Convention’s Final Day Focuses on Public Safety and Leadership

On the final day of business, delegates considered several resolutions affecting fire fighter and public safety, Resolution 11 as amended, which establishes an IAFF policy to protect members in the event of active shooter incidents, as well as Resolution 12, which expresses IAFF support for fire-based community healthcare provider programs. And Resolution 13, which asks IAFF affiliates in Canada and the United States to encourage their employers to adopt the IAFF Hazardous Materials First Responders Operations into their recruit training programs and as a refresher course, also passed.

Delegates also adopted Resolution 38, which focused on the inherent danger of aerial operations unique to the work of fire fighters and called on the IAFF to work with apparatus manufacturers, NFPA, NIOSH, OSHA and all other stakeholders to develop equipment and standards that increase safety for the fire service. No such standard currently exists. The resolution was passed. 

The final resolution of the Convention, Resolution 14, asks the IAFF to review its policies to enable more locals to bid to host IAFF events.

Three IAFF affiliates spent the week campaigning to host the IAFF 2018 Convention – Atlantic City, NJ Local 198, Reedy Creek, FL Local 2117 and Seattle, WA Local 27. As the final order of business, delegates voted to hold the Convention in Seattle in 2018, the IAFF’s 100th anniversary year.

IAFF Local Leadership Awards

Also during Thursday’s business session, 16 IAFF local officers, one from each IAFF District, were honored with IAFF Local Leadership Awards. Those honored were:

• Alexander Hagan, President of the New York Uniformed Fire Officers Association Local 854
• Rickie D. Scofield, President of the Iowa Professional Fire Fighters
• John Rocca, former President of Cambridge Fire Fighters Local 30
• John J. Sparks, Montgomery County (Maryland) Career Fire Fighters Local 1664
• Alan Hefter, West Bend, WI Local 2025
• Mark Faires, President of the Calgary Firefighters Association Local 255
• Ron Davies, President of the Professional Fire Fighters of Idaho
• Michael J. Kurtsinger, Louisville, KY Local 345
• Dean W. Fletcher, President of Las Vegas Fire Fighters Local 1285
• Pete Gorraiz Jr., President of United Phoenix Firefighters Local 493
• J.R. Sullivan, Fort Worth, TX Local 440
• James D. “Danny” Poole, Raleigh Professional Fire Fighters Association Local 548
• Randy Richards, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Local 529
• Thomas H. Malone Jr., Memphis Local 1784 President
• Paul Boyle, Halifax, Nova Scotia Local 268
• Arthur Rego, Federal Firefighters of Hawaii, Local F-0263

IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger congratulated delegates on their participation in what was an historic Convention. Noting the fallen who were honored Monday morning and whose names adorned the Convention walls during the week, he said, “Tt’s on behalf of these and all those living that we are committed to continuing our journey” before calling for a moment of silence and then declaring the IAFF 52nd Convention adjourned.