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.
 

"New Evidence Raises Concerns Regarding Respiratory Protection Against Influenza" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Plantation EMT Fired for Union Activities" (South Florida Sun-Sentinel )
"Fire Fighters Thank Dodd for Commitment" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Charleston Fire Department Issues Progress Report on Improvements" (Charlotte Observer (NC))
"Paramedics to Use Icy Saltwater to Help Treat Heart Attack Victims" (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
"D.C. Council to Vote on Extension of Recovery Time" (Washington Post)
"Unionized Workers Join Call Against Tax Measure" (Times Union)
"Women Firefighters Advance Skills With Hazardous-Materials Training" (Press Enterprise (Riverside, CA))
"USFA: 2007 Tragic Year for Firefighters" (Occupational Hazards)
"Winnipeg Fire Sparks Building Code Changes in Manitoba" (Sun Media)
"City May Cut Fire Fighters And Chief" (Fire Fighting News)
"Philadelphia EMS System Lacking Resources" (Philadelphia Daily News)
"Fire Fighters, CBRM Making Headway in Contract Dispute" (Cape Breton Post)
"Fee Proposed To Help Pay For Fire Fighting" (KCRA 3 News)
"City Loses New D.R.O.P. Ruling" (Erie Times News)
"Coweta Fire Department Adding Promotion Tests" (The Times-Herald (GA))
"Attorney General: Syracuse Firefighters Must Live in County" (9WSYR.COM)
"Acting Fire Chief Facing a Revolt From the Union" (New Orleans Times-Picayune)

New Evidence Raises Concerns Regarding Respiratory Protection Against Influenza
International Association of Fire Fighters (01/11/08)

Researchers from the Centre d'etudes du Bouchet (Defense Research Center) in Vert Le Petit, France, have released a study that supports the IAFF recommendation that emergency responders use only a P-100 disposable filtering facepiece respirator with an elastomeric seal or a respirator with a higher level of respiratory protection, such as an air purifying respirator (APR) or powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) with a HEPA filter/canister, as minimum respiratory protection against influenza exposures, including the current avian flu (H5N1). 
(Web Link)
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Plantation EMT Fired for Union Activities
South Florida Sun-Sentinel (01/03/08); Gollan, Jennifer

An emergency medical technician in the city's fire department says he was fired December 27 in retaliation for suing the city for overtime pay and trying to organize a union. The city says it fired Jude Diaz, 38, an 11-year veteran recovering from knee surgery, because he declined to respond to the city's request that he return to his duties or resign. Diaz, who had the surgery in October, said he twice asked to be reassigned to light duty while he recovered, the same accommodation made to a co-worker last year.

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Fire Fighters Thank Dodd for Commitment
International Association of Fire Fighters (01/04/08)

Harold A. Schaitberger, general president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, issued this statement after Chris Dodd announced he was ending his campaign for the presidency of the United States following the Iowa caucuses. "The IAFF put our trademark gold and black 'Fire Fighters For' political effort and operation behind Senator Chris Dodd based on principle, against the toughest odds.
(Web Link)
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Charleston Fire Department Issues Progress Report on Improvements
Charlotte Observer (NC) (01/04/08); Smith, Bruce

The Charleston Fire Department expects all fire trucks to be staffed by four fire fighters as safety recommendations stipulate within the next 18 months. Experts have issued more than 200 recommendations, including those related to protective gear and training, to improve the fire department after a June 2007 fire killed nine fire fighters. Although four fire fighters have typically been assigned to city fire trucks, these assignments do not account for vacation or sick time. Meanwhile, new uniforms are expected in March, and incident command training should be done by February. About a dozen new fire fighters to be hired in the next three years will undergo rigorous training before they are placed on fire trucks, and those fire fighters working overtime will be rewarded under the new pay structure.
(Web Link)
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Paramedics to Use Icy Saltwater to Help Treat Heart Attack Victims
South Florida Sun-Sentinel (01/16/08); LaMendola, Bob

