Haz-Mat-CBRNE Funding Extended in Canada

John Stamp
April 7, 2014 — The IAFF will be able to train hundreds more Canadian first responders to respond safely and effectively thanks to a two-year funding extension for the IAFF Haz-Mat and CBRNE Training Initiative announced March 27. The funding extension will allow the IAFF to expand the program into Quebec and other areas of the country that have yet to fully take advantage of the opportunity to receive free Haz-mat and CBRNE response training through the program, which has already trained close to 2,000 fire fighters, police, paramedics and other first responders in more than 200 communities across Canada since 2009.

Supreme Court Decision on Campaign Contributions

John Stamp
April 3, 2014 — On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an extremely troubling court decision striking down the ceilings that Congress has imposed on an individual’s donations to presidential and congressional candidates, political parties and some political action groups. These ceilings are called “aggregate limits” and eliminating them for federal candidates, as this decision has done, will dramatically impact federal campaigns. Because the reasoning the Court used will be transferable to state campaign finance laws, it will also soon affect state and local races as well.

IAFF Mourns Loss of Two Boston Local 718 Members

John Stamp
March 27, 2014 – It is with deepest regret and sorrow to report the line-of-duty deaths of Boston Local 718 members – Fire Lieutenant Edward Walsh and Fire Fighter Michael Kennedy. Both men were killed in the line of duty March 26, 2014, while battling a fire. Please keep the families of both of our fallen brother’s and all the members of Local 718 in your thoughts and prayers. More information will posted as it is available

Enter the 2014 IAFF Media Media Awards Contest

John Stamp
March 4, 2014 – Have you seen any good stories about the work that IAFF members do? Did your local conduct a public relations campaign in your community? Enter your work in the IAFF Media Awards Contest – the awards recognize outstanding work by IAFF affiliates in communicating with their members and public, as well as reporting and photography that best portray the exciting, meaningful and often dangerous work of IAFF members in the United States and Canada.

World Firefighters Games: Health, Fitness, Fun and Competition

John Stamp
February 28, 2014 — The 2014 World Firefighters Games, scheduled for August 15-24 in Los Angeles, California, promises to be the biggest and most widely attended fire fighter event in the world. CEO and organizer of the 2014 World Firefighters Games Greg Hough says the 2014 Games includes a program of exciting competition backed by a highly anticipated entertainment package ever staged by the Games.

Missouri Fire Fighter Dies in Walkway Collapse

John Stamp
February 22, 2014 — Lt. Bruce Britt, a 23-year veteran of the Columbia Fire Department and a member of Columbia, MO Local 1055, died Saturday morning while working at the scene of a walkway collapse at a University of Missouri apartment complex. Britt suffered fatal injuries while trying to assist residents at University Village. Britt became entrapped after the collapse of a section of second-floor exterior walkway and was taken by ambulance to University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

IAFF Partners With Operation Warm

John Stamp
September 10, 2013 — IAFF affiliates have always made it a core mission to give back to the communities in which they live and work. These community outreach efforts also improve their public image, influence how they are perceived by decision makers and the public, show the value IAFF members bring to their communities and promote their efforts to help others beyond their jobs as fire fighters and paramedics.