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.
 

"IAFF Endorses Chris Dodd for President " (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"IAFF Shatters Last Year's Record MDA Donation " (International Association of Fire Fighters )
"Two Fallen Boston Fire Fighters Remembered" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"FDNY Fallen Fire Fighters Laid to Rest" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Charleston Uniform Under Scrutiny" (Firehouse.com)
"Union warned leaders in '02" (Charleston Post & Courier)
"Fire Fighter Steve Olson Tells of Deutsche Bank Building Fire" (Tribeca Trib)
"Canadian Policy Conference Delegates Adopt Eight Resolutions" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"IAFF Mourns Loss of Former 16th District Vice President" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"OSHA Begins Process for Updating Fire and Emergency Response Standards " (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Student Loan Forgiveness for Fire Fighters Approved" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Georgia Fire Fighter Rides for Charleston Nine" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Critics Say Lessons From 9/11 Were Not Followed in Fatal Blaze" (New York Times)
"Retired St. Paul Local 21 Fire Fighter Turns 100" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Reaction to Fire Marshal Report on Denison Firefighter's Death" (KTEN News )
"Chief backs fire dept." (Baltimore Sun)
"Firefighters to Face Drug Testing" (Cincinnati Enquirer)
"NYC Lawmakers: Bring Back Retired Firefighters" (WCBS-TV (New York))
"Staph Infection Plagues California Fire Fighters" (Scripps News)
 

IAFF Endorses Chris Dodd for President
International Association of Fire Fighters (08/29/07)

On August 29, the IAFF Executive Board voted unanimously to endorse Senator Chris Dodd for president of the United States based on his proven leadership in keeping the country safe and America's middle class secure. Senator Dodd is an ardent advocate for community safety, authoring two key laws to provide resources and staffing for first responders: the FIRE Act and SAFER legislation. He also helped lead the effort in Congress to implement all the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Report. As a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Dodd has played a central role in nearly every foreign policy debate over the last 25 years, working with six presidents and fostering relationships with many of today's most important world figures.
(Web Link)
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IAFF Shatters Last Year's Record MDA Donation
International Association of Fire Fighters (09/04/07)

The International Association of Fire Fighters remains the largest contributor to the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) donating a record breaking $25.25 million in pledges at the 42nd Annual MDA Telethon September 2-3, 2007. With this year's total, IAFF members have donated more than $300 million to MDA since 1954. Broadcast from the South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa in Las Vegas, the broadcast featured IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger, who appeared throughout the Telethon, praising fire fighters for their dedication and commitment to the Fill-the-Boot drives for Jerry's Kids, and recognizing many IAFF locals by name for their efforts.
(Web Link)
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Two Fallen Boston Fire Fighters Remembered
International Association of Fire Fighters (09/07/07)

Tens of thousands of fire fighters, family and friends gathered in two Boston, Massachusetts, suburbs - West Roxbury and Dorchester - to pay their last respects to two fallen Boston Local 718 fire fighters. Paul Cahill and Warren Payne made the ultimate sacrifice on August 29 responding to a restaurant fire.
(Web Link)
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FDNY Fallen Fire Fighters Laid to Rest
International Association of Fire Fighters (08/24/07)

The lives of fallen Uniformed Fire Fighters Association of New York (UFA) Local 94 fire fighters Joseph Graffagnino and Robert Beddia were celebrated in separate funeral masses August 23 and 24. Robert Beddia, 53, a 23-year veteran, and Joseph Graffagnino, 33, an eight-year veteran with FDNY - both with Ladder Company 5 and members of the Uniformed Firefighters Association Local 94 - became trapped while working the seven-alarm fire in the Deutsche Bank building. Thousands of fire fighters, family and friends gathered to remember Beddia at St. Patrick's Cathedral and Graffagnino at St. Ephrems Roman Catholic Church
(Web Link)
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Charleston Uniform Under Scrutiny
Firehouse.com (08/29/07); Menchaca, Ron; Smith, Glenn