Broward County paramedics will soon become the third department in the nation trying to save heart attack victims by pumping ice-cold saltwater into their blood vessels on the way to the hospital. The idea is to chill the body to slow the metabolism and minimize damage to the brain and organs caused by the lack of blood flow, much like what happens when a skater is found alive long after falling through the ice.
(Web Link)
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D.C. Council to Vote on Extension of Recovery Time
Washington Post (01/08/08) P. B04; Woodlee, Yolanda

Recovery time for Washington, DC, fire fighters will be increased to two years if recently introduced emergency legislation is approved. Currently, DC law allows fire fighters surviving major injuries suffered on duty 192 days, or 64 work shifts, to recover. The new legislation would extend that time to 170 work shifts, or almost two years. The bill was drafted specifically over concern for Sgt. Michael LaCore and Charlie Shyab, two fire fighters who were badly injured while combating a rowhouse fire in October. Under current circumstances, if they are unable to return to work after 192 days, they must retire on disability pension, which only covers 70 percent of their salaries. DC Mayor Adrian Fenty has come out in support of the legislation, saying he feels no fire fighter should suffer from such an unfair policy when they risk their lives to save residents, property and colleagues.
(Web Link)
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Unionized Workers Join Call Against Tax Measure
Times Union (01/11/08); Palka, Mary Kelli

Jacksonville's public employees unions are urging voters to reject a January 29 property tax amendment expected to drain as much as $65 million from city coffers. The Jacksonville Association of Fire Fighters called a news conference to rail against the property tax-lowering ballot initiative. Union President Randy Wyse expressed fear that the savings realized by property owners could translate to lost city revenue that, in turn, could lead to fewer fire fighters, equipment and fire stations. Last year, the Legislature made an initial round of property tax changes that led local governments to reduce the amount of property tax they were expecting to collect. Mayor John Peyton had considered closing three fire stations. The loss of stations would potentially increase the time it takes for emergency personnel to respond to calls, Wyse said.
(Web Link)
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Women Firefighters Advance Skills With Hazardous-Materials Training
Press Enterprise (Riverside, CA) (01/09/08); Soifer, Jerry

Though women fire fighters have grown much more prevalent in the profession over the past 15 years, female members of fire department hazmat teams are still quite rare. At hazmat training sessions, fire fighters learn about radiological threats, chemical and biological bombs and weapons of mass destruction. Palm Desert, California-based fire fighter Michele Camper and other women who specialize in hazardous materials say they are doing so not to break barriers, but rather to achieve professional and personal fulfillment. California fire fighter and hazmat specialist Erin Marsh describes hazmat as "another tool in the toolbox." Camper adds, "Hazmat is motivating because there is so much more to learn, so much more to know." Camper's strong performance has earned her the respect and support of her male colleagues, several of whom have declared they would not swap Camper for any of the male fire fighters in the department. Cal Fire Captain Linda Bettys says that hazmat offers variety in terms of day-to-day operations, as well as the chance to work with new technologies. Bettys has handled chlorine spills and toxic gas inhalation scenarios, and asserts that responding to hazmat calls can be safer than responding to fires, as there is more time to prepare while traveling to the scene.
(Web Link)
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USFA: 2007 Tragic Year for Firefighters
Occupational Hazards (01/09/08); Walter, Laura

The United States Fire Administration (USFA) says 115 on-duty fire fighters lost their lives in the line of duty in 2007. Of those fire fighters, 54 died due to either heart attacks or vehicle accidents. Approximately two out of 10 of the fatalities happened while fire fighters were going to or coming from calls. In the coming year, the USFA and the International Association of Fire Fighters plan to work with several other organizations to reduce the risks fire fighters face while on duty.
(Web Link)
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Winnipeg Fire Sparks Building Code Changes in Manitoba
Sun Media (01/11/08); Nay, Rob

New homes in Manitoba will have to meet more regulations geared towards increasing fire safety. The death of two fire fighter captains last February spurred the measures. The building code regulations will come into place in October and will require new houses to have a fire-resistant wall between the home and its attached garage. "These changes will make our job safer," said Alex Forrest, president of the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg.
(Web Link)
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City May Cut Fire Fighters And Chief
Fire Fighting News (01/11/08)

