International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) News

Idaho Falls - The Professional Fire Fighters Association Local 1565 will continue their long-standing tradition of collecting critical funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) through the Fill the Boot campaign this weekend. critical funds for MDA Idaho Falls firefighters will be at the intersection of Hitt Road and 17th Street on Friday and Saturday, May 10 and May 11, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. They will ask pedestrians, drivers, and others to donate to the MDA, which raises funds...

Fairdale High School in Fairdale, KY is making waves by training the next cohort of fire fighters and EMTs. During a recent ceremony held at the school, Dan Shirley, an instructor at the school’s Fire and EMS Academy, announced the acquisition of the school’s new Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) license allowing students to undergo testing before graduation. Providing significant advantage “The CPAT is crucial for students aspiring to pursue a career in the fire servi...

Heith Good, a Norwich Township Fire Department lieutenant and member of the Norwich Township, Ohio Local 1723, was sworn into office on Jan 8. With more than 26 years of experience in the fire service, Good brings both a sense of duty and commitment to his community.  “It was exciting and surreal,” he said. “It’s a huge responsibility, and it’s an honor to serve our community in this role, understanding the importance of our community, staff, students, and pa...

Breaking through flames and barriers, the latest wave of Kansas City firefighter recruits blazes a trail as the city’s most diverse. “There are people from all walks of life, and I enjoyed every second of it,” said recruit Jacob Boling to a KSHB reporter.  The class brings diverse skills and perspectives to the fire service, reflecting a commitment to forming a team representative of the communities served. “We started with 116 participants, and after comprehensive...

In a pioneering effort to prioritize the well-being of its firefighters, the Goodyear Fire Department and the United Goodyear Fire Fighters Association introduced an innovative approach with the opening of Station 181. This state-of-the-art facility not only stands as a testament to a commitment to firefighter well-being but also serves as a memorial to fallen Goodyear fire engineer and Goodyear, AZ Local 4005 member Austin Peck, who succumbed to occupationally contrived sinus cancer in 2019 at...

The IAFF is proud to throw its support behind the Military Fire Fighters PFAS Compensation Bill (H.R. 6946), introduced by U.S. Reps. Marilyn Strickland and Bill Posey on January 10.   H.R. 6946 seeks to establish a fund for military firefighters to provide timely, adequate compensation to current and former military firefighters and survivors suffering from illnesses related to on-the-job PFAS exposure.  laden firefighting foams These brave men and women are unnecessarily exposed...

Firefighting involves more than just summoning courage during a crisis; it encompasses dedication to serving, rescuing, and protecting.   Six women from diverse backgrounds, including members from St. Paul, MN Local 21 and Edina, MN Local 1275, recently embraced this commitment during their mission overseas, joining over two dozen firefighters, emergency medical professionals, and volunteers from the state.  Capacity of fire departments It’s unique because we’ve bee...

The IAFF is welcoming new locals in Loyalist Township, Ontario and View Royal and Colwood, B.C. Loyalist. Professional Fire Fighters Association Local 5464, which serves the communities of Amherstview, Amherst Island, Odessa, and Bath in Loyalist Township west of Kingston, joins with seven members including four suppression fire fighters, two fire inspectors, and an emergency vehicle technician. Local 5464 President - Jeremy Franklin said he was pleased to be joining the IAFF and is lo...

Fire fighters are a community’s ‘Swiss Army knife’ – responding not just to fires, but medical calls, terrorist attacks, natural disasters, train derailments, behavioral health emergencies, and more. The all-hazard role of the country’s fire service was a recurring theme of a recent IAFF member focus group led by pollster and political analyst Dr. Frank Luntz. “There’s no emergency that [fire fighters] won’t go and do their best to bring order to,...

Fire fighters are being urged to take extra precautions when approaching structure fires involving residential energy storage systems (ESS), an increasingly popular home energy source that uses lithium-ion battery technology. The findings are part of an exhaustive report released by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and UL Solutions, based on a two-year research project examining the characteristics of fires resulting from the overheating of lithium battery systems stored in...

When times get tough, a glimmer of light always finds its way through the darkness. In March, tragedy struck when Caribou, ME Local 5191 Capt. Daniel Raymond died in a car accident.  Ryan Hall, a firefighter and paramedic with Local 5191, shared that his sudden death not only devasted his family and colleagues but also the entire community.  Light up the Community Fund “So, over the summer, many local community members wanted to find a way to honor him and create something a...

The festive season is a time for generosity, and in this year’s Hanukkah celebration, members of the FDNY’s Ner Tamid Society, the Uniformed Fire Fighters Association (UFA) Local 94, and the Uniformed Fire Officers Association (UFOA) Local 854 are serving members inside the firehouse and remembering those lost.  “For Hanukkah this year, we’re holding an event at FDNY headquarters,” said Deputy Chief Yonatan Klein. “We’ll have donuts, latkes, and...

The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) is celebrating the adoption of a House of Commons motion that calls on the Canadian Government to strengthen the nation’s airport firefighting regulations as an important step toward improving air passenger and fire fighter safety at Canada’s major airports. Motion M-96 points out shortfalls in the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) requirements for airport firefighting and asks the Canadian Government to bring them up to Inter...

In the face of mounting pressure from the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and others, Newark, New Jersey, officials recently proposed several safety measures after two fire fighters – Augusto “Augie” Acabou and Wayne “Bear” Brooks Jr. – died responding to a July cargo ship fire. The suggested changes reported by NJ.com, the state’s largest news and information site include: creating a special joint task force to consider legislative an...

