The IAFF Want's Your Opinion!

The IAFF is conducting a behavioral health survey designed to evaluate the current state of health and safety matters in fire service.

Project PREVENT -- conducted by Texas A&M University in partnership with the IAFF -- was introduced in December 2008 with 20 focus groups comprising 271 emergency response personnel of different rank and experiences. These focus groups helped identify behavioral health needs, barriers to satisfying these needs and potential solutions.

Project PREVENT is now seeking additional input from IAFF members across North America through an anonymous, confidential online survey. The combined information collected from the focus groups and the online survey will help in the development of a behavioral health curriculum. The ultimate goal of this study is to improve the lives of fire fighters and their families.

Please take a few minutes to contribute to this important effort. Click here to begin the survey.

Please note, when you click on the survey, it will ask you for your IAFF log-in identification and password. This is solely to ensure that only IAFF members are completing the survey and that you only respond once. Individual responses are not tracked; the study is concerned only with common themes and trends across the fire service and will not identify specific fire departments or individuals.

IAFF RSS News Service

• • President's Budget Provides Funding for Fire Service Programs

  • February 1, 2010 -- The White House has unveiled the president's proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2011. The proposal includes $305 million for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program, $305 million for Assistance to Firefighters (FIRE Act) grants, $28 million for Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) and more than $2 billion to state governments and urban areas to improve their emergency response capabilities.

• • Schaitberger Delivers Inspiring Human Relations Conference Address

  • January 28, 2010 - As the Ernest A. “Buddy” Mass Human Relations Conference got underway in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, January 24-27, IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger addressed Conference attendees.

• • Human Relations Conference Renews Commitment to Inclusivity

  • January 28, 2010 -- Attendees at the 2010 Ernest A. “Buddy” Mass Human Relations Conference enjoyed inspirational stories and advice from distinguished presenters in the fields of civil rights, diversity and conflict resolution. More than 300 fire fighters from throughout the United States and Canada came together in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, January 24-27, 2010, to celebrate the progress that has been made toward making the fire service more inclusive and to honestly discuss the long road that still lies ahead.

• • IAFF Recognizes Manitoba Premier for Legislative Efforts

  • January 21, 2010 -- IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger and fire fighters from Manitoba and Alberta presented former Manitoba Premier Gary Doer with a plaque January 21 in recognition of his legislative efforts on behalf of the province’s first responders. “Please accept this as a token of our appreciation for everything you’ve done for fire fighters over the years,” Schaitberger said during a ceremony at IAFF headquarters.

• • Thomas Miller Elected IAFF General Secretary-Treasurer

  • January 20, 2010 -- Following the retirement of IAFF General Secretary-Treasurer Vincent J. Bollon on January 15, 2010, the IAFF Executive Board – in accordance with the IAFF Constitution and Bylaws – has elected Thomas H. Miller, to finish the term. “Tommy Miller has demonstrated his ability to lead on the local, state and international levels of this great union,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “I have no doubt he will continue to be an invaluable asset to our members in his new capacity as General Secretary-Treasurer.”

• • January 15 Message from General President Schaitberger on Excise Tax

  • January 15, 2010 -- With a health care reform deal announced loudly in the media between “labor,” the administration and Congress on changes to the excise tax provision, I want to provide you a new update today that outlines some of the key elements of that deal and what we know about the potential impact they will have on each and every one of you.

• • Updated Message from General President Schaitberger on Excise Tax

  • January 14, 2010 -- We are fully aware of the media reports this afternoon that there has been a deal reached between "labor," the White House and Congressional leaders on the excise tax in the health care reform legislation being debated. On a conference call with the AFL-CIO Executive Council just minutes ago, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka provided a report that outlined that purported "deal." Let me state right here that this IAFF was not afforded an opportunity to be a part of the labor committee that participated in negotiations with the White House and Congressional leaders over the changes that are being reportedly made to the excise tax provision in the bill.

• • IAFF Members on USAR Teams Deployed to Haiti

  • January 13, 2010 – In the aftermath of the worst earthquake to hit Haiti in more than 200 years, Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Teams comprised of IAFF members from across the country are en route to the disaster zone to perform rescue operations, provide medical care and other needed emergency services.

