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.
 

"Bargaining Bill Introduced in Senate" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Fire panel wants big change" (Charleston Post & Courier )
"Breakthrough on Hometown Heroes?" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"IAFF Testifies Before Congress on Reducing Fire Fighter Deaths" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Growth Requires City to Intensify Recruiting of Firefighters" (Arizona Republic)
"Appeals Court Reverses Suspensions for New Orleans Local Members" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"IOM Issues Report on PPE and Pandemic Flu" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Outrage Over Local Giuliani Fundraiser" (ABC7 News)
"Technology, New Codes Have Changed Role of Firefighters" (Boston Globe)
"Sticker Slogan Upsets Fire Fighters" (ABC7 News)
"Georgia Fire Fighter Passes Halfway Mark for Charleston Nine" (International Association of Fire Fighters )
"Fire Fighters Turn Up Heat" (The Capital-journal)
"Fresno Acts to Reclassify Worker's Staph" (Fresno Bee (CA))
"Fitness Could Pay Off for Fire Fighters" (Daily Freeman)
"Orlando Fire Fighters Speak Out Against Accused Cheaters" (International Association of Fire Fighters)

Bargaining Bill Introduced in Senate
International Association of Fire Fighters (10/02/07)

The IAFF's top legislative priority, the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act, was introduced in the Senate October 1 with bipartisan support. Led by Senators Judd Gregg (R-NH) and Ted Kennedy (D-MA), 10 Republicans and 11 Democrats joined together as original sponsors of the legislation, S.2123. "This is an important step forward in our decade-long effort to secure bargaining rights for all fire fighters," says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. "The bipartisan support for this legislation demonstrates that we have friends in Congress who champion bargaining rights for all public employees."
(Web Link)
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Fire panel wants big change
Charleston Post & Courier (10/10/07); Menchaca, Ron

An independent panel hired to study the Charleston Fire Department in the wake of the Sofa Super Store tragedy will recommend a sweeping overhaul of the department's practices, procedures and equipment in its forthcoming report. The report will recommend changes in virtually every aspect of the department, including the purchase of larger fire hoses and supply lines, more training at all levels and improved communication between department leaders and rank-and-file fire fighters.
(Web Link)
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Breakthrough on Hometown Heroes?
International Association of Fire Fighters (10/09/07)

Department of Justice officials who administer the Public Safety Officer Benefits (PSOB) program have announced that DoJ is overhauling the way it determines eligibility for heart attacks and strokes. Domingo Herraiz, Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance, spoke at a gathering of fire service organizations and promised to make significant changes in the way his agency evaluates PSOB claims under the Hometown Heroes Act. "We are cautiously optimistic that after four long years the Department of Justice will finally implement this important law the way it was intended," says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. "But before declaring victory, we need to see some solid results. It's great that DoJ is 'talking the talk,' now lets see if they 'walk the walk.' "
(Web Link)
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IAFF Testifies Before Congress on Reducing Fire Fighter Deaths
International Association of Fire Fighters (10/04/07)

Captain Bob Livingston, legislative director for the Oregon State Council of Fire Fighters, testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation on ways the United States Fire Administration (USFA) could help reduce fire fighter line-of-duty deaths. Livingston told the Subcommittee that USFA should make it part of its core mission to ensure every fire department in America complies with fire safety standards, including standards for safe staffing and operations. Additionally, Livingston told the Subcommittee that all fire fighters must receive adequate training in compliance with national consensus standards.
(Web Link)
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Growth Requires City to Intensify Recruiting of Firefighters
Arizona Republic (10/03/07); Muench, Sarah

The Chandler (Arizona) Fire Department is stepping up recruitment to keep pace with the City's growth rate. One year after opening its 10th fire station -- and with plans to open an 11th on the books -- the City needs to increase its fire fighting staff. Chandler looks to add at least 205 fire fighters to the force at the department's annual recruitment drive. Unlike previous years, the department now requires fire fighting candidates to be certified EMTs upon joining the force.
(Web Link)
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Appeals Court Reverses Suspensions for New Orleans Local Members
International Association of Fire Fighters (10/10/07)

The Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of two New Orleans, LA Local 632-represented fire dispatchers who were suspended in 2005 for returning to work outside an untold deadline following Hurricane Katrina. Sister Wanda Newsome and Brother Eddie Fuller, both dispatchers for the New Orleans Fire Department, returned to work September 29 and 30, respectively. The New Orleans Fire Department had determined that September 22, 2005, was the last date an employee could return without disciplinary action. After appearing before a Peer Review Board, the pair was found guilty of violating department rules and regulations for taking unauthorized leave. Newsome was suspended for 30 days; Fuller was suspended for 90 days.
(Web Link)
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IOM Issues Report on PPE and Pandemic Flu
International Association of Fire Fighters (10/09/07)