Four fire fighters and an assistant chief could lose their jobs as city officials consider ways to alleviate financial issues. The Alton Firefighters Pension Fund Board filed a lawsuit against the city in Madison County Circuit Court last October. The board asked the city to levy nearly $2.2 million in property taxes for the pension fund, claiming it has failed to levy such a tax since 2000.
(Web Link)
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Philadelphia EMS System Lacking Resources
Philadelphia Daily News (01/03/08); Davies, Dave

A Northeast Philadelphia woman died after waiting more than an hour for a city ambulance to respond to her 911 call for help. In one of the most troubling episodes in memory for the city's beleaguered emergency medical system, the ambulance that finally arrived broke down and was unable to take Deborah Payne, 55, to the hospital. Another arrived an hour and 40 minutes after the original call, but ended up taking Payne to the morgue, not the hospital. Fire fighters' union president Brian McBride said that Payne's death shows the tragic consequences of failing to fund the city's emergency medical system. "We have to adequately budget for public safety," McBride said. "We've been fighting this battle for years. It's a public-safety emergency."
(Web Link)
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Fire Fighters, CBRM Making Headway in Contract Dispute
Cape Breton Post (01/15/08); Hayes, Chris

Fire fighters and the Cape Breton Regional Municipality are making some labour history as they meet with an arbitrator to settle a contract dispute. The fire fighters in the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 2779 and the municipality are the first in Nova Scotia to settle a contract dispute by binding arbitration under legislation adopted by the provincial government in December 2006.
(Web Link)
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Fee Proposed To Help Pay For Fire Fighting
KCRA 3 News (01/10/08)

Homeowners may see a new fee to cover fire fighting costs under a proposal in the new state budget. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to announce the plan when introducing the new proposed spending plan. "We think it's a huge deal for all Californians," said Lou Paulson, president of the fire fighters' union. 
(Web Link)
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City Loses New D.R.O.P. Ruling
Erie Times News (01/09/08); Miller, George

The city of Erie has lost another skirmish in the battle over its elimination of a lump-sum retirement option for police and fire fighters. A hearing examiner for the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board has issued a "proposed decision" that would order the city to restore the Deferred Retirement Option Plan for fire fighters.
(Web Link)
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Coweta Fire Department Adding Promotion Tests
The Times-Herald (GA)(01/06/08) ; Campbell, Sarah Fay

To create a more competitive promotions structure, the Coweta County (Georgia) Fire Department will implement standardized tests from Fire and Police Selection Inc. The tests, along with an outside review panel, will be used to determine promotions within the department. An improved competitive promotions program was just one of the recommended reforms proposed after consultant James Hansford reviewed the department. Coweta County, GA Local 4578 President Jay Lunstead was pleased to see promotions policy changes were a top priority in the department. Local Vice President Robby Flanagan said, "[The new system] take[s] us away from the good old boy system to where what you work hard for and earn is what you actually receive. It gives you the fairest opportunity to go for advancement." The department hopes the reforms will bolster morale and conditions for the fire fighters.
(Web Link)
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Attorney General: Syracuse Firefighters Must Live in County
9WSYR.COM (01/05/08)

The New York State attorney general has recommended the city of Syracuse require all fire fighters to be residents of Onondaga County. Currently, city law makes it mandatory for city employees to live in Onondaga, where Syracuse is located, but fire fighters had been exempt from this law. However, the attorney general says Syracuse fire fighters should not qualify for this exemption because the city has fewer than one million residents. For its part, the Syracuse fire fighters' union and the New York State Fire Association have banded together to fight the new regulation. Syracuse's fire department is already suffering from the loss of many fire fighters who are becoming eligible for retirement. They argue the department should not be forced to give up the veteran fire fighters who would be affected by the regulatory change.
(Web Link)
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Acting Fire Chief Facing a Revolt From the Union
New Orleans Times-Picayune (01/09/08); Rainey, Richard

Aaron Broussard, president of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, is looking for a permanent director for the East Bank Consolidated Fire Department. Broussard's office is expected to launch a nationwide search within a month. David Saunders has been serving as interim director for the past one and a half years. Saunders is eligible to seek the post if he is interested. However, Jefferson Parish, LA Local 1374 intends to hold a no confidence vote on Saunders and possibly Bonano on January 22. The local's president, Bob Burkett, hopes to replace Saunders as director.
(Web Link)
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