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The president’s nationwide emergency declaration (under the Stafford Act) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic frees up more than $40 billion in emergency federal funds to help combat the virus, and specifically allows state and local governments to be reimbursed up to 75 percent for emergency protective measures under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Public Assistance Program.

The North Central Fire District, which serves Kerman, Biola and the unincorporated areas of Fresno in central California, is among the newest to form a new IAFF local.

Groves, TX Local 1905 is one of the IAFF’s newest affiliates.

Since 2001, the City of Jamestown, New York, has operated with an understaffed fire department, forcing the city to close one fire station per shift on a rotational basis. But thanks to a successful political action strategy and public education campaign implemented by Jamestown, NY Local 137, citizens elected a new mayor who is ready to work with Local 137 members to improve fire fighter and public safety.

On February 28, we learned that more than 25 members were exposed and subsequently quarantined in Washington state in relation to calls they ran to the nursing home where it has been confirmed that the first death from the coronavirus occurred.

At the Professional Fire Fighters Association of Louisiana convention, General President Harold Schaitberger and 14th District Vice President Danny Todd presented one of our newest affiliates  — Jennings, LA Local 5239 – with a framed copy of its charter.

The IAFF is saddened to report the February 22 death of Uniformed Firefighters Association (UFA) of New York Local 94 member Daniel Foley.

For more than two years, Moberly, Missouri, has been a battleground for Moberly Local 2671 and the City of Moberly over the unjust termination of past Local 2671 President Cory Putnam and negotiations on the local’s first contract.

Concerned that excessive overtime, brought on by a persistent staffing shortage, was causing significant safety concerns for its members, New Orleans, LA Local 632 made its concerns known through on-the-job action and legal action. Local 632 leaders will meet with the City of New Orleans administration March 3-6 to discuss real solutions.

Thanks to the staunch support of Florida State Representative Matt Willhite – an active Palm Beach County fire fighter and member of Palm Beach County Local 2928 – and the lobbying efforts by the Florida Professional Firefighters (FPF), the IAFF and its affiliates, a law granting benefits to fire fighters who develop cancer became effective July 1, 2019.