The Institute of Medicine has released its report on Preparing for an Influenza Pandemic: Personal Protective Equipment for Healthcare Workers. The IAFF participated in this process, officially addressing the panel and demanding evidence-based performance requirements for PPE for fire fighters and all health care workers.
(Web Link)
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Outrage Over Local Giuliani Fundraiser
ABC7 News (09/26/07); Villalon, Deborah

A Palo Alto (California) fundraiser for Rudy Giuliani went on as scheduled, but with one important difference. Organizers dropped a plan to collect $9.11 cents from supporters following a blizzard of criticism from fire fighters and the families of 9/11 victims. Giuliani's role as New York mayor during the terror attacks gave him visibility, and some say qualifications to run for president. "If he really wants to be a hero, what did he do prior to that event, what did he do to prepare his emergency services people, to have the best equipment?" said Tony Spitaleri from the Palo Alto Firefighters Union.
(Web Link)
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Technology, New Codes Have Changed Role of Firefighters
Boston Globe (10/05/07); Howe, Peter J.

Recent trends show fire fighters are spending more time responding to emergencies other than fires. According to a study by the National Fire Protection Association, from 1977 to 2006, the number of fire calls was cut in half, from 3,264,000 to 1,642,500. Experts say the drop in fires stems from stricter building requirements and better quality smoke detectors and sprinkler systems. But that certainly does not mean less work for fire fighters. Now much of their time is taken up responding to medical emergencies, false alarms, hazardous material spills, car wrecks and building inspections.
(Web Link)
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Sticker Slogan Upsets Fire Fighters
ABC7 News (10/01/07); DeMarco, Sarah

Rehab is for quitters. That's the slogan floating around the Charleston City Fire Department and it's outraged some fire fighters who say their own training chief made it up. Fire fighters say the stickers were sold by the Department's Training Chief, Battalion Chief Ricky Shriver. Fire fighters say the slogan is a way to tell other local departments, we're tougher than you because what the rehab refers to is a national standard Charleston doesn't use.
(Web Link)
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Georgia Fire Fighter Passes Halfway Mark for Charleston Nine
International Association of Fire Fighters (10/03/07)

Augusta-Richmond County, GA Local 3357 fire fighter Laddie Williams has passed the halfway mark on his cross-country bicycle ride for the families of the nine Charleston, South Carolina fire fighters killed in the Sofa Super Store fire on June 18. Williams estimates he has raised $10,000 to date.
(Web Link)
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Fire Fighters Turn Up Heat
The Capital-journal (10/10/07); Hrenchir, Tim

The sidewalk in front of Topeka City Council chambers became a sea of red as the local fire fighters union picketed to urge council members to ask city manager Norton Bonaparte to terminate Fire Chief Howard Giles. More than 100 union members and supporters -- most of them wearing red fire fighters' union T-shirts -- took part.  
(Web Link)
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Fresno Acts to Reclassify Worker's Staph
Fresno Bee (CA) (09/26/07) P. B1; Leedy, Matt

The Fresno (California) City Council has decided drug-resistant staph infections will be considered a work-related injury for the area's fire fighters. Since many fire fighters have contracted the illness while on the job, their medical bills will now be covered by workers compensation. Health experts in the area are hopeful this change will encourage more fire fighters to report their infections sooner, decreasing the spread of the infection. 
(Web Link)
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Fitness Could Pay Off for Fire Fighters
Daily Freeman (10/06/07); Kirby, Paul

A proposed contract for [Kingston, New York's] paid fire fighters would require them to take a yearly physical fitness course, and each member of the department would be paid $300 for passing the course. Supporters of the physical fitness provision, including Mayor James Sottile, see it as a worthwhile incentive that will help fire fighters get or stay in shape and reduce the amount of sick time they take. Michael Sass, president of Kingston Local 461, said the exercise incentive is part "of a national trend" in fire departments.
(Web Link)
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Orlando Fire Fighters Speak Out Against Accused Cheaters
International Association of Fire Fighters (10/03/07)

Orlando, FL Local 1365 fire fighters want to know why two fire department chiefs caught cheating on their promotional exams were not given stiffer punishments. As part of their "Firefighters for Integrity" campaign, Orlando fire fighters are going door-to-door requesting that the public demand that the mayor and city council members treat the allegations more seriously. Fire fighters have also requested that the City's Civil Service Board reject the discipline. "A first-grader knows that if you get caught cutting in line at the water fountain you go to the back of the line," says Steve Clelland, president of Local 1365. "We have never tolerated dishonesty in this department, and it should not be tolerated."
(Web Link)
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