Fire Fighters Recognized for Efforts at Mass Casualty Incident" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Lawrence Fire Fighters Drop 575.1 Pounds in Eight-Week Charity Contest" (The Eagle Tribune)

 

House Approves IAFF Recommendations to Strengthen U.S. Fire Administration
International Association of Fire Fighters (04/11/08)

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 412-0 last week to adopt legislation strengthening the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA). H.R. 4847, the United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of 2008, included key IAFF recommendations to expand and improve USFA's training activities, improve fire fighter safety and better serve the needs of the modern fire service. The vote came over the objections of the Bush administration, which sent an 11th hour letter opposing a provision crafted by the IAFF to improve delivery of USFA training programs. Under current law, USFA will pay for training offered at the U.S. Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland, or offered by a state training academy. But larger jurisdictions that have their own training facilities have been unable to take advantage of such federally funded training.
(Web Link)
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Alaska Presumptive Legislation Heads to Governor
International Association of Fire Fighters (04/14/08)

The Alaska Professional Fire Fighters is celebrating a major victory with the Senate passage of presumptive legislation to provide worker's compensation to fire fighters who contract certain defined cancers and respiratory and cardiac diseases associated with the job of fire fighting. House Bill 200 enjoyed broad bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate, with only five of 60 legislators voting against the measure.
(Web Link)
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Council OKs Disability Plan for Firefighters With Cancer
Providence Journal (RI) (04/18/08); Barbarisi, Daniel

The Providence (Rhode Island) City Council has passed legislation that would give fire fighters who develop cancer automatic accidental disability pensions, which provides two-thirds pay tax-free, as long as they do not smoke or abuse alcohol or drugs. Under the ordinance, any active-duty fire fighter who is diagnosed with cancer is considered to have developed it on the job, so long as the diagnosis takes place while the fire fighter is working or within three years of retirement. They must have worked at least one year with the City and be cancer-free when they started the job. Fire fighters must also participate in health and wellness programs offered by the fire department.
(Web Link)
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Firefighters Gave Help, Hope in New Orleans
Green Bay Press-Gazette (WI) (04/18/08); Hoeft, Mike

Fifteen fire fighters from Green Bay, Wisconsin, made the journey to New Orleans to help six fire fighters there rebuild their homes. The fire fighters spent a week in New Orleans painting, installing drywall trim and doors, and repairing windows, wiring and fences. The fire fighters took on the repair project when they learned in January that some New Orleans fire fighters were still unable to return to their homes two-and-a-half years after they were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Fire fighters said property all over the city is still gutted and filled with mold and debris. Jim Van Dyck, an engineer with the Green Bay Fire Department, said he only wished they could have done more, "but residents assured us that our presence gave them hope." Ryan Gibbons, trustee of Green Bay, WI Local 141's executive board, reported that other fire fighters donated 636 hours to cover shifts while their comrades worked in New Orleans. The department also donated $1,900 in travel money.
(Web Link)
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Fire Department Mergers Ahead
Pittsburgh Tribune Review (04/23/08); Reeger, Jennifer

A Uniontown councilman's suggestion that the City might need to disband its paid fire department has set off a fiery debate in the town. It's one that David Eckman has heard before -- should cities in economic distress pay fire fighters when the overwhelming majority of Pennsylvania municipalities rely on volunteers? "When you are looking at the blight and the obvious results of a slowdown in the economy, that doesn't seem to me ... that is the time to cut the resources that are protecting the very fragile tax base that does exist," said Eckman, president of the Pennsylvania Professional Firefighters Association.
(Web Link)
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Detroit's Fire Fighters Confront a Tableau of Fire and Failure
Detroit News (04/22/08); LeDuff, Charlie

He is a fire fighter on the city's east side, near the hulking wreck of the Packard automobile plant. He stands on the street corner outside his firehouse, hands in his pockets, waiting for the call box to call his number. The box bleats incessantly like a colicky sheep across a city perpetually in flames. "Ladder 16, please respond." The response comes. "Ladder 16, out of service." Fire fighter Jimmy Montgomery laughs every time he hears something like this. Everything seems broken here: from the holes in his boots, to the toilet seat in his firehouse, to the city government that pays his check.
(Web Link)
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IAFF Urges House Scrutiny of Public Safety Communications Network
International Association of Fire Fighters (04/15/08)

IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger has issued a statement on the House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on the Federal Communications Commission's auction to create a communications network for first responders. "The 9/11 Commission, which issued its findings in 2004, recommended that the nation's public safety agencies be provided a dedicated portion of the radio spectrum to improve our nation's response to natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina and terrorist attacks like the horrific event that occurred on September, 11, 2001, which killed 343 of our FDNY members." 
(Web Link)
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Proposed Law Speeds Blood-Test Court Process for Emergency Workers
CBC News (04/16/08)

