July 23, 2008 – As Hurricane Dolly makes its way onto the Texas shore, IAFF members are prepared and ready for the worst. The hurricane warning for the Category 2 storm is in effect for the state’s coast from Brownsville to Corpus Christi.

July 22, 2008 -- A gunman shot at fire fighters responding to a report of a burning pickup truck July 21, killing one, then opened fire on police, wounding two officers. Authorities believed the suspect had been holed up in a nearby burning house that eventually collapsed. The status of the suspect isn't known, but police were searching the ashes for his remains, as well as any evidence. Officials said 22-year-old Ryan Hummert, a fire fighter/paramedic from Maplewood, Missouri, was shot to death as he got off a fire truck. Hummert was a member of the Professional Fire Fighters of Eastern Missouri Local 2665.

July 21, 2008 -- A suburban St. Louis fire fighter was shot to death and two other emergency workers were injured in a standoff with a gunman. The incident began with a report of a pickup truck fire in Maplewood, just southwest of St. Louis. When fire fighters arrived, someone began firing shots. Police responded, and at least one officer was also reportedly struck.

July 21, 2008 -- A year-long investigation of the July 21, 2007, deaths of two fire fighters and two residents in a California house fire reveals weaknesses throughout the Contra Costa County Fire Department.

Zogby International Political Survey of IAFF Members

International Association of Fire Fighters Condemns Use of Twin Towers in Florida Political Billboard

The IAFF has sent a letter to Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter, warning that security at critical military installations in the Washington, DC, area is at risk because of more than a dozen vacancies in the fire departments responsible for responding to emergencies.

July 15, 2008 -- Fire crews battling nearly 300 blazes burning across California are getting help from a pilotless plane that transmits real-time images of hot spots and flare-ups to commanders in the field. The unmanned drone developed by NASA scientists discovered a hot flare-up in a canyon near the town of Paradise, prompting fire officials to issue evacuation orders for 10,000 people in Butte County last week. Thick smoke and heat had prevented other aircraft from patrolling the area.

July 14, 2008 -- The smoke detector industry, tightly controlled by two giants, Kidde and First Alert, doesn't release annual sales figures for the different types of detectors. However, FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, indicates that by 1991, 88 percent of American homes had at least one detector, and current stats from the National Fire Protection Association put the figure-- thanks to low prices and vigorous campaigns by America's fire officials-- at an astounding 96 percent. But what if most of them don't actually detect smoke when you most need them to? This is a story about ionization detectors, which constitute the bulk of the installed detectors and which can now be readily purchased for less than $5.

July 11, 2008 -- Will Pryor, a member of Los Angeles County, CA Local 1014 and Chair of Investment at the Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association, testified July 10 on the importance of defined benefit (DB) pension plans to the retirement security of fire fighters and all Americans in a hearing before the Joint Economic Committee of the U.S. Congress chaired by Senator Bob Casey (D-PA).

July 10, 2008 -- Fire fighters in California battling hundreds of blazes amid excessive heat are about to get relief from New Zealand and Australia. As many as 40 fire managers from the two countries will arrive July 13 in California to help coordinate the battle against the more than 300 wildfires raging. It will be the fifth time the two countries have sent the United States help.

July 8, 2008 – Cooler weather over the July 4 weekend provided some relief for fire fighters battling the California wildfires, but that relief is expected to be short-lived as temperatures are predicted to rise above 100 degrees this week.

July 2, 2008 -- Weary crews battling blazes across northern and central California soon will get some help from the National Guard, the first time the troops have been called to ground-based fire fighting duty since 1977. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has ordered 200 guardsmen to report for fire training to begin assisting on the fire lines. The extra hands are expected to boost the nearly 19,000 personnel currently fighting the fires.

June 30, 2008 – Approximately 5,500 California fire fighters from at least 60 IAFF affiliates are continuing to battle the more than 1,400 wildfires sparked by dry lightening storms. Because of dry conditions, fire fighters are not expecting significant relief any time soon.

June 27, 2008 – More than 3,300 members of CDF Firefighters Local 2881 are on the frontlines of 500 wildfires ravaging central and northern California. More than 150,000 acres have been burned and 14 fire fighters have been injured – none of which are life-threatening.

June 26, 2008 -- Lawmakers voted unanimously to override South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford's veto of a bill providing incentives to those installing fire sprinklers. The bill now becomes law. The legislation was filed after a series of tragic fires in the state, including the furniture store fire in Charleston that killed nine fire fighters and a Greenville hotel fire that killed six.

June 26, 2008 -- The Department of Defense (DoD) has issued a final notice in the federal resister establishing an initial uniform allowance rate for federal fire fighters employed by the Department of Defense. Previously, DoD federal fire fighters received an initial annual allowance rate of $400 at the start of their employment. The newly established initial allowance rate will be $1,600, effective June 23, 2008.