The Island of Maui’s Engine 1 and 6 crews were among those fighting the wildfire in Lahaina on August 8 when both were trapped by the fast-moving fire. With the streets blocked by cars, visibility almost zero, and heat roasting their equipment, it appeared all hope was lost.   They all survived thanks to the actions of one Hawaiian Islands Local 1463 member. The incredible story was told on 60 minutes on November 19. Metal melting Even as crew members around him were texting their...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) joins with other national fire service organizations to strongly oppose proposed cuts to the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants programs provide critical funding to help fire departments secure needed equipment, training, and staffing to adequately protect their communi...

Chemicals broadly labeled as PFAs provide important properties to turnout gear used by firefighters, including better resistance to heat, water, and other hazards. Unfortunately, human exposure to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAs) has also been linked to heightened cancer risk. Research on the concentration of PFAs The U.S. National Defense Authorization Act of 2021 directed the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to identify the prevalence and concentration of PFAs...

Two grant programs designed to address staffing, equipment, training, and health and safety needs of firefighters are scheduled to ‘sunset’ in 2024 unless Congress reauthorizes the grant programs, and funding for the programs will run out unless Congress endows them for another year. Legislation to extend the programs has already passed the U.S. Senate. The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program provides funding to hire additional personnel to mainta...

Cancer is one of the biggest health threats facing firefighters, but there are actions that people can take to protect themselves and their crew. January is Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month, a time to learn about what service members and the fire department can do to lessen exposure risks and prevent job-related cancer. Here are some resources and tools to help: Lavender Ribbon Reports – The Lavender Ribbon Report details 11 specific actions firefighters can take to reduce exposure...

The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association (Metro Chiefs) released a joint statement PDF warning firefighters that synthetic chemicals in their protective gear are associated with various health risks, including an increased risk of liver and kidney cancer. The chemicals responsible are a group of fluorinated compounds called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances commonly referred to as PFAS. They are used in firefighter turnout gear to incr...

The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association (Metro Chiefs) released a joint statement PDF warning firefighters that synthetic chemicals in their protective gear are associated with various health risks, including an increased risk of liver and kidney cancer. The chemicals responsible are a group of fluorinated compounds called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances commonly referred to as PFAS. They are used in firefighter turnout gear to incr...

The Michigan Professional Fire Fighters Union (MPFFU) is five affiliates stronger after 8th District Vice President Mark Sanders led a ceremonial oath of membership for the 70 new members at the MPFFU 6th District fall meeting. MPFFU President Mark Docherty, Secretary-Treasurer Terry Chesney, and 6th District Vice President Matt Sahr were also present. Addition of new members “It’s an honor to represent the 8th district in welcoming our newest members. Thanks to the MPFFU and 6th...

Join General President Ed Kelly for a virtual Q&A on Facebook Live at noon on Tuesday, November 16, 2021. The event will be streamed live on the IAFF Facebook page and will be open to the public. Committed to making the IAFF a member-focused and member-driven organization, President Kelly will provide an update on recent IAFF headquarter activities, continuing transition work, and a discussion on issues of national interest to members across our two countries. IAFF hopes users ca...

The St. Louis County Hazardous Materials Response Team, which includes Professional Fire Fighters of Eastern Missouri Local 2665 members, were called to respond when a chemical tank at GKN Aerospace in Hazelwood, Missouri, containing Nitric Acid leaked creating an orange, toxic cloud to escape from the building. When the team arrived, the orange vapor cloud was hovering over the building. The team needed to quickly determine what dangers the chemical posed before deciding on a response strategy...

Heather Stefanson was sworn in as Manitoba’s new premier following a hotly contested and very close election. Her election as the province’s first female premier was, in no small part, due to the work of IAFF members. The IAFF has long said to elected leaders that they don’t have liberal or conservative issues, they have firefighter issues. Voting campaign In the final vote tally, Stefanson won by 363 votes; the margin of victory was decided by the work of the Manitoba Profe...

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released new rules on November 4 requiring employers with more than 100 employees, including local and state governments in the 28 state plan states, to require their employees to be vaccinated or undergo weekly testing. However, in issuing these rules, OSHA excluded emergency responders and healthcare workers who already are covered by OSHA’s Healthcare Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) that was released in June. The protections f...

Culminating nearly three years of work by the IAFF and congressional advocates, Congress passed legislation significantly expanding and improving Public Safety Officer Benefits (PSOB) for firefighters who die or are disabled in the line of duty (PAFRA; S 1511). President Biden is expected to sign the bill into law in the coming days. “Supporting the families of our fallen brothers and sisters is the most important thing we can do and we will never shy away from this fight,” says Gen...

Crash Responder Safety Week (CRSW) is November 8-14, 2021. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, this initiative is designed to raise public awareness and help keep roadway responders and the public safe around traffic incidents. Nearly every week, a first responder is killed while helping clear a roadway crash. Many more sustain life-altering injuries. The members work tirelessly to save lives at traffic incident scenes as safely and quic...

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, former Assistant to the General President for Technical Assistance and Information Resources (TAIR) and President and CEO of the International Public Safety Data Institute (IPSDI), is the new United States Fire Administrator. Dr. Moore-Merrell was appointed by President Joe Biden at the urging of the IAFF. She also had widespread support from other fire service organizations. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell swore Moore-Merrell in...

The Tulsa Fire Department will soon begin hiring 60 new firefighters to replenish ranks overburdened in recent years by a combination of large-scale natural disasters, the COVID-19 pandemic and steady attrition. Tulsa Local 176, working hand in hand with the IAFF, as well as key state and federal lawmakers, secured a $12 million Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant. SAFER grants, administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), are designed to help fire...