Everett Firefighters Local 46 would like to welcome everyone to our site. We launched this website to provide our online audience a faster way to get information and to provide vast resources to our members. The site is designed with the Local in mind so that it may be used as a communication tool. The site allows members to access the current contract, constitution and by laws, as well as meeting minutes both current and archived. There are other features currently in the works and I think you will find the site very useful in the future. Please feel free to submit suggestions and ideas for the site.
The Everett City Council recently voted to adopt a lesser standard for its fire department. Before, the Everett Fire Department had the most difficult physical entry test in the entire state, possibly in the entire country. This rigorous physical test had ensured that only very physically strong candidates progressed to the interview portion of the hiring process. This tough rite of passage was color blind and indifferent to gender. Its sole purpose was to sort the strong from the not-so-strong. For this reason, Everett firefighters, as a group, are among the strongest in the country.
The newly adopted test meets all the requirements that have been accepted as minimum standards throughout our industry. It is, nevertheless, widely regarded by many professional firefighters as a joke. The new test does an inadequate job of screening candidates for the true physical requirements of the job. Firefighting is heavy physical work.
The driving force behind the change is pressure from diversity groups who threaten lawsuits if the city does not lower its standards to allow more women to pass our test. I am speaking out against this. As a firefighter, I welcome all races and genders to our proud family if they are capable of performing the job.
The service we provide is affected by our physical abilities. To some degree, my life and health is dependent on the physical abilities of my fellow firefighters. Up until now, Everett's leaders have supported this idea. I have admired their courage for maintaining a higher standard amidst the pressure to do otherwise.
It is a mistake to trade away physical competence in order to ensure diversity. The issue is a hot potato that has forced our leaders to their knees.
The irony is that the whole idea is based on making things fair. Are citizens fairly served by less physically capable firefighters? Just because everyone is doing something, that doesn't make it the right thing.
Message From IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger
September 11, 2008 – Today marks the 7th anniversary of the darkest day in our union's history.
No matter how many years pass, we must always remember the ultimate sacrifice made by our 343 fallen FDNY brothers after terrorists launched their cowardly attacks on the World Trade Centers.
We must always remember the thousands of IAFF members in Washington, DC and Virginia who risked their lives to pull hundreds of victims from the Pentagon.
And we must always remember the generosity of millions who enabled our union to provide aid and comfort to the families of our fallen by contributing their time and money in honor of our members' sacrifice.
This Day of Remembrance will live forever, in honor of the price these brave fire fighters made in the line of duty. We owe it to them to continue the fight make the lives of our members and the public safer.
It is with great sorrow that we must inform you of the sudden death of Jim Leo, one of our honorary firefighters, and the Department's photographer has passed away today at 12:50 p.m. Jim Leo will be greatly missed. Through his photography, he has documented many of our major fires while working as a staff photographer with the Herald. Even after his retirement, Jim's commitment, dedication and service to the Department was tireless.
Updated
On: Apr 12, 2008 (15:22:00) IAFF priority legislation to enhance fire fighter safety and health has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. On April 2, Representative Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) joined with 17 original cosponsors from both parties to introduce H.R. 5686, the Firefighter Fatality Reduction Act of 2008. [More]
Everett official knew, but firefighters went into houses anyway
Everett firefighters may not have been alone when exposed to asbestos while training inside some old houses in north Everett last year. And at least one Everett fire official knew of the hazards in the houses, but the firefighters from his department were sent in anyway, new documents show.
Several other Snohomish County fire departments directed some of their newest firefighters to practice inside the houses in May, at Everett's invitation. Those departments were unaware that hazardous materials hadn't been removed from the buildings. They now are trying to determine if their firefighters were exposed to asbestos.
Although city officials say they have since alerted two fire departments about concerns, some firefighters are raising questions about why they haven't been notified that there was potential exposure. Nothing appears to have been said even after an investigation by a consultant with the state Department of Labor and Industries revealed that Everett firefighters likely were exposed to asbestos when they trained in the houses in July.
The consultant found that the exposure problem was serious enough that Everett firefighters should be regularly checked by a doctor to monitor their health. [More] By Diana Hefley, Herald Writer
