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.
 

"Economic Crisis News Headlines " (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Leave Firefighting to the Pros" (Los Angeles Times)
"Texas Fire Fighters Killed in Training Exercise" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"IAFF District Vice President Emeritus Dies " (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"New York Fire Fighters Save Lives in Hudson River Crash" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"This Miracle Brought to You by America's Unions" (Emptywheel)
"Hundreds Toast Obama at Newport News Ball" (Daily Press (Virginia))
"Firetruck Brakes Failed, Test Says" (Boston Globe)
"DHS Releases FIRE Act Grant Workshop Schedule" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Union May Get Closer Look at Books" (NH Public Radio)
"SRQ to Look for New Fire Fighters" (Bradenton Herald)
"Police, Fire Fighters Begin Personal Push for Tax Hike" (KY3 News)
"Arsons Plague Philadelphia Suburb" (Associated Press)
"Added Fire Fighters Improve Insurance Rating" (Peoria Journal Star)
"Indianapolis EMS District Settles First Contract" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Firefighters Face Extra Risks" (Central Illinois Proud)
"Tigers Step Into Fire Fighters' Shoes" (Detroit Free Press)

 

Economic Crisis News Headlines
International Association of Fire Fighters

The economy is affecting IAFF members throughout this union through staffing reductions, station closures, cost shifting and wage concessions as local governments lose revenue. To help IAFF members get a clearer understanding of the depth of the financial crisis, the effect it's having at every level of the economy -- including local and state budgets -- the IAFF has prepared the following summaries of and links to "economic crisis" news articles related to cuts in state and local budgets, fire fighter staffing, health care benefits, compensation, pension plans and other areas as a result of the economic downturn.
(Web Link)
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Leave Firefighting to the Pros
Los Angeles Times (01/23/09); Schaitberger, Harold

International Association of Fire Fighters General President Harold Schaitberger opposes the idea set forth by some fire chiefs in California that homeowners should stay and defend their properties to help contain wildfires. While homeowners would complete a government education course on fire risk, Schaitberger says such a course does not constitute adequate training. He points out that stay-and-defend has long been used in the Australian bush, and it has not prevented disasters. Schaitberger says the state would have to shell out hundreds of millions of dollars on training, protective gear and fire fighting equipment, and it would not eliminate the need for fire fighters to perform rescues. Schaitberger insists that federal, state and local governments ultimately are responsible for public safety, but he acknowledges that homeowners should select fire-resistant building materials and remove brush from their property to reduce fire risk.
(Web Link)
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Texas Fire Fighters Killed in Training Exercise
International Association of Fire Fighters (01/27/09)

Two Kilgore, TX Local 2996 fire fighters were killed in a training accident on January 25, 2009. Kyle Perkins, 45, and Cory Galloway, 23, fell from a bucket attached to a retractable platform. "Each time a brother or sister fire fighter makes the ultimate sacrifice, the loss weighs heavily on the hearts and minds of all of us," says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and members of Local 2996."
(Web Link)
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IAFF District Vice President Emeritus Dies
International Association of Fire Fighters (01/26/09)

The IAFF is sad to report the passing of IAFF 1st District Emeritus Vice President James King. King, 93, died January 25, 2009. Fellow fire fighters, family and friends may attend the viewing at the New Hyde Park Funeral Home located at 506 Lakeville Road, New Hyde Park, New York 11040 on Wednesday, January 28, and Thursday, January 29. Viewing times are 2:00-4:30 p.m. and 7:00-9:30 p.m. on both days.
(Web Link)
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New York Fire Fighters Save Lives in Hudson River Crash
International Association of Fire Fighters (01/16/09)

Minutes after U.S Airways Flight 1549 crashed shortly after takeoff into the Hudson River, Fire Department of New York (FDNY) fire fighters from the Uniformed Firefighters Association (UFA) of New York Local 94 and the Uniformed Fire Officers Association (UFOA) of New York Local 854 were on the scene working to bring the 150 passengers and five crew members to safety. 
(Web Link)
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This Miracle Brought to You by America's Unions
Emptywheel (01/16/09)

They're calling it a miracle -- the successful landing of a US Airways jet in the Hudson and subsequent rescue of all 155 passengers. They're detailing the heroism of all involved, starting with the pilot and including cabin crew, ferry crews, and first responders. What they're not telling you is that just about every single one of these heros is a union member.
(Web Link)
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Hundreds Toast Obama at Newport News Ball
Daily Press (Virginia) (01/21/09); Macaulay, David

Among those attending Newport News, Virginia's inaugural ball on the night of January 20 was Don Dinse, president of York County Local 2498 of the International Association of Fire Fighters union. He expressed hope that President Obama will cultivate a better working relationship with the union than the previous president. "Fire fighters now have a seat at that table that we've been restricted from for the last eight years," noted Dinse. "We would like to see some human basic rights as far as fire fighters' collective bargaining. We would like to see fire fighters given an ability to discuss their safety, pay, benefits and staffing issues."
(Web Link)
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Firetruck Brakes Failed, Test Says
Boston Globe (01/21/09); Drake, John C.; Slack, Donovan

