Charleston Firefighter's Association Local 61
Archives
Archived 5/3/08
Special Meetings to be Held at a New Location
Local 61 will hold two special membership meetings on Wednesday April 30th and Thursday May 1st, both at 7:00 PM. The only business that will be conducted at these meetings is the acceptance of new members. We will still have our regular monthly meeting on Wednesday May 14th.
Please encourage any of your brothers and sisters that want to join Local 61 to be present at one of these meetings. We ask that anyone applying for membership to arrive by 6:30 PM so we can get their paperwork filled out. All a new member has to bring with them is $20.00 cash or check to pay their first months dues.
All Local 61 members, please pass the word in your stations and on you shift about these meetings.
Meeting Location: The Pre-School Academy, 1728 Pineveiw Rd., West Ashley. Pre-School Academy is on the corner of Wappoo Rd. and Pineview Rd. Turn on Pineview Rd. and go to the 3rd building on the left which is a new brown metal building.
We hope to see you all there.
Archived 4/28/08
Local 61 Charleston 9 Memorial T-Shirts are here and President Yow is attempting to get as many delivered to the members as possible before the Safety Seminar. It is nearly impossible to get to every station in one day. So those that he has missed can pick theirs up at the Local 61 booth at the Safety Seminar on Saturday or Sunday. Each Local 61 member will get one free t-shirt and we have more available if you want to purchase extras. These t-shirts are for sale to anyone and as soon as time allows we will post them on this website. T-Shirts are $15.00 each.
Stop by and say hello at our booth at the First Annual Safety & Survival Seminar on April 26th & 27th.
Archived 4/28/08
IAFF 14th District Field Service Representives Peter Reagan and Thomas Malone are on the ground in Charleston. While it will take then a while to get around to see all of you, eventually they will. If you know a brother or sister that wants to join Local 61, email us their name, station and shift. A phone number would be helpful.
Archived 4/28/08
The 1st CFD Memorial Safety & Survival Seminar
Local 61 is a supporter and partner of this upcoming fantastic seminar on April 26th & 27th, 2007. We will have a booth at the seminar both days to greet our IAFF brothers and sisters and all firefighters that attend. We hope you will stop by to see us. To Sign Up and for More Information Click Here.
Archived 4/15/08
See the Uncut CFD Training Video's
Rookies tell us that these same tactics were used at the November 2007 Rookie Class. You be the judge if safety has always been a priority with Chief Thomas and his Training Officer.
Note that this so called training officer was found to be a failure by the Routley Panel and wants him removed from the training division. So the brilliant Fire Chief gives him a battle field promotion to Line Battalion Chief. Would you want this guy leading a battalion of men in your FD and looking out for your safety?
We invite all firefighters to email Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. and give your opinion to him if this Fire Chief and Training Officer should be still leading CFD firefighters.
Archived 4/15/08
Visit by General President Harold Shaitberger Very Rewarding
IAFF President Shaitberger's motivating visit to Charleston has fired up our firefighters and they are ready for battle. During his visit he vowed to give Local 61 every resource the IAFF has in it's arsenal to make the final outcome in Charleston favorable for our firefighters. Battle plans are drawn and we have the best experts in North America on our side. Our firefigthers deserve fresh, new, professional and proven leadership and our fight will continue until they get exactly that. We have been assigned two IAFF experts that have dealt with situations just like we have here and they will be on the ground right here in Charleston to help lead this battle. We will pevail.
Archived 4/15/08
Louisiana Fire Fighter Dedicates Song to Charleston 9
Eight months after nine Charleston, South Carolina, fire fighters made the ultimate sacrifice fighting the Sofa Super Store fire, IAFF members are working to make sure no one ever forgets what happened on that tragic day. Bob Landry, a 25-year veteran fire captain and member of Sulphur, LA Local 3765, has released a new CD, Solid Ground, that includes a song (Unsung Heros) inspired by the Charleston nine. Read More.
Archived 4/15/08
Upcoming Training
Task Force 1 Inc. & Goose Creek Rural FD
presents
Command for Company Officers
April 12 & 13, 2008
The first 10 Local 61 members that sign up and complete this course will be refunded their registration cost. Just email us at president@local61.com to add your name to the list.
Archived 3/29/08
IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger to visit Charleston March 26 & 27
Any CFD firefighter that wants to join Local 61 can do so at these meetings. We ask that you be at the Wednesday night meeting by 6:30 PM and at the Thursday morning meeting by 8:30 AM. When you get there go to the sign in table and tell them you want to apply for membership. See meeting location below.
A team of IAFF representatives along with President Schaitberger will meet with our members on March 26th and 27th. Letters have been sent to each member with the times and location. This is a very important meeting and all members need to be there. Only Local 61 members will be allowed to attend. If you have any questions contact Pres. Yow or VP Conley.