June 26, 2008 -- A U.S. Senate Committee voted to approve legislation granting presumptive disability benefits to federal fire fighters who contract heart disease, lung disease, certain cancers and certain infectious diseases. S. 1924, the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act, was approved by the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on a voice vote. The legislation was introduced in the Senate by Committee members Tom Carper (D-DE) and John Warner (R-VA).

June 25, 2008 -- Three major fires in the past month have left fire resources stretched thin and some fire fighters without a day off in the past 30. State fire officials say a boost in early season manpower and equipment has helped them battle a fit of blazes across Central and Northern California. But the early siege, including fires in areas that rarely see them - like Santa Cruz County - is straining state and local fire fighting resources and spurring concern about how fire fighters and their gear will hold up during a drawn-out fire season.

June 23, 2008 -- The IAFF has partnered with four fire service research organizations* to conduct a study to determine what staffing levels, response times and deployment of resources work best when responding to variety of fire or EMS events in an effort to minimize the safety risks to fire fighters, paramedics and the public. Funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (FIRE Act), this study will help develop tools for fire departments to use to better assess the risks in their communities and to deploy resources more effectively and efficiently to match the level of risk.

June 19, 2008 – One IAFF member and three children of IAFF members are proud recipients of the 2008 Union Plus Scholarship. Recipients are selected based on academic ability, social awareness, financial need and appreciation of labor.

June 13, 2008 – Fire fighters across the Midwest are working overtime in their communities and providing mutual aid to others in the aftermath of severe weather conditions. One of the worst hit areas is Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

June 13, 2008 -- The IAFF encourages its female members to take the Working America and the AFL-CIO "Ask A Working Woman" survey to measure the concerns of working women regarding the economy, health care, home foreclosures and workplace priorities.

June 12, 2008 – As much of the Midwest is being hit hard by severe weather, IAFF district vice presidents and state association leaders are currently reaching out to affected affiliates to determine if any members are in need of assistance.. So far, no injuries or property damage have been reported.

June 11, 2008 -- Fire fighting is hard, dangerous work at any time. But during the hot summer, the risks increase exponentially. Whether it's heat cramps (involuntary muscle contractions), heat exhaustion (weakness, nausea, extreme fatigue) or heat stroke (caused by extremely elevated body temperature), you need to know how to protect yourself.

June 11, 2008 -- The Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security in the U.S. House of Representatives has unanimously approved legislation to provide additional funding for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Services (SAFER) and FIRE Act grant programs. As approved, the 2009 Homeland Security Appropriations Act for 2009 includes $230 million for SAFER and $570 million for FIRE Act.

JUne 9, 2008 -- On the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, retired Los Angeles Fire Captain Jim Perry released photos that were taken June 5, 1968, by Los Angeles fire fighter and fire department photographer Harold Burba just moments after Kennedy was shot during a presidential campaign speech at the Ambassador Hotel after winning the California primary.

June 6, 2008 -- A memorial service for the Charleston 9 will be held June 18, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. at Gaillard Auditorium, 77 Calhoun Street in downtown Charleston. The service is expected to last about one hour. Seating will be limited, but an overflow area will be in the auditorium's exhibition hall with closed circuit television.

June 3, 2008 -- The IAFF encourages its affiliates and their fire departments to apply for Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Services (SAFER) grants. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) began accepting applications May 27, 2008.

June 3, 2008 -- It is with great sadness that the IAFF reports the death of fire fighter Marty Hauer, a member of Kent, WA Local 1747 and an IAFF Peer Fitness Trainer (PFT). Hauer, who devoted his entire career to the promotion of health and wellness and advocated for early detection, succumbed to cancer.

May 20, 2008 -- With the support of the IAFF and the Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association (UPFFA) of Connecticut, Connecticut Governor Jodi Rell has signed a bill that will better protect the state’s fire fighters and police officers if they have a heart condition or impairment as a result of their duties.

May 20, 2008 – Apparatus lined the streets surrounding Calvary Chapel in Downey, California, as hundreds gathered to pay their last respects to a man known for tirelessly advocating for fire fighters and the labor movement. California Professional Firefighters (CPF) Secretary-Treasurer Dallas Jones died May 10, 2008, after a courageous battle with lung cancer.

May 20, 2008 - The IAFF has issued the following statement following the announcement that U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor.

May 16, 2008 -- After an historic 69-29 cloture vote to bring the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act (H.R. 980/S.2123) on the floor of the U.S. Senate for debate, presidential politics, partisanship and the Senate's arcane procedural rules combined to temporarily stall progress on the bill that would give every fire fighter the right to collectively bargain.

May 14, 2008 – Hundreds of fire fighters from across the state of Florida are responding to more than 17,000 acres of wildfires in 14 of the state’s counties, including hardest-hit Brevard and Volusia. So far, no major fire fighter injuries have been reported, but one St. Lucie County Local 1377 member has lost his home.