The Charleston, South Carolina, fire department has faced increasing scrutiny in the aftermath of a June 18 furniture store fire in which nine fire fighters lost their lives. As part of an examination of the department's safety standards, concerns have been raised about Charleston fire fighters' uniforms. Currently, fire fighters wear 100 percent polyester uniforms underneath their protective gear when responding to fires. This kind of material can raise major safety issues if exposed to heat because it can melt into the skin, complicating burn injuries. The recent investigation is part of an ongoing debate over the uniforms. Most fire departments have already switched to cotton uniforms because they are safer and more comfortable.
(Web Link)
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Union warned leaders in '02
Charleston Post & Courier (08/24/07); Menchaca, Ron and Smith, Glenn

Five years ago, members of the Charleston fire fighters union warned city leaders about their department's safety practices, including a lack of manpower at fire scenes and unsafe uniforms, and offered a detailed list of recommendations to bring the department in line with national standards. None of the major safety proposals were adopted by Chief Rusty Thomas, Mayor Joe Riley or City Council.
(Web Link)
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Fire Fighter Steve Olson Tells of Deutsche Bank Building Fire
Tribeca Trib (09/01/07); Glassman, Carl

The Deutsche Bank fire that killed Joseph Graffagnino and Robert Beddia on August 18 nearly took the lives of other fire fighters as well. One of them was Steve Olsen, 47, a 19-year veteran assigned to Ladder 1 on Duane Street. This is his story.
(Web Link)
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Canadian Policy Conference Delegates Adopt Eight Resolutions
International Association of Fire Fighters (08/31/07)

The IAFF Canadian membership gathered to debate and vote on a number of important issues August 27-29 at the Biennial Canadian Policy Conference in Sydney, Nova Scotia, and hosted by Cape Breton, NS Local 2779.
(Web Link)
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IAFF Mourns Loss of Former 16th District Vice President
International Association of Fire Fighters (09/04/07)

The IAFF is sad to report that former IAFF District 16 Vice President Wayne Johnson has passed away. Brother Johnson died on September 1, 2007. Brother Johnson was born in Lambertville, New Jersey and was a federal fire fighter at McGuire Air Force Base for 30 years. He served as the 16th District Vice President for the IAFF from 1978 to 1984.
(Web Link)
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OSHA Begins Process for Updating Fire and Emergency Response Standards
International Association of Fire Fighters (09/11/07)

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released its Request for Information, the first step in the process to update all fire and emergency response standards in federal regulations. The current fire and emergency response standards are outdated and do not reflect changes the IAFF has pushed for and incorporated in NFPA standards - such as the 2-in/2-out rule - over the last three decades.
(Web Link)
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Student Loan Forgiveness for Fire Fighters Approved
International Association of Fire Fighters (09/10/07)

The U.S. Congress has approved legislation creating a new student loan forgiveness program for full-time professional fire fighters and other public safety employees who have served their communities for at least 10 years. The College Cost Reduction and Access Act, HR 2669, passed the House 292-97 and the Senate 79-12. The president is expected to sign the bill into law in the near future.
(Web Link)
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Georgia Fire Fighter Rides for Charleston Nine
International Association of Fire Fighters (09/12/07)

Augusta, GA Local 3357 fire fighter Laddie Williams has embarked on what will likely be the longest and most rewarding bicycle ride of his life. To raise money for the families of the nine fire fighters who died in the June 18 Charleston, South Carolina, sofa warehouse fire, Williams left from Palm Springs, California, and hopes to reach Charleston on October 13. "When those nine fire fighters died so tragically in Charleston -- even though they are members of another department -- it felt like I had lost nine of my family members. I had to do something," says Williams.
(Web Link)
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Critics Say Lessons From 9/11 Were Not Followed in Fatal Blaze
New York Times (08/22/07) P. A18; Baker, Al