I have had questions about if other area IAFF members can attend these meetings. I am sorry but that answer must be, no. The IAFF leadship feels that this meeting must be for Local 61 members only and I have given my word that this is the way that it will be. I understand that a lot of people have worked hard and in the same direction as Local 61 and we truly appreciate that and hope you all will continue to push forward for whats right for our firefighters. But I ask you all to please understand that this is the way we must conduct these meetings with no exceptions.
Roger Yow - President
Meeting Location
ILA Hall (International Longshoreman Association)
Archived 3/9/08
Gov. Sandford sends Public Safety Chiefs Packing
The Post and Courier reported on March 1st that Gov. Sandford sent the Chiefs of S.C. Public Safety looking for new jobs because they mishandled a racial incident by two troopers.
Now, in my opinion Gov. Sandford most likely made a good decision because this type conduct should not be allowed to happen in any area of pubic safety.
Now let's compare the above to what is happening in Charleston, SC.
On
Charleston Mayor sends CFD Fire Chief Packing
Which is worst 9 needless deaths or racial comments? You be the judge.
Click Here to send a comment about the above story.
Archived 3/9/08
Let's Support our Brothers & Sisters in Columbia on Saturday, March 8th.
Columbia FIRE Hockey VS FDNY Eng 83 & Ladder 29
Click Here for all the Details
Archived 3/9/08
A message to our members from Don Courtney, IAFF Local 1009, Worcester Firefighters.
Archived 2/28/08
A new page has been added to the Members Only site that will contain important messages to our members. Any member that doesn't have a user name and password it's simple to get one. Just click on the Members Only button and follow the instructions.
Archived 2/28/08
Brotherhood and what it means to me. It means to not just think of myself or think that my ideas alone is the only answer to everyone’s problems but to help my brothers by supporting them and giving positive input to make things better for us all. It means that I will stand with my brothers in time of distress and I will not put them down when things aren’t going my way. Brotherhood to me means that we support standby and care about each other without fail in good times and bad while we can still agree to disagree.
Think about it. Where do you stand on the meaning of Brotherhood?
Roger Yow - President
Archived 2/28/08
Charleston Firefighters Angered by Presentation made by J. Gordon Routley at Firehouse World in San Diego. Read the Story.
One question is why did Charleston Firefighters hear for the first time about some of the details of the
Why didn't Routley give this information to our firefighters first?
This lack of good judgment by Routley has further damaged the trust that our firefighters once had in him and his team.
Archived 2/28/08
Worchester Peer Support Members Back in Town
Local 61 and the IAFF have worked together to bring back our friends from Worchester, Mass. Don Courtney and two other peer support members will arrive in Charleston on Feb. 3rd and stay until Feb. 8th. They will be visiting stations and talking to our firefighters all week. Local 61 is extremely greatful that our brothers from Worchester have taken their time to come back to Charleston and help our firefighters. This is totally independent from the Charleston Peer Support group. The IAFF has covered all expenses to bring our Worchester brothers to visit with us.
Archived 2/28/08
Asbestos and Toxin Exposure Update
Attached to all members pay stubs the last pay period the City has provided instructions on the process to file a report for members that are concerned about being exposed to asbestos and other toxins at the Super Sofa Store fire. We strongly urge every member to complete an A10 Report immediately that worked the SSS fire or was involved with overhaul and recovery operations and may have inhaled or may have been in contact with any type of toxins.
Since the A10 form is designed for specific accidents (such as a cut or abrasion, etc) we suggest that you use an additional sheet of paper to fully explain all your concerns of exposure. If you feel you need to seek medical assistance for any reason due to the SSS fire, include that information in your report. Make sure you and your supervisor dates and signs each page that you summit. Keep a copy of the signed reports for your records.
Send the completed report to the Attention of Ted Austin, City of Charleston Safety Manager.
It is known that asbestos and other toxins were present at the SSS fire. To our knowledge the City of Charleston has not sought expert assistance to determine if asbestos was airborne during the fire. This could be done by testing ashes from the fire that was collected for evidence by ATF or SLED the morning after the fire. If asbestos fibers are found to be present in the ashes, asbestos was airborne.
Archived 2/28/08
Charleston Firefighters may have been Exposed to Asbestos at the Super Sofa Store Fire
Local 61 President Roger Yow has approached the City of Charleston about the concern of possible asbestos and other toxic exposure that Charleston firefighters may have encountered while fighting the SSS fire and during overhaul and recovery efforts. It is a known fact that firefighters were allowed to work for many hours in the rubble without wearing their SCBA's during recovery and overhaul operations.
The City has responded to us on this issue and we were told that a memo will be on each firefighters check stub instructing them on how to proceed if they are concerned about any exposure to toxins. While we don't know what this memo says at this time, we do look at this as a positive step in the right direction. We can only hope that the City is taking this as serious as we are.