• • MSNBC Interview: Schaitberger Hammers Excise Tax on 'Ed Show'

  • January 13, 2010 -- Watch IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger on MSNBC's "The Ed Show" as he discusses the misguided excise tax on the premiums of some health plans that is in the bill passed by the Senate. The Senate bill will either impose a tax on health care premiums provided to thousands of America's fire fighters, or to avoid the tax those benefits will be slashed.

• • Fire Fighters Rip Obama For Breaking Campaign Promise Over Cadillac Tax

  • January 11, 2010 -- The International Association of Fire Fighters--an influential union that belongs to the AFL-CIO--has released the strongest condemnation yet of President Obama's support for taxing high-end health insurance plans as a means of financing a major health care overhaul--accusing him of breaking a campaign promise, and threatening to hold him accountable.

• • Message from General President Schaitberger on Excise Tax

  • January 11, 2010 -- Throughout the debate on health care reform, even before the proposed excise tax on so-called high cost health plans was proposed, our union has made it clear to Congress and President Obama that our goal is reducing health care costs while preserving the benefits our members already have without piling more taxes on the backs of hardworking Americans.

• • Fit to Survive Features More Ways to Stay Healthy

  • January 6, 2010 -- Start the New Year off on a healthy note -- visit the Fit to Survive web site for new tools designed to improve your health, wellness and nutrition.

• • Save $5 on Your Next Purchase in the IAFF Online Store

  • December 24, 2009 -- Order the 2010 IAFF Burn Foundation Calendar and save $5 towards your next purchase in the IAFF Online Store and IAFF Everyday Heroes Online Store. Limited quantities are still available

• • IAFF Joins With HHS to Encourage H1N1 Vaccinations

  • December 24, 2009 -- More than 110 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine are now available, with more coming every day. Now is the time to protect yourself and those around you by getting vaccinated against the H1N1 flu.

• • IAFF Statement on Pending Senate Approval of Health Care Reform Legislation

  • December 23, 2009 -- The IAFF is disappointed that the U.S. Senate has chosen to pay for reform of the nation’s health care system by taxing people who work for a living by imposing an excise tax on health care plans that cover our members today.

• • New Season of Escape to the Wild Starts January 3

  • December 22, 2009 – Big dreams, big game and big surprises weave together in an extraordinary new season of Escape to the Wild as host Tom Ackerman takes hardworking union members away from the everyday to experience once-in-a-lifetime hunting and fishing adventures. All-new episodes air Sundays at 9:30 a.m. EST on VERSUS Country beginning January 3.

• • Bill Bans Hazardous Flame Retardant

  • December 18, 2009 -- The IAFF applauds Representative Chellie Pingree (D-ME) for introducing a bill to ban decabromine, a flame retardant. The bill coincides with an announcement by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on a scheduled withdrawal of decabromine from the domestic marketplace.

• • SAFER Grant Application Period Extended to January 15

  • December 17, 2009 -- Working closely with the IAFF to streamline the application process and ensure that as many jurisdictions as possible are eligible and actually apply for Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants, the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has extended the FY 2009 grant application period to January 15, 2010. As a result of the extension, peer panel reviews will take place in February 2010.

• • Special Tribute to Vincent J. Bollon
• • IAFF Instructors Meet in San Antonio

  • December 3, 2009 -- More than 140 IAFF Hazardous Materials/WMD, Partnership Education Program (PEP) and Peer Fitness Trainer (PFT) instructors are in San Antonio, Texas, this week for the annual IAFF Instructor Development Conference (IDC). The Conference is an opportunity for instructors from the three programs to jointly practice proven instructional techniques, network and learn from experts and each other to enhance the IAFF’s ability to provide superior-quality, job-specific education across all spectrums of the fire service to its members.

IAFF 7th District What's New Feed

• • New Magnificent 7th Clothing Available
  • A couple of new clothing items are available to you.  As you know, all proceeds gained from the sales of the clothing go directly in to the 7th District Benevolent Fund benefiting our members directly.  The new items are a womens shirt and a gender neutral pull over fleece (available in blue or black).
• • New IAFF General Secretary Treasurer Elected--Thomas H. Miller
  • Today, a historic event occurred within the IAFF Executive Board who elected IAFF's 8th District Vice President Thomas H. Miller to be the next General Secretary Treasurer of this International Association of Fire Fighters.
• • The IAFF Needs Your Help on Tax Bill
  • To all Local Presidents:   We need you to act NOW.
• • Fire Fighters Invited for HD Outing
  • Hey Riders!I trust you all had a Happy New Year!Its time for our 2010 opener.
• • Lets Have a Safe and Happy New Year
  • As we bid farewell to 2009 and welcome 2010 I submit that we give thanks for all we have accomplished...that we work in an industry that truly has blossomed BECAUSE of a Union..... this great Union, the IAFF.  That all of us have had the opportunity to learn from great mentors...great leaders....great friends.

