Florida Professional Firefighters Announce Boycott of the Florida Firefighter Games

The Florida Professional Firefighters today is urging its 26,000 members, along with the 280,000 professional fire fighters across the nation and Canada, to boycott the City of Clearwater for their unethical and illegal treatment of its fire fighters.

The boycott stems from several years of issues ranging from illegal demotions and firings, to sexual harassment of female firefighters by Clearwater city manager William Horne and Clearwater Fire Chief Jamie Geer.

The taxpayers of Clearwater have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars funding a personal war by Horne and Geer against the Clearwater Fire Fighters Association (CFFA).  This personal war has led to defeat in every legal battle Clearwater has entered in to.

In addition to the money already spent, Clearwater taxpayers have yet to pay for the 26 pending grievances and 1 sexual discrimination case that has yet to be resolved.  In tough financial times, the potential to exceed $1 Million in costs is a reality, not a dream.

Martin County Remembers September 11th

Dear Brothers, Sisters and Patriots,

This year marks the Seventh anniversary of the murderous attacks on our Country that occurred on September eleventh. As a memorial to our fallen comrades, the civilian victims, and those who have sacrificed in the military, both past and present, The Professional Firefighters & Paramedics of Martin County in partnership with Martin County Fire Rescue are hosting a month long tribute. The event will feature an exhibit called New York September 11 by the world renowned Magnum Photographers Group. This display consists of very large and powerful original photographs taken by Magnum photographers on the morning of September 11th. It was originally shown at the New York Historical Museum and has been outside of New York only twice before. This will be the first and only showing in Florida and exclusively in Martin County. We will also be displaying artifacts from Ground Zero including a piece of steel I-beam from one of the World Trade Center Towers.

As part of the month long effort we are inviting your department to send your Honor Guard / Color Guard team to participate in the daily ceremony including the posting of the colors and standing honor watch over the exhibit while it is open to the public. We are now taking reservations (statewide) so that each interested Department can be guaranteed a day in September to represent their agency. Of course these slots will fill up fast and will be filled on a first come first served basis. This will be a high profile event and we are expecting comprehensive media coverage. We hope you will consider sending a delegation to participate in this honorable endeavor. We are currently working on discounted and possibly free lodging for our Honor Guard guests.

The goal is as simple as it is imperative: Remind all Americans of the people who lost their lives and those who made the ultimate sacrifice on September 11th 2001, and to honor our military who protect this amazing Country.

We must never forget. You can help.

For more information please contact:

Lt. Todd Tucker Vice President Professional Firefighters & Paramedics of Martin County

Cell 772-201-1110

Email: todd@martinfirefighters.com

Web: www.martincountyremembers911.com

        www.martinfirefighters.com

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

On behalf of all the members of the Florida Professional Firefighters, we extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and brother and sisters of Firefighter Kenneth Murtauch.  Kenneth was a member of the South Trail Fire Department (Lee County).  Please keep all that knew Kenneth in your prayers and if you can help with the Trust Fund for his surviving children it would be greatly appreciated.  Kenneth Murtaugh, Jr. Memorial Fund

Fraternally,
Gary Rainey, Vice President

Florida Professional Firefighters

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and Palm Beach County Fire Rescue have recently lost three men due to tragic circumstances.

On November 28, 2007, Deputies Donta Manuel and Jonathan Wallace were struck and killed by a patrol car while attempting to remove stop sticks from a roadway.

On March 3, 2008, Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue Lieutenant Rafael “Ray” Vazquez was shot in the back of the head while waiting on line at a Wendy’s restaurant, killed by a subject that ultimately killed himself.

Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and Palm Beach County Fire Rescue have joined forces to aid our fallen brothers.  This golf tournament/luncheon/raffle will benefit the families.  PGA Resort and Spa has generously opened their facility to us to assist us in our fund raising efforts.

We are asking our Palm Beach County community to open up their hearts to these brave and courageous families.  Please go to http://supportpbcheroes.com/ for additional information on the golf tournament and luncheon scheduled.

Additionally, donations can be made on line safely and securely via PayPal.  All donations are tax deductible.

We are additionally asking the Palm Beach County business community to help make this event a success with donations of items, services, monies, etc.  Please contact PBSO Sergeant Beth Krivda at 561-436-6727   (krivdab@pbso.org) or PBCFR District Chief Chuck Lupo at 561-436-4730 (clupo@iaff2928.com) if you have any questions on how you can help this great cause.

Thank you all for your support.

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For most professions, worker's compensation in the case of an illness depends on the employee's ability to prove the illness is a direct result of work-related activity. However, more than 40 states have presumptive disability rules when it comes to worker's comp for fire fighters. Under these rules, the burden of proof shifts from employee to employer to prove the disease is not work-related. Disability presumption for worker's comp is an important part of a fire fighter's benefits because many studies have shown that fire fighters have a higher risk of developing certain serious illnesses. However, it is not always easy to determine which diseases are directly work-related and which are not. For this reason some experts have suggested that fire fighters receive "24-hour coverage." Under this type of coverage, fire fighters would be entitled to comprehensive health are for both on- and off-the-job illnesses and injuries.
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Martin County fire fighters voluntarily returned their 5 percent cost of living raise to county taxpayers. Martin County Commissioners say the fire fighters giving back their raise is unprecedented.
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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 includes $230 million for SAFER and $570 million for FIRE Act. In his budget for 2009, the president proposed significant cuts to first responder grants, providing only $300 million for FIRE Act grants and eliminating the SAFER grant program altogether.
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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.
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