The Albuquerque Area Fire Fighters Christmas Party will be held on December 13, 2013 at Hotel Albuquerque. Tickets are $20.00 and can be purchased at the union hall Monday through Thursday from 10am to 4pm. For more information call Kelly @ 505-288-2313.

Please submit nominations for Fire Fighter of the Year to: iafflocal244@hotmail.com or in person at the General Meeting on November 14, 2013 for the Executive Board to consider. We will honor one member from each chapter with the Fire Fighter/Paramedic of the year and one general member for the Outstanding Leadership award.

The Children's Christmas Party will be held on December 7, 2013 at ITZ starting at 11am please call Kelly for your family's reservation, an RSVP is required.

On October 7, 2013 the IAFF Local 244 Executive Board held an Honoring Our Own ceremony for BCFD Station 30, B. This crew responded with great courage and saved the life of BCSO Deputy Robin Hopkins. On October 26, 2013, they heard shots fired from inside the fire house and ran out to find Deputy Hopkins severely wounded. Without hesitation they aggressively treated her wounds, applied a tourniquet and transported her to the hospital. The IAFF Local 244 honored Lieutenant Anthony Gonzales, Engineer Alex Coriz, Firefighter Isaac Rowe, Firefighter Jeremiah Jensen Fisher and Paramedic Brandon Mosely. 

The month of November brings a common tradition for firefighters. We grow out our mustaches in support of prostate and testicular cancer. Brother Matthew Wolf has created a new fundraiser for local firefighters allowing the community to benefit from our tradition. He is challenging local firefighters to grow their mustache and raise money in support of Random Acts and the IAFF Local 244 Firefighter Survivor’s Fund. Competition will be between stations and firefighters to raise the most money. The intent is to motivate and encourage firefighters to participate in fundraising for these worthy causes. Please print Matt’s letter and t-shirt order form below and get to growing! 

November 1, 2013 – General President Harold Schaitberger is urging President Obama to take immediate action and appoint a task force on wildland fires. In a letter to the president Schaitberger wrote, "Today’s issues and challenges surrounding wildland fires are analogous to the issues surrounding urban fire problems of the previous generation. To address adequately the wildland issues, the federal government must take a lead role in coordinating and leading the effort.” 

The letter comes in the wake of an intense wildfire season that resulted in the tragic loss of numerous fire fighters, including 19 IAFF members in the Yarnell Hill fire.

The concept of a task force would be modeled after the National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control, which led to the landmark “America Burning” report surrounding the urban fire problem in the 1970s. 

More than a dozen federal agencies, state and local governments, the fire service, industry, code enforcement agencies, insurance companies and scores of other entities have a direct interest in various components of wildland fires. Consequently, the federal government is the only entity that can properly unify the various participants to analyze the many issues associated with wildland fires and make recommendations to reduce their frequency, impact and scope.

A potential task force is expected to provide focus on matters such as the unique health and safety issues facing wildland fire fighters, appropriate staffing levels and modernizing wildland equipment and technology.

Read the letter here.

On October 31, 2013, The IAFF Local 244 Executive Board acknowledged the outstanding service of AFD Engine 4 and Rescue 1 C shift crews. Lt. Kerry Murphy, Lt. Albert Ortega, Dr. Joe Sanchez, Dr. Jason Hackett , FF Jose Chavez , FF Justin Craig all worked together and converted a man who suffered a heart attack. These brothers were honored at Station 4 and shared a meal with their crews and IAFF Executive Officers.

Attention All IAFF Local 244 City Chapter Members:

We are pleased to announce that Doctor Drew Harrell, Medical Director will join us at the Union Hall on Wednesday for an informational session on charting; that will include an opportunity for QA with the doctor.

Topics to be discussed include:

·  Importance of required DCHARTE narrative

·   Review, compare and discuss ePCR’s

·   New download requirements for all EKG, VS trending, and Code summary from LP12’s & 15’s

·   Introduction to medical direction activities, including personal review of ePCR’s and email correspondence related to charting and documentation.

This informational session will begin promptly at 1600 hours on Wednesday October 30, 2013 at the Union Hall and should last approximately 1 to 1.5 hours.

Call President Diego Arencon with any questions.

The IAFF Local 244 Executive Board encourages members to vote early if at all possible! AFD C-Shift is working on Election Day, October 8, 2013. If AFD C-Shift personnel wish to request leave to vote they must submit a P-30 seven days prior to Election Day. Please review Section 9.5 of the IAFF/CABQ Collective Bargaining Agreement. BCFD members please refer to Bernalillo County Rules and Regulations. Contact any IAFF Executive Officer for more information.  Click PDF link below for voting locations. 

IAFF Local 244 Members honorably representing us at the 2013 Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial in Colorado Springs, CO. 

http://www.iaff.org/13News/092113FFFM.htm