| Did You Know ? |
| On September 17th 2003 the Lafayette City Council voted to raise starting pay for firefighters from $1650 to $1950.......stating their intent for this new pay plan ( which had been a long time coming) was to make Lafayette's pay for firefighters more competitive with other departments in the state. Ruston is still one of the lowest paid fire departments in Louisiana resulting in problems recruiting and retaining personnel |
| An Austin, Texas Fire Department study concluded that reduced staffing means " a higher risk for victims due to delays ...." The study also showed that when fire companies were reduced to 3...the result has been increased sick leave due to stress as well as doubling the overtime budget and a complete loss of morale. |
| A five person fire crew is 100% effective, a four person crew is 65% effective and a three person crew falls to only 38% effective. We must fall somewhere around 25% !!! NFPA 1710 recommends an engine company be staffed with at least a four person crew to improve fire fighter safety and effectiveness. Ruston has two sub-stations that only staff two person crews. That's no where close to safe staffing. Ruston, We Have a Problem |
| A problematic Houston Fire Chief was forced out after years of being at odds with the Local 341 over staffing levels, pay and other working conditions. In August he finally conceded to relentless pressure and resigned his position, effective Jan. 2004. The Local President says he's looking forward to improved labor/management relationships in the future. The Chiefs resignation came shortly after the local conducted an informational picket. IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger expressed his concern with the Chief and how he had dealt with the safe staffing issue. It took a death in the Houston Fire Department to force the city to increase staffing. A NIOSH report identified understaffing on the apparatus and the fireground as a leading cause of the firefighter's death. Will it take a death in Ruston to open eyes? Or will city officials learn from other cities mistakes and raise firefighter pay before it's too late? Increased pay would allow for adiquate staffing and solve a public safety crisis. To read more about this...... see......Houston, We Had a Problem at www.firechief.com |
| The IAFF and MDA celebrated their 50 year partnership in 2004. Read articles about IAFF/MDA history and upcoming golden anniversary events at www.iaff.org/across/mda.html |
| 60% of Americans have an escape plan. Of those, 43% have practiced it. This means that only 25% of American people have actually developed and practiced a home fire escape plan. Source: NFPA National Fire Escape Survey Tips on developing your own home fire escape plan. |
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