Emergency workers, good Samaritans and crime victims would be helped by proposed legislation in Manitoba that quickens tests to determine if they have been exposed to serious illnesses. The Testing of Bodily Fluids and Disclosure Act allows an individual to apply for a testing order if they are exposed to bodily fluids while performing duties as a fire fighter, paramedic or peace officer, while providing emergency health services or first aid, or as a result of being a victim of crime. "This is going to give us the ability to go to the court system and demand a blood sample and ... expedite the process to get that blood sample in a private way to the doctor, so the doctor can tell the fire fighter whether or not that blood sample is tainted...," said Alex Forrest, president of the United Firefighters of Winnipeg.  
(Web Link)
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Coroner: 2 Cincinnati-Area Firefighters Killed by Burns, Hot Gas
Ohio.com (04/11/08)

Two fire fighters died from burns and inhalation of superheated gases when the floor of a burning house collapsed, trapping them in the basement where the fire began, according to a Hamilton County, Ohio, coroner. "They fell into the heart of the fire," said coroner O'dell Owens. Colerain Township Fire Captain Robin Broxterman and fire fighter Brian Schira died within minutes of falling into the basement, Owens said. The floor's crossbeams burned and collapsed underneath them, and the fall caused their masks to come off or loosen, exposing them to the gas. The State Fire Marshal's office ruled that the fire was accidental and electrical.
(Web Link)
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Farmington Firefighters Win Lawsuit Against City
Las Cruces Sun-News (NM) (04/11/08)

Farmington, NM Local 2850 has won a case on behalf of the City's fire fighters. A federal judge ruled that the City of Farmington had violated fire fighters' freedom of speech by banning union endorsements and no confidence votes, as well as refusing to allow fire fighters to use city property to discuss union business. The City and the fire fighters also reached a compromise on another issue. Fire fighters will now be able to present their case to city councilors during arbitration, a practice that was previously prohibited.
(Web Link)
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Virginia Fire Fighters Take Aggressive Political Action Approach
International Association of Fire Fighters (04/17/08)

Lynchburg, VA Local 1146 is taking a strong, proactive approach to the fight for safe staffing, working conditions and benefits. Over the next three weeks, Local 1146 fire fighters will be campaigning hard to elect four public safety supporters to the Lynchburg City Council.
(Web Link)
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Councilmembers Walk in Fire Fighters' Boots
The Olympian (04/11/08); Batcheldor, Matt

Olympia City Council members Joe Hyer and Rhenda Strub walked into a burning building and a climbed a 100-foot ladder during a special fire operations training in Richland, about 250 miles east of Olympia. Captain Ricky Walsh of the Richland Fire Department said they were among 35 public officials from Washington, Idaho and Montana who gathered at the HAMMER Training Facility at the federal Hanford site for a day of walking a mile in fire fighters' boots. "I am just amazed that there are people who actually want to do this job," Strub said. "They do it every day. It is so hard. It's the hardest thing I've ever done, and they do it every day. I'm just stunned."
(Web Link)
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Utah Desk Jockeys Suit Up, Face Real Fires
Salt Lake Tribune (03/30/08); Drake, Katie

State legislators and Salt Lake City officials rushed into a burning building to save lives, but the situation was not as dire as it may appear. It was all part of Fire Ops 101, an educational seminar hosted by the Salt Lake City Fire Department. The event allowed the officials to experience some of the hazardous situations fire fighters engage in as part of their daily work routine. Jack Tidrow, the fire fighter who coordinated the event, said the department hopes lawmakers and policymakers will remember the experience when they make decisions affecting the department.
(Web Link)
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New York Fire Fighters Recognized for Efforts at Mass Casualty Incident
International Association of Fire Fighters (04/18/08)

Seven fire fighters and one dispatcher from Gates Firefighters & Dispatchers Local 3792 (Rochester, NY) were recently recognized by Strong Memorial Hospital's Regional Trauma Center for their outstanding efforts at the scene of a Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) on February 10, 2007. A massive 36 vehicle pile-up on Interstate 390 near the Greater Rochester International Airport occurred during a fierce winter storm with white-out conditions and below zero wind chills. The accident caused one fatality and injured 26 victims, including four critically wounded patients.
(Web Link)
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Lawrence Fire Fighters Drop 575.1 Pounds in Eight-Week Charity Contest
The Eagle Tribune (04/16/08); Vogler, Mark E.

Losing never felt so good as it did for veteran Lawrence fire fighter Pat Driscoll. Especially after the Lawrence Local 146 president stepped off a scale on the stage at Relief's In and learned that he had dropped 48.4 pounds over the last eight weeks to claim individual honors in Local 146's Biggest Loser 2008 Charity Fund Raiser. "My goal was to lose 40 -- but I did a little better than that," said Driscoll, 46, who has spent 20 years on the city's fire department.
(Web Link)
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