International Association of Fire Fighters facts for kids
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| Founded | 1918 |
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| Headquarters | Washington, D.C., U.S. |
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Members
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344,440 (2024) |
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Key people
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Edward Kelly, General President Frank Lima, General Secretary/Treasurer |
The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) is a special group, like a club, for full-time firefighters and emergency medical workers in the United States and Canada. It's also known as a labor union. The IAFF started in 1918. It works with other big labor groups like the AFL–CIO in the U.S. and the Canadian Labour Congress in Canada. The IAFF has over 344,440 members. These members are part of more than 3,500 smaller groups. The IAFF also has a group called FIREPAC. This group helps support politicians who care about firefighters.
Contents
What the IAFF Does and Its History
The IAFF was created in 1918. Since then, it has worked hard for its members. The group helps firefighters get better pay and good benefits. It also works to improve their working conditions. A big part of their mission is making sure firefighters are safe on the job. The IAFF also pushes for more full-time firefighters to be hired.
IAFF Center for Firefighter Health
The IAFF opened a special place in 2017. It's called the Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery. This center is in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, near Washington, D.C. It helps IAFF members who have experienced tough situations. Firefighters often see very stressful things. This center helps them recover from stress and related issues. The goal is to help members get back to their important jobs. The center also trains other firefighters. These trained members can then support their friends and co-workers. They learn how to help with stress and other challenges. The center also creates plans for fire departments. These plans help all firefighters stay healthy.
IAFF Legislative Conference
Every year, the IAFF holds a big meeting in Washington, D.C. It's called the Legislative Conference. Any IAFF member can sign up to attend this event. It is the largest meeting of its kind for any union in the country. At these conferences, members learn about new laws. They also hear from important leaders. Past speakers have included former President Bill Clinton and Vice President Joe Biden. Many members of Congress also speak. This includes leaders from both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Who Can Join the IAFF?
The IAFF is for full-time paid firefighters and emergency medical technicians. It is not open to volunteer firefighters. The rules of the IAFF say that members should not work or volunteer for other emergency services. This is outside of their main full-time job. If they do, their membership could be taken away. However, this rarely happens in real life.
FIREPAC: Supporting Firefighters in Politics
FIREPAC stands for Fire Fighters Interested in Registration and Education Political Action Committee. It is the IAFF's group that works in politics. FIREPAC started in 1978. It has become one of the biggest political action committees in the U.S. In the 2009–2010 election period, FIREPAC raised $5.3 million. It was the tenth largest group giving money to politicians. Among labor unions, FIREPAC has worked with both major political parties. They give money to both Republican and Democratic candidates. The IAFF has a simple idea for who they support. They support politicians who support firefighters. It does not matter what political party they belong to.
IAFF Charitable Foundation
The IAFF Charitable Foundation started in 2011. This group helps IAFF members and their families. It steps in when they are affected by natural disasters. This includes hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods. The foundation also teaches people how to prevent fires and burns. It works to keep firefighters healthy and safe. Plus, it teaches the public how to prevent and recover from burn injuries.
IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial
The IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial is a special place. It remembers IAFF members and emergency medical workers. These brave people lost their lives while on duty. An annual ceremony is held each September. It takes place in Colorado Springs, Colorado. (The ceremonies in 2020 and 2021 were changed due to the Coronavirus pandemic.) More than 8,800 names of fallen IAFF members are carved into the memorial wall.
Supporting the Muscular Dystrophy Association
The IAFF is the biggest national supporter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). MDA is a group that helps people with muscle diseases. IAFF members raise money mainly through their "Fill the Boot" campaign. In this campaign, firefighters stand in the street with their boots. People put money into the boots to donate. This money helps fund MDA summer camps for children. It also supports health education and other programs. Since 1954, IAFF members have donated over $558 million to the MDA.
From 1966, the IAFF also appeared on and helped with The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon.
IAFF Leaders
Presidents
- 1918: Thomas G. Spellacy
- 1919: Fred Baer
- 1946: John P. Redmond
- 1957: William D. Buck
- 1968: William H. McClennan
- 1980: Jack Gannon
- 1988: Alfred K. Whitehead
- 2000: Harold A. Schaitberger
- 2021: Edward Kelly
Secretary-Treasurers
- 1918: William Smith
- 1920: George J. Richardson
- 1956: William D. Buck
- 1957: John C. Kabachus (acting)
- 1958: Albert E. Albertoni
- 1972: Frank A. Palumbo
- 1980: Martin E. Pierce
- 1982: Alfred K. Whitehead
- 1988: Vincent J. Bollon
- 2010: Thomas H. Miller
- 2016: Edward A. Kelly
- 2021: Frank V. Lima
