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2025 Winners

The annual contest recognizes both IAFF affiliates and journalists who have demonstrated exceptional communication and media coverage promoting public safety and advancing the fire service.

The 34 winners below were selected from over 100 nominations and best celebrate the work of the fire service, raise awareness of important labor issues, and highlight the role that the IAFF and its members play in keeping the public safe. Nominations include items published between Sept. 1, 2024, and Aug. 31, 2025.

Media Awards

In This Section

Affiliate Categories

Affiliate Categories

Highlighting the voices and efforts of IAFF locals across North America. Celebrating innovative union communications, campaigns, and community impact.

Best Newsletter or Magazine (circulation less than 1,000)

1st: “The Kitchen Table”; Long Beach Firefighters Association Local 372

2nd: “Fully Involved – Official Newsletter of the Baltimore Fire Officers”; Harry T. Conway; Baltimore Fire Officers Local 964

3rd: “The Feederline”; Communications Committee, Professional Fire Fighters of Greensboro Local 947

Best Newsletter or Magazine (circulation more than 1,000)

1st: “Fire Front”; CAL FIRE Local 2881

2nd:  “Mainline Magazine”; San Francisco Firefighters Local 798

3rd: “Fire Watch Magazine”; Toronto Professional Firefighters Association Local 3888

Best Political Campaign Messaging

1st: “Out of Contract Videos”; Kevin Taylor, Stockton Firefighters Local 456
Part 1 | Part 2

2nd: “MP Peter Julian Introduces Motion to Phase Out Harmful Chemicals in Firefighting Gear”; British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters Association

3rd: “Phoenix Fire Crisis”; United Phoenix Fire Fighters of Arizona Local 493

Best MDA Outreach Project

1st: “Fill the Boot for Ryker”; Jimmy DeChant; Colorado Springs Professional Firefighters Local 5

2nd: “MDA Pickleball Tournament”; Mark Tiffany and Open Window Productions; Oakdale Professional Fire Fighters Local 5175

3rd: “Metro West and MDA” Matt Coppin, Professional Firefighters of Eastern Missouri Local 2665

Best Public Safety Campaign

1st: “The Night Before Fire Prevention Week”; Ian Wheeler; Sycamore Firefighters Local 3046

2nd: “27th Annual Fire Safety Newspapers in Education”; Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin Charitable Foundation

3rd: “Safety Message Following Historic Flash Flooding”; Chattanooga Fire Fighters Association Local 820

Best Fire Service Photo (not previously published) Taken by an IAFF Member

1st: “Tower 1”; Robert Butcher; Waterford Professional Fire Fighters Union Local 1335

2nd: “Burn Building”; Patrick Matthews; New Britain, CT Local 992

3rd: “Interior Attack of an Aircraft”; Corey Platt; Trenton-Mercer Airport Fire Department Local I-77

Best Social Media Account

1st: Calgary Firefighters Association Local 255

2nd: Professional Fire Fighters Union of Indiana

3rd: Halifax Professional Fire Fighters Local 268

Best Digital Media

1st: “Resilience”; Los Angeles County Fire Fighters Local 1014; Poloma Public Affairs and J&Z Strategies

2nd: “Oswego Fire Department Recruitment Video”; David Martinez; Oswego Firefighters Local 4773

3rd: “Camp Eyabsut: A Family Beyond Fire”; Washington State Council of Fire Fighters Burn Foundation

Journalist Categories

Journalist Categories

Recognizing excellence in storytelling, reporting, and visual coverage. Celebrating the journalists who inform, engage, and elevate public understanding

Best News Story/Series (Print)

1st: “The tragedy on Canfield Mountain: Two firefighters shot, killed in North Idaho”; The Spokesman-Review

Best News Story/Series (Broadcast)

1st: “Camden Fire Department gets new federal funding to improve fire stations, add new trucks”; Raymond Strickland, Mike Spatocco; CBS Philadelphia

Honorable Mention: “Concerns rise over battery safety after fire at Halifax e-bike store”; Hafsa Arif; CTV News

Best Feature/Series (Print)

1st: “Grab a Hose, Take a Stand”; Michele McPhee; LAmag

Best Feature/Series (Broadcast)

1st: “Worlds shrink pretty small’: Wisconsin firefighter mental health program runs entirely on donations”; Bill Walsh; CBS 58 News Milwaukee

Honorable Mention: “Fire Captain Breaks Down Los Angeles Wildfire Disaster”; Joshua Chaffin, Scott Calvert, Erik Scott; Wall Street Journal

Best Published Photo

1st: “Remembering Keller”; Ryan Winner

Honorable Mention: “Pull Him Out”; Glen E. Ellman

Best Column, Editorial, or Opinion Post (Print or Digital)

1st: “Red Deer Fire Fighters Need More Support”; Byron Hackett; Red Deer Advocate
Part 1 | Part 2

 Best Investigative Reporting (Print or Digital)

1st: Worn Down: The Cancer Threat in Firefighting Gear”; Lisa Fletcher, Andrea Nejman; The National News Desk
Part 1 | Part 2