The crash of a fire truck that killed one Boston Local 718 fire fighter was caused by faulty brakes, inspectors announced, and the fire fighters’ union says it supports the city’s plan to hire licensed mechanics to work on the fire trucks. However, the union says it wants the mechanics to be union members. The mayor wants four new mechanics hired, including a professional fleet manager, all of which would be filling vacancies formerly held by non-mechanic Boston Local 718 fire fighters. The city says it is not certain which union the mechanics would belong to, but the most important thing is to get qualified people into those positions. “It's long overdue,” Edward A. Kelly, president of the fire fighters union, said in a telephone interview. “We'll welcome those mechanics to our union, and we welcome them to our department, because our fleet is in deplorable condition.” The fire department has no routine maintenance program for fire trucks, and while the truck’s manufacturer recommends inspections every three months, the truck that crashed had not been inspected for 10 months.
(Web Link)
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DHS Releases FIRE Act Grant Workshop Schedule
International Association of Fire Fighters (01/22/09)

The Department of Homeland Security has posted the schedule for applicant workshops for FY 2009 FIRE Act grants. The schedule will be updated daily with any new/updated information about the scheduled workshops. The IAFF encourages affiliates to work with their fire departments to apply for FIRE Act grants, which help fund training, equipment, protective gear and emergency vehicles.
(Web Link)
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Union May Get Closer Look at Books
NH Public Radio (01/14/09); Gorenstein, Dan

A state fire fighters union's five-year quest to delve into the operations of the Local Government Center, which provides a wide array of services to cities and towns across the state, has won another victory in court. Merrimack County Superior Court Justice Philip Mangones ruled that the Local Government Center is subject to the state's right-to-know law and must share information about employee salaries requested by the Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire. The Local Government Center provides lobbying, legal and insurance services for dozens of towns employing thousands of public workers. Firefighters Union President David Lang said he's eager to know what happens to the money public employers and employees pay into the benefits program administered by the Local Government Center. 
(Web Link)
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SRQ to Look for New Fire Fighters
Bradenton Herald (01/27/09); Marsteller, Duane

Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport's experiment with a privately run fire-rescue department appears to be over. The Sarasota-Manatee Airport Authority has decided to approach three local fire-rescue agencies about taking over SRQ's department. Airport officials don't intend to renew Rural/Metro Corp.'s contract to operate the department when it expires September 30. Airport officials said who ever takes over the department will be required to offer jobs to fire fighters now based at SRQ. That pleased the president of a local union that fought Rural/Metro's hiring more than two years ago.
(Web Link)
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Police, Fire Fighters Begin Personal Push for Tax Hike
KY3 News (01/16/09); Forhetz, Sara

Beginning January 17, police and fire fighters from Springfield Firefighters Local 152 and the Springfield Police Officers Association began walking neighborhoods in Springfield to encourage citizens to vote in the election on February 3. The men and women representing their associations braved the chilly temperatures to distribute information on the Police and Fire Pension Plan Sales Tax Proposal that will appear on the ballot. The 1-percent sales tax would generate approximately $40 million a year that is dedicated to eliminating the pension plan shortfall. The sales tax will expire in five years, or earlier if the plan reaches a fully funded level.
(Web Link)
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Arsons Plague Philadelphia Suburb
Associate Press (01/26/09)

Authorities are urging residents in this Philadelphia suburb to remove flammable materials from their porches and to keep porch lights on at night following a string of suspicious fires. The latest fire tore through a block of row houses, damaging 15 homes, leaving several dozen people homeless and prompting city officials to declare a state of emergency. At least 30 arsons have been reported since the beginning of 2008, about half of them in the last three weeks.  
(Web Link)
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Added Fire Fighters Improve Insurance Rating
Peoria Journal Star (01/23/09); Sharp, John

Improvements in East Peoria's ability to fight fires could mean cheaper insurance rates for home and property owners. Insurance Services Office Inc. (ISO) upgraded East Peoria's fire protection rating to a Class 5 from Class 6, largely because of an increase in city fire fighters, improved training and better equipment. In 2000, the department hired 14 fire fighters, increasing its staff of 40 full-timers by 25 percent. This year, the department is slated to add three more fire fighters.  
(Web Link)
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Indianapolis EMS District Settles First Contract
International Association of Fire Fighters (01/23/09)

Indianapolis Fire Department (IFD) EMS District service personnel in Indiana have negotiated their first contract with the City thanks to Indianapolis Local 416. The EMS District formed January 1, 2007, when the IFD merged with Washington Township and Warren Township. Since EMS District employees were new hires, they were considered probationary. Therefore, a contract could not be negotiated at the time. A new mayor was elected which further delayed negotiations.
(Web Link)
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Firefighters Face Extra Risks
Central Illinois Proud (01/16/09); Perez, Iris

In extreme temperatures, water use can sometimes complicate putting out fires. Water pumped through hoses and engine pipes in freezing temperatures can clog with ice and lead to deadly delays in controlling a blaze; it can also create slip-and-fall hazards. Fire officials say that boosting the number of fire fighters and rotating them can help stave off hypothermia and frostbite, which are other issues faced in the cold.
(Web Link)
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Tigers Step Into Fire Fighters' Shoes
Detroit Free Press (01/23/09); Sharp, Drew

There was a time when the bullpen ace was called the fireman, responsible for extinguishing the smoldering flames stoked by the starting pitching. He'd inherit trouble on the bases, knowing that one mistake could prove fatal for his team. That all changed when then-Oakland Athletics manager Tony LaRussa turned Dennis Eckersley into a ninth-inning specialist, coming into the game with a small lead but, more important, nobody on base. And that was the point of the Tigers' visit to the Detroit Fire Training Academy. Curtis Granderson and teammates Nate Robertson, Zach Minor, Marcus Thames, Mike Hessman and newcomer Edwin Jackson -- didn't just pose for pictures, autograph baseballs and answer queries regarding the coming season. They participated in rudimentary training drills, dressed in full 50-pound protective attire while also carrying a 35-pound oxygen tank.
(Web Link)
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