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September 9, 2010 -- A new study issued by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) shows that the size and configuration of an EMS first responder crew and an advanced life support (ALS) crew have a substantial effect on a fire department’s ability to respond to calls for emergency medical service. Performed by a broad coalition in the scientific, fire fighting and public safety communities, the study shows substantial differences associated with first responder crew size. Crews with three- or four-person first responders complete patient removal between 1.2 and 1.5 minutes faster than smaller crews with just two first responders. All crews with first responders completed removal substantially faster (by 2.6 to 4.1 minutes) than the ambulance-only crew.

IAFF Delivers $27.8 Million to MDA

September 7, 2010 – Despite the struggling economy, the public remains generous for a very worthy cause – the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). The Stars Across America MDA Telethon generated $58.9 million in contributions and pledges. And, once again, the IAFF earned the spot of top fundraiser, contributing a total of $27.8 million.

2011 Political Training Academy Application Period Now Open

September 7, 2010 -- The IAFF is now accepting applications for the 2011 Political Training Academy, scheduled for February 27-March 4, 2011, in Baltimore, Maryland. Applications to attend must be submitted online no later than Friday, November 5, 2010.

Liberty Mutual-Hurricane Earl Client Announcement

September 2, 2010 -- Liberty Mutual and the IAFF Financial Corporation (IAFF-FC) are actively preparing for the potential arrival of Hurricane Earl. Your safety is the utmost priority, so please make sure that you, your members and their families stay up to date on the latest hurricane information available, and are following all evacuation announcements issued for your area.

Struggling Cities Shut Firehouses in Budget Crisis

August 27, 2010 -- Fire departments around the nation are cutting jobs, closing firehouses and increasingly resorting to “rolling brownouts” in which they shut different fire companies on different days as the economic downturn forces many cities and towns to make deep cuts that are slowing their responses to fires and other emergencies.

IAFF Condemns Uniontown Mayor for Plan to Lay Off Fire Fighters

August 26, 2010 -- IAFF delegates meeting in San Diego unanimously passed an emergency resolution condemning Uniontown, Pennsylvania, Mayor Edward Fike for announcing his intent to eliminate the City’s entire career fire department. Fike no doubt picked the wrong time to mess with union fire fighters. As it happened, members of Uniontown Local 955 were convening in San Diego this week with about 3,500 of their IAFF brothers and sisters to vote on critical resolutions and forge stronger union bonds.

MDA Telethon Scheduled for September 5-6

August 26, 2010– The 2010 Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon is scheduled for September 5-6, 2010, and will be broadcast live from the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Telethon will air on more than 170 television stations and on the MDA web site.

IAFF 50th Convention Opens in San Diego

IAFF delegates from the United States and Canada gathered August 23 at the San Diego Convention Center for the IAFF 50th Convention, launching the week’s important business. The emotional ceremony reminded all in attendance of the accomplishments and sacrifices members have made and laid out plans to overcome the challenges ahead.

IAFF Announces 2010 Media Awards Contest Winners

August 18, 2010 -- Two hundred and forty-five entries in the 2010 Media Awards Contest attest to the fact that for today’s fire fighter, truth is stranger than fiction. People and animals, buildings and systems fail and endanger others in unique and largely unpredictable ways. A seemingly infinite series of natural and manmade catastrophes cause fire fighters everywhere to give their all, all day and all night. The Media Awards Contest honors communications, reporting and photography that best portray the professional and dangerous work of fire fighters and emergency medical personnel in the United States and Canada.

2010 SAFER Application Period Begins August 16

August 16, 2010 -- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will begin accepting applications for Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants beginning August 16, 2010. The application period will close September 17, 2010, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Applications for $420 million in SAFER funding will be available through the Assistance to Firefighters (FIRE Act) web site, along with program guidance.

California Wildfire Study: Staffing Affects Efficiency

August 13, 2010 -- A study conducted by San Diego State University on wildfire fire fighting and staffing shows that lower levels of staffing result in higher physical stress and significantly lower efficiencies for initial attack effectiveness. The most dramatic gains in efficiency - by as much as 50 percent - occurred when the number of personnel on a hose lay was increased from two to three fire fighters. Additional increases were observed when comparing three- to four-person crews.

Can Public Pension Benefits Be Taken Away?

August 11, 2010 -- State legislators are beginning to challenge one of the ironclad tenets of public pension policy: that states cannot legally reduce pension benefits for current and future retirees. Lawmakers in Colorado, Minnesota and South Dakota voted earlier this year to limit cost-of-living increases they previously had promised to thousands of current and future retirees. Not surprisingly, retirees in each state have filed lawsuits asking judges to restore their annual benefit increases to what they were previously. Lawmakers, state retirement systems, public employee unions and others in the pension policy arena are closely watching the outcome of the legal challenges.

Baltimore Police and Fire Unions Fight Back

August 2, 2010 -- Angered by the way they're treated by the mayor and City Council, unions representing fire fighters and police officers put up an attack ad on a downtown billboard. The sign reads, "Welcome to Baltimore. Home to a Mayor & City Council who turned their backs on our Police & Firefighters."

Two Fallen Connecticut Fire Fighters Honored

August 2, 2010 – A sea of fire fighters, family and friends flowed into Bridgeport, Connecticut, to pay tribute to fallen Bridgeport Local 834 fire fighters Steven Velasquez, 40, and Michel Baik, 49. Services for Velasquez and Baik were held July 30.

9/11 Health and Compensation Bill Defeated by Narrow Margin in House

July 30, 2010 -- Legislation to establish health treatment and monitoring programs for World Trade Center responders was narrowly defeated in the U.S. House of Representatives. The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, H.R. 847, failed by a vote of 255-159 July 29.

California Fire Fighters Work 24/7 to Contain Wildfires

July 28, 2010 – Members of Kern County, CA Local 1301, CDF Fire Fighters Local 2881 and strike teams from around the state of California are working in 12-hour shifts, 24 hours a day to contain two wildfires burning

Friday Services Scheduled for Fallen Connecticut Fire Fighters

July 28, 2010 – Thousands of fire fighters, family and friends are expected to travel to Bridgeport, Connecticut, to pay their respects to two fallen Bridgeport Local 834 fire fighters on Friday, July 30. Steven Velasquez, 40, and Michel Baik, 49, made the ultimate sacrifice Saturday, July 24, while fighting a house fire.

Fire Departments Awarded $3 Million in SAFER Grants

July 23, 2010 -- The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded another round of Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants, this time totaling $3,010,741. All six of the awards in this 13th round of SAFER grants will help bring IAFF members back to work.

Bridgeport Fire Fighters Killed Battling Residential Fire

July 25, 2010 -- The IAFF regrets to report the deaths of two Bridgeport, CT Local 834, fire fighters July 24. Lieutenant Steven Velazquez and Fire Fighter Michel Baik were killed while fighting a residential fire. General President Harold Schaitberger has been in contact with 3rd District Vice President Mike Mullane and Bridgeport Local 834 President Bob Whitbread. Further details will be provided as they become available.

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