Compulsive hoarding behavior is a disorder that goes beyond having too many possessions stashed away in your living quarters. It’s also a public safety issue that puts homeowners and fire fighters at risk.Tempe, AZ Local 493 faced a growing public safety concern when fire fighters responded to six hoarding-related fires over a six-month period. Two fire fighters were injured, with one fire fighter receiving first and second degree burns to the face during one of the incidents. A rash ... [More]

Fire fighters take great pride in the performance of their jobs. But to be effective, there’s ongoing training and preparation needed. Having adequate and safe staffing levels, training, certifications and personal protective clothing and equipment meeting all Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards are just a few examples that help ensure fire fighters return safely to the firehouse following an emergency call. Anot... [More]

February is American Heart Month. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says cardio vascular disease is the leading cause of death in the US. Approximately 100 fire fighters die in the line of duty each year and heart attacks account for 45 percent of all work-related deaths among fire fighters. The risk of a fire fighter having a heart attack is even greater when fighting a fire. Fire fighters also are much more likely to have a heart attack on duty than any other public safety occu... [More]

Fire fighters are known to be a tough group who won't shy away from any situation. But when confronting the topic of homophobia and transphobia in the fire service many wonder what is appropriate when issues arise in the firehouse. At the IAFF Human Relations Conference in Lake Buena Vista, Florida this week, fire fighters discussed issues that have happened in their fire departments and what can be done to shatter stereotypes. The group explored myths, language , perceptions and how th... [More]

IAFF members are called to respond to high-pressure situations every day, risking their own health and safety to care for others.As we start the new year, this is a good opportunity to remind members that the IAFF has resources to help handle the day-to-day challenges associated with the job. Fire fighters experiencing symptoms of post -traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) should not ignore them. Training, experience, fire fighter mentality, firehouse camaraderie and discussing tragedies with your ... [More]

According to a new report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM), extensive scientific research on the environmental factors associated with breast cancer has found a possible connection between increased risk for the disease and exposures to benzene, 1,3-butadiene, and ethylene oxide. These chemicals are found in workplaces, gasoline fumes, vehicle exhaust and tobacco smoke. Further, numerous studies have shown that benzene is a common airborne contaminant in fire smoke, during overhaul and it ... [More]

It’s no secret that fire fighters take great pride in the performance of their jobs, and there are a lot of skills they work on to be effective.Having the right certification, training and gear, and meeting all the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards are just a few of the things that help a fire fighter return safely to the firehouse after an emergency call.Building codes are an issue that affects fire fighter safety every day, but often times fire fighters don&r... [More]

Each of you is well aware that during fire fighting activities our members are exposed to many combustion products that are known carcinogens [including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), formaldehyde, benzene, chromium compounds, dioxins, asbestos, particulates and arsenic].  These exposures have resulted in excessive cancer rates among fire fighters.  Unfortunately, disease risk estimates are inconsistent in some of the published studies, primarily due to small cohort size and ... [More]

If you couldn’t attend our John P. Redmond Symposium and Dominick Barbera Emergency Medical Services Conference in New York last month, you can watch video of selected speakers and workshops on our coverage page, including the special panel on “Protecting Responders and the 9/11 Health Compensation Act.”  Other video presentations feature reports from the Tucson-area IAFF members who responded to the scene of the shootings that injured Representative Gabrielle Giffords (D... [More]

Thousands of print and video news articles have now appeared around the world regarding the study released today on the cancer experience of New York City fire fighters and fire officers in relationship to exposures at the World Trade Center on 9/11.  As the IAFF reported, this study clearly shows that fire fighter and fire officer exposures at the World Trade Center have led to an increase in all types of cancer  Here are a few samples  of those articles:   News Print &nb... [More]