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.
 

"California IAFF Local Officer Triumphs in Retaliation Case" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"More Indianapolis Area Fire Mergers Are on the Docket" (Indianapolis Star)
"NFPA Issues Annual Fire Fighter Fatalities Report" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Fire Fighter Wife Challenges Connecticut Incumbent" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Fire Department Recognized For Commitment To Military" (WJZ TV Baltimore)
"Fire Fighter Dies Trying to Save Boater" (Boston Globe)
"Fire Fighters To Call Budget Cuts Unsafe" (11 Alive.com)
"Hagerstown Fire Department Lands Federal Grants On Its Own" (Herald-Mail)
"Denver Negotiates Stellar Contract" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Slain Fire Fighter Was Never Left Alone" (STL Today)
"Ontario Vice President Places Second in Vermont 100K" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Arbitrator: Beaumont Can't Replace Dispatchers With Civilians " (Beaumont Enterprise)
"Vandalized Firefighters Memorial Gets Lights" (Colorado Springs Gazette)

 

California IAFF Local Officer Triumphs in Retaliation Case
International Association of Fire Fighters (08/01/08)

A California arbitrator has ruled that the Rialto Fire Department retaliated against Rialto Local 3688 Secretary-Treasurer Nash Briones for his union activities by not allowing him to work as acting battalion chief. The arbitrator ordered that Briones be reimbursed back pay for shifts he would have served as battalion chief. 
(Web Link)
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More Indianapolis Area Fire Mergers Are on the Docket
Indianapolis Star (07/30/08); Herb, Jeremy

The Indianapolis mayor and Indianapolis, IN Local 416 are supporting a merger between Indianapolis and the Perry Township Fire Department. The inclusion would save the Township hundreds of thousands -- or even millions -- of dollars in yearly administrative costs. The Indianapolis Fire Department has already incorporated two other Marion County Townships -- Washington and Warren -- with favorable results. Citizens fear the quality of local fire fighting services will go down if Perry Township merges with Indianapolis, but the City's local government and fire department says it allows the departments to buy in bulk and eliminate duplicative services. A report by Indianapolis fire fighters commissioned in 2005 projected $14 million in cost savings on the annual payroll if Marion County consolidated its fire departments.
(Web Link)
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NFPA Issues Annual Fire Fighter Fatalities Report
International Association of Fire Fighters (07/30/08)

In 2007, there were 102 on-duty fire fighter deaths in the United States, a sharp increase over last year, but a return to the long-term trend of close to 100 deaths annually.
(Web Link)
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Fire Fighter Wife Challenges Connecticut Incumbent
International Association of Fire Fighters (07/25/08)

Longtime labor supporter and fire fighter spouse Gina Russell Tracy is running for Connecticut State Representative in the 101st District. She will face incumbent Deborah Heinrich, who has failed to support fire fighter issues, in the Democratic Primary August 12.
(Web Link)
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Fire Department Recognized For Commitment To Military
WJZ TV Baltimore (07/24/08)

Anne Arundel County, MD Local 1563 has been recognized with a State Chair Seven Seals Award by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) for its support of military families while members are serving in the guard and reserves. This award recognizes the significant organizational achievement, initiative and support that promotes the ESGR mission.
(Web Link)
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Fire Fighter Dies Trying to Save Boater
Boston Globe (08/05/08)

Emergency crews continued searching Stafford Pond for a missing boater yesterday, one day after an off-duty fire fighter died while trying to save the man. Fire fighter Gerald Leduc, 53, died August 3 while diving for 39-year-old Joseph Traficante, who fell or jumped from a fishing boat during a storm and is presumed dead. A cause of death has not been determined for Leduc. "Everyone is hurting," Tiverton, Rhode Island Fire Chief Robert Lloyd said. "Everyone is trying to sort out their feelings."
(Web Link)
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Fire Fighters To Call Budget Cuts Unsafe
11 Alive.com (07/24/08)

Some Atlanta fire fighters will return to the scene of a suspicious fire that destroyed three homes July 18. They won't be going back to search for clues, but to claim such tragedies could only grow worse for Atlanta's citizens. The protesting fire fighters are jumping into the middle of a heated budget battle between Mayor Shirley Franklin and city council members. The Mayor closed Fire Station No. 7 in Atlanta's West End neighborhood and eliminated 190 fire positions just a few days before the suspicious Ormond Street blazes.
(Web Link)
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Hagerstown Fire Department Lands Federal Grants On Its Own
Herald-Mail (07/27/08); Dearth, Dan

Although the City of Hagerstown hired a lobbying firm to help the city obtain federal funding, the Hagerstown Fire Department has gone it alone, with some success, landing nearly $2 million in grant money since 2002. A committee made up of fire fighters typically joins forces to write grants. The first attempt to land grants in 2002 was unsuccessful, but fire fighters learned enough to improve their technique and, in 2003, they received two grants totaling about $32,000. The amount steadily increased. This year, the fire department received $948,825 in federal grants.

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Denver Negotiates Stellar Contract
International Association of Fire Fighters (08/01/08)

During this economic crisis, Denver, CO Local 858 is proof that negotiating a contract with improved wages and benefits is difficult, but it is possible. Denver fire fighters ratified a 2009-11 agreement with the City that included uncapped longevity benefits, blended health insurance and annual wage increases.
(Web Link)
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Slain Fire Fighter Was Never Left Alone
STL Today (07/245/08); Byers, Christine

>From the moment Maplewood fire fighter Ryan Hummert died, fire fighters were there. At first, it was his Maplewood crew, who, along with 22-year-old Hummert, had thought they were responding July 21 to a routine car fire. Instead, they found themselves in the middle of a gunman's killing field. Before it was over, two police officers were shot, Hummert was killed and several other bullets barely missed their intended targets.
(Web Link)
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Ontario Vice President Places Second in Vermont 100K
International Association of Fire Fighters (07/28/08)

Pickering, ON Local 1632 Vice President Colin Arnott completed the Vermont 100K in 12 hours and 21 minutes July 19, 2008, qualifying him for second place. Arnott, a 19-year veteran fire fighter, has previously run more than 50 marathons across North America, but this was his first ultra-marathon. 
(Web Link)
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Arbitrator: Beaumont Can't Replace Dispatchers With Civilians
Beaumont Enterprise (08/02/08); Dixon, Dee

Ten fire fighters will remain in their positions as dispatchers following an arbitrator's ruling, and will soon be trained on updated computer equipment at a police emergency call center. An arbitrator ruled that the City's quest to replace fire fighters with civilians would violate civil service law and a collective bargaining agreement. "The fire fighters have always maintained and continue to believe that it is best and more efficient for the citizens of Beaumont that sworn fire fighters dispatch fire apparatus," said Galen Key, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 399. The City's position has been that the fire fighters would better serve on the streets in fire suppression.
(Web Link)
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Vandalized Firefighters Memorial Gets Lights
Colorado Springs Gazette (07/28/08)

On July 28, new lights were installed at the International Association of Fire Fighters' Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial. Manufacturer Kim Lighting donated the new lights, valued at $10,000. In May, 10 lights at the memorial were destroyed by vandals, who also removed a plaque from a memorial bench.
(Web Link)
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