May 21, 2013 -- Approximately 1,700 IAFF members are located in the path of the massive tornados that devastated Moore, Oklahoma and a number of other Oklahoma cities, as well as communities in Kansas. The IAFF remains in communication with IAFF District Vice Presidents and state and affiliate leaders whose members are affected by these storms. Together, we have begun damage assessments, and the need for relief to IAFF members affected by the storm is critical.
May 15, 2013 – The Department of Justice, which administers the Public Safety Officer Benefits (PSOB) program, has made major improvements to the process for reviewing and approving claims. Over the last several years, the program had become laden with excessive bureaucratic requirements and unreasonable delays in paying benefits to families of the fallen that were a result of the unnecessary and troublesome intervention of the DoJ’s Office of General Counsel (OGC).
May 14, 2013 – A positive pension reform agreement has been reached in Jacksonville, Florida, between the Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund and the City of Jacksonville, thanks to Jacksonville Local 122 leadership and steadfast efforts to ensure benefits are protected and proper procedure is followed.
May 7, 2013 -- In 2012, Code 3 Spices co-founders Chris Bohnemeier and Mike Radosevich turned their love for cooking and grilling into a way to give back to the first responders who risk their lives for others. With the slogan, "spicing it up for those who serve," Code 3 Spices' is now partnering with the IAFF Charitable Foundation to sell the company's award-winning rubs and donate proceeds to benefit the Foundation.
May 1, 2013 – After lobbying hard throughout Florida’s entire 60-day annual legislative session, the Florida Professional Firefighters (FPF) emerged victorious in thwarting a plan to shift the state’s new hires to a defined contribution pension plan. The amendment to SB 1392 was defeated April 30 by a vote of 22-18 in the Senate, four days before the state legislature adjourns for the year.
April 18, 2013 –The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) has published a new report, Firefighting Precautions at Facilities with Combustible Dust, which outlines safety procedures for fire fighters responding to emergency incidents related to combustible dust fires.
April 10, 2013 –Results were released today of a new federal government study conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) that scientifically documents the effects of crew size in responding to fires in high-rise buildings.
March 29, 2013 – Beginning May 1, 2013, fire fighters who responded to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks at the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, crash sites will be eligible to enroll in the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP).
March 15, 2013 -- IAFF affiliates across the country are supporting Firefighters Coats for Kids, a community outreach program specifically for the IAFF and its members that provides brand-new, made-in-the-USA winter coats to impoverished children and their families.
February 21, 2013 -- The IAFF is now accepting entries for the 2013 Media Awards Contest! Entering is easy with the online submission option that allows IAFF affiliates to upload entries or download an entry form. The deadline for entries is May 1, 2013.
March 19, 2012 -- IAFF member and Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin President Mahlon Mitchell has announced that he will run for lieutenant governor in the recall election to be held June 5. Mitchell is running for the second-most powerful office in that state, which has become a national battleground in the fight to protect the rights of workers from attacks launched by far-right politicians like current Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker.
August 22, 2011 -- The IAFF is mourning the death of a great Canadian who was a tremendous ally to Canada’s professional fire fighters, Jack Layton, a member of Parliament for Toronto-Danforth and leader of the federal New Democratic Party, died early Monday of cancer at the age of 61.
August 8, 2011 -- The application period for Fiscal Year 2011 Assistance to Firefighters Grants (FIRE Act) program will begin August 15 and run through September 9, 2011. The IAFF encourages its affiliates to work with their fire departments to apply for these grants.
July 27, 2011 -- The IAFF is pleased to announce that former President Bill Clinton will deliver the keynote address on Monday, August 15 during the opening session at the IAFF John P. Redmond Symposium and Dominick F. Barbera EMS Conference in New York City.
July 12, 2011 -- IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger has been elected to the Board of Directors of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the world’s leading advocate of fire prevention and a leader in establishing codes and standards related to fire and life safety.
May 5, 2011 – The IAFF is sad to learn of the passing of former Virginia Professional Fire Fighters (VPFF) President and Arlington County, VA Local 2800 President Quentin Tabscott. He was 72.
April 29, 2011 – As communication lines open up, the IAFF is learning that several fire fighters have been affected by the tornadoes that killed at least 300 people across the nation’s south this week. While no severe injuries have been reported, 15 fire fighter homes in Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee were significantly damaged by the deadly storm system.