May 13, 2008 -- In a remarkable show of bipartisan support for the IAFF and its members, 69 senators voted May 13 to consider H.R. 980, the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act. The 69-29 vote on the motion to proceed permits the Senate to debate and amend the bill. “Today, Senators from both parties stood up in support of America’s fire fighters, and stood up in support of our right to collectively bargain,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “This vote is truly a testament to the strength of our union and the respect its members garner on Capitol Hill.”

May 11, 2008 -- It is with the greatest sadness that the IAFF, California Professional Firefighters and Los Angeles County Local 1014 announce the passing of one of the giants of the fire fighter labor movement -- CPF Secretary-Treasurer Dallas Jones. Jones, who served 32 years with Los Angeles County Fire Department and Local 1014, died May 10 after a valiant battle with lung cancer. “This is a tragic loss for all who knew Brother Jones and certainly for me as a friend of mine for almost 30 years," says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. "He was a great leader and a loyal and giving friend to so many of us.”

May 12, 2008 -- A new study conducted by the Massachusetts Department of Health under a grant from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) confirms that there are elevated cancer risks among fire fighters and that these risks are consistent with other studies of fire fighters.

May 12, 2008 -- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will begin accepting applications for FY 2008 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Services (SAFER) grants on May 27, 2008, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The deadline for receipt of applications is June 27, 2008, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

May 12, 2008 -- The Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act, the IAFF's national collective bargaining bill (S 2123) is expected to be brought to the floor of the United States Senate for a vote Tuesday morning May 13, 2008. "More than 80,000 of our brother and sister fire fighters in more than 20 states do not currently enjoy basic employment rights," says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. This bill will ensure that every fire fighter has the right to collectively bargain."

May 9, 2008 -- The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has issued a safety advisory regarding the set-up of aerial ladders with a locking waterway. NIOSH is currently investigating an April 8, 2008, fire fighter line-of-duty-death involving an aerial ladder with a locking waterway. This incident highlights the importance of following the manufacturer’s recommendations for aerial ladder operations to ensure the safety of IAFF members.

May 8, 2008 -- The 2nd Annual IAFF-MG National Rally “Fire Fighters Hog Ride” will be held in beautiful Fayetteville, Arkansas, May 12-15, 2008. The IAFF-MG will meet in Fayetteville and spend three days networking and riding in the beautiful Ozark Mountains. Located in Northwest Arkansas in the Ozark Mountains, Fayetteville, home of the University of Arkansas and IAFF Local 2866, is the cultural capitol of the region, and enjoys a thriving economy and a vivacious atmosphere. From Dickson Street nightlife to Farmer's Market on the square to the annual Bikes Blues & Barbecue Rally, Fayetteville is big on personality with much to experience, yet has the intimate feel of a small town. There is something for everyone!

May 8, 2008 -- The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Division of Safety Research with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Morgantown, West Virginia, is looking for a Safety and Occupational Health Specialist in the Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program.

May 7, 2008 -- Heart failure is the greatest cause of death for on-duty fire fighters. A new alarm aims to ease one major source stress by waking up fire fighters with peaceful sounds.

May 6, 2008 -- As a charity partner of the Marine Corps Marathon, the IAFF Burn Foundation reserves a limited number of entries for IAFF members and supporters to participate in the Marine Corps Marathon on October 26, 2008, as a member of the IAFF Burn Foundation Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) Team.

CHARLESTON: Fire Department Changes Stoke Tensions

April 30, 2008 -- A bill under consideration by the Senate eliminates House-passed language that would require the FAA to improve its Airport Fire and Rescue Standards. In response, the IAFF has issued a press release charging that the lax safety culture of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) extends beyond aircraft maintenance to the outdated 20-year-old FAA standards for fire and rescue operations that jeopardize lives in the event of an aircraft incident at an airport. “As Congress reviews the FAA’s inadequate response to aircraft maintenance issues, it should also investigate the dangerous FAA fire and rescue standards at the nation’s airports,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger.

April 25, 2008 -- The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has issued a user notice regarding the use of CBRN APR respirators with the use of suits qualified under the NFPA 1994 standard. The NFPA 1994-2007 certification of the Indutex JetGuard Plus Class 3 Ensemble specifies that the Millennium@ CBRN APR is to be used as part of this ensemble.

April 25, 2008 -- The Charleston City Council has approved the purchase of the Sofa Super Store property. The city will pay $1,850,000 through bonds the city will receive. Family members of the 9 Charleston fire fighters who died at the store last year, representatives from the fire department and Charleston residents will give input as to what will go on the site.

April 24, 2008 – The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has conducted a review of the Office of Justice Programs’ (OJP) implementation of the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefits Act of 2003 (Hometown Heroes Act) in response to concerns expressed by several members of Congress that OJP was taking too long to process claims submitted under the Act and that OJP’s narrow interpretation of terms found in the Act – in particular the phrases “non-routine stressful or strenuous physical activity” and “competent medical evidence to the contrary” – might be resulting in a high rate of claims denials.