Upcoming Meetings

The agenda for educational seminars has been tentatively set for the year 2010. We hope to see a high level of participation as we feel this is the bread and butter of taking care of our membership. We have new Locals as well as old Locals with new leadership. I think these classes will serve us all well. Course Desciptions for the mini-ed topics can be found on the IAFF web site.

March 24, 2010: Billings

Dimensions of Leadership

Advanced Leadership: Principles of Leadership

Advanced Leadership: Conflict Resolution

May 18 - 20, 2010: Fairmont Hot Springs

This will be a full two and a half days of courses on how to negotiate. We will start with how to sort through the proposals, how to write a good proposal, how to cost it out, how to read MFA's, how to gather and use comparables, how to present your proposal, and how to rebutt their response.

October 8, 2010: Bozeman

Discipline: Your Rights and Responsibilities as a Union Officer

Employee Discipline: Before the Lawyer Gets Involved

Approaches to Workplace Discipline

We look forward to seeing you at these events!

District 7 Mini Education Seminars

There are no Mini Education Seminars Scheduled

USFA Firefighter Fatalities

• • Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Batesville, AR
  • Henry Sandy of the Northside Volunteer Fire Department in Batesville, AR has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2010-01-26 00:00:00.0.
• • Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Louisville, KY
  • Terry Cannon of the Buechel Fire Protection District in Louisville, KY has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2010-01-17 00:00:00.0.
• • Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Lancaster, OH
  • Joseph Mack McCafferty of the Lancaster Fire Department in Lancaster, OH has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2010-01-02 00:00:00.0.
• • Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Union, MS
  • Jerry Thompson of the Linwood Volunteer Fire Department in Union, MS has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2010-01-14 00:00:00.0.
• • Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Tioga Center, NY
  • Leroy Kemp of the Tioga Center Fire Department in Tioga Center, NY has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2010-01-13 00:00:00.0.

USFA Press Releases

• • U.S. Fire Administrator Attends WMD Incident Command Course
  • Following his challenge to fire service leaders across the nation to remain engaged in training and professional development, U.S. Fire Administrator Kelvin Cochran recently attended a Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) incident command course at the Center for Domestic Preparedness in Anniston, Alabama.
• • Hotel and Motel Fires
  • This new report examines the causes and characteristics of hotel and motel fires. Annually, these fires are responsible for 15 deaths, 150 civilian injuries, and $76 million in property loss.
• • Continuing Education Credits for On-Campus EMS Courses
  • Students who need continuing education credits to maintain Emergency Medical Services (EMS) certification now can earn credits for each National Fire Academy EMS on-campus course they attend.
• • New Reports: Residential Building Heating Fires and Portable Heater Fires
  • Developed by USFA's National Fire Data Center, these reports examine the causes and characteristics of all heating fires and portable heater fires that occur in residential buildings.
• • Focus on Fire Safety: Older Adults and Preparedness for Fire
  • Adults age 65 and older are at a higher risk of death from fire than any other age group. According to the USFA report Fire in the United States Fifteenth Edition, older adults account for approximately 32 percent of all fire deaths. Fire prevention and planning are key elements in reducing the risk of deaths and injuries from fire. In the event of a fire, remember that every second counts, so you and your family must always be prepared.
• • National Fire Academy Completes Management Curriculum Overhaul
  • The National Fire Academy has completed a review and update of its Management Science curriculum, adding new course content to address emerging issues and challenges faced by the nation's fire and emergency medical services.
• • U.S. Fire Administrator Calls on Fire Service to Participate in National Influenza Vaccination Week (Jan. 10-16)
  • U.S. Fire Administrator Kelvin Cochran encourages all first responders to participate in National Influenza Vaccination Week and to be vaccinated for seasonal and H1N1 influenza.