Some fire fighters and other observers are criticizing the New York City Fire Department's response to the Deutsche Bank building blaze that left two fire fighters dead, alleging that the department failed to implement the lessons learned from the response to the World Trade Center towers during the September 11 terrorist attacks. These critics note that the department sent more than 100 fire fighters into the Deutsche Bank building at a time when several floors were engulfed in flames and the blaze was unpredictable and out of control. Consultant firm McKinsey & Company analyzed the department's response to the World Trade Center attacks, concluding in a report that the department sent too many fire fighters into the Twin Towers before having an accurate assessment of the danger they faced. Critics of the Deutsche Bank response claim that a similar situation led to the death's of the two fire fighters.

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Retired St. Paul Local 21 Fire Fighter Turns 100
International Association of Fire Fighters (08/29/07)

A 38-year veteran of Saint Paul, MN Local 21 celebrated a very special birthday. On September 1, 2007, Harold Haslach turned 100. And Local 21 members honored him and the service he has provided to the citizens of Saint Paul. "Brother Haslach has been retired for a long time, but to this day, he remains an active fire fighter retiree," says Randall E Bibeau, treasurer of Local 21. "We couldn't pass up this opportunity to let him know how much we have appreciated all of his contributions."
(Web Link)
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Reaction to Fire Marshal Report on Denison Firefighter's Death
KTEN News (08/30/07)

Just eight months after the death of Denison, Texas, fire fighter Phillip Townsend, the Texas state fire marshal released his investigation into his death. Now, the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 965, is asking the Denison City Council to acknowledge certain findings. Thirty-year-old Phillip Townsend, a first-year Denison fire fighter, died on the morning of December 30, 2006 while responding to a business fire.
(Web Link)
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Chief backs fire dept.
Baltimore Sun (08/22/07); Linskey, Annie

Baltimore's fire chief defended his beleaguered department after an independent investigation concluded that a recruit who was killed in a training exercise had been poorly trained and outfitted. But Mayor Sheila Dixon said her "confidence level" in the chief's leadership "is very questionable." When asked about the future of Fire Chief William J. Goodwin Jr., Dixon said: "I have real strong questions at every level. I'll need to digest the report."
(Web Link)
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Firefighters to Face Drug Testing
Cincinnati Enquirer (09/06/07); Prendergast, Jane

Cincinnati fire fighters received a new contract September 6 that obligates about a quarter of the city's 800 fire fighters to be randomly tested for alcohol and drugs. Any fire fighter found with a blood-alcohol level above 0.04 will be subject to disciplinary action. The same standard applied under the former contract; however, fire fighters were only tested if they were involved in an accident while operating fire equipment.
(Web Link)
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NYC Lawmakers: Bring Back Retired Firefighters
WCBS-TV (New York) (08/26/07)

In the wake of the deaths of fire fighters Joseph Graffagnino and Robert Beddia at the former Deutsche Bank tower, New York City Council member Hiram Monserrate has joined State Senator Eric Adams in calling for swift changes to the way buildings in the city are inspected, including possibly bringing veteran fire fighters out of retirement. "[The retired fire fighters] may not be able to carry a hose, but they can walk in a building and use their expertise and experience of identifying what hazards would exist for a fire fighter," Adams says. Lawmakers would like retired fire fighters to conduct the building inspections and develop a database to give to first responders so fire fighters are aware of the dangers of the buildings they are entering.
(Web Link)
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Staph Infection Plagues California Fire Fighters
Scripps News (09/05/07); Colon, Vanessa

Exposure to drug-resistant staph infections is becoming a growing concern for fire fighters. Recently, 13 fire fighters in Fresno, California, filed workers compensation claims related to staph infections. Four of those fire fighters were found to have contracted methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, an antibiotic-resistant staph strain. Until recently, staph was primarily a problem for patients and employees in hospitals. As more antibiotic-resistant strains have appeared, exposure has become a concern for emergency response workers as well -- so much so that many fire fighters are pushing for legislation designating staph infections as a workplace injury.
(Web Link)
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