Health problems from asbestos exposure may not present a problem for many years down the road. This is why we encourage all CFD firefighters to take measures now to protect themselves by filing the proper documents with the City. If you don't, you may not be covered later. Don't take that chance.
We will continue to monitor what progress the City is making on this. We are in hopes that they will get this right and protect our firefighters. However, if we feel they are not on course with this issue, we do have other ways to proceed for your protection.
Read: Asbestos slows demolition of Sofa Super Store
Other Fire Departments have recently faced this same problem. Read about them below.
Connecticut Firefighters Possibly Exposed to Asbestos
Firefighters exposed to asbestos in Everett
Archived 2/28/08
Bill poses Fire Sprinkler Tax Credit - Read more...
Archived 1/15/08
Archived 1/15/08
The IAFF has established THE IAFF CHARLESTON FIRE FIGHTERS JUNE 18 FUND to provide financial assistance to the families of the nine fire fighters who lost their lives in Charleston, South Carolina, on June 18, 2007. Contributions to this fund, which are not tax deductible as charitable contributions, can be mailed to the following address:
THE IAFF CHARLESTON FIRE FIGHTERS JUNE 18 FUND
c/o IAFF General Secretary-Treasurer’s Office
1750 New York Avenue, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20006
Archived 1/15/08
What does the settlement between the City of
It means that neither of them really gives a damn about our 9 fallen brothers and their families or the fact that their deaths could have been avoided.
It means that not only
It means that SC OSHA has once again let the workers of South Carolina down by not doing their duties to protect them.
What does this mean to Local 61 ?
It means that Local 61, the IAFF and the S.C. Professional FF's Association will work even harder and more vigorously to make damn sure that our 9 brothers didn't die in vain. We will not give up. We will not dishonor our fallen brothers by allowing the City of
Archived 1/15/08
Local 61 Files Protest to SC OSHA for City of Charleston Settlement. Read the Letter
Archived 1/15/08
National Collective Bargaining for FF's De-railed for now.
Senator DeMint No Friend to Public Safety Employees
Read the Press Release issued by SCPFFA
WE WILL NOT GIVE UP
Archived 1/15/08
The Charleston 9 Memorial Coin is NOW AVAILABLE
Click Here to see how to order yours.
Click Here to see pictures of the coins
Archived 12/27/07
Message from Local 61 to IAFF Locals across the U.S. & Canada
Archived 12/27/07
Overtime Pay
Mayor Riley has run out of excuses not to pay CFD firefighters Overtime
Archived 12/4/07
From Within the CFD
Archived 12/4/07
A Must Read Story
Archived 12/4/07
CFA Member Survey
Recently the Charleston Firefighter’s Association conducted a member survey to measure how our firefighters feel about issue’s concerning the Charleston Fire Department. The only members that were allowed to participate are active duty firefighters. No retiree’s were allowed to participate. This survey represents the honest opinions of a portion of the CFD firefighters. A 55 percent return on any sort of mail out is a very good response. Upon request from some of our members we are making the survey available to the public.
Archived 12/4/07
Another Four Years
With the Re-election of Mayor Riley to another four year term we will continue to fight for our firefighters. While we are seeing some improvements being made in the fire department we also see that FD management is moving at a snails pace to implement changes. This is unacceptable. We will continue to put pressure on city leaders to move forward in getting the Charleston FD up to date with other fire departments in the country and into the 21st century with firefighter safety, equipment and procedures.
Bikers for Charleston 9 Poker Run Nov. 17th, 2007
Savannah, Ga
Click Here to see More Information
Click Here to Email you questions
Archived 11/11/07
Billboards go up around Charleston
IAFF Charleston Fire Fighters June 18th Fund exceeds $101,000.00 as of August 10th, 2007
This fund will go to the families of the Charleston 9
Archived 10/30/07
Former Fire Instructor Speaks out about SSS Fire
Archived 10/30/07
Charleston Mayor Riley and Fire Chief now singing to a different tune.
Archived 10/30/07
Local 61 sent out a press release on 8/24/08, but only a portion of it was reported. Click Here for the complete press release.
Archived 10/30/07
While it is good news that the
Archived 10/30/07
Charleston, S.C Fire Command Staff Will Train at Montgomery County’s Command Development Center
Archived 10/30/07
City of Charleston Safety Meeting
On
Archived 10/30/07
IAFF Local 495 Donates Bench to Honor Engineer Mark Kelsey
Archived 10/30/07
Laddie Williams, a member of the Augusta Professional Firefighters Association Local 3357 has undertaken a challenge that is truly heroic. He has begun a bicycle ride that started in
Make your Donation to the Ride4C9 Here
Archived 10/30/07
We have received reports that a Local Radio Station was reporting this morning that the local firefighters union is asking that the Charleston Fire Chief be charged with criminal charges for his role in the Super Sofa Store fire on
I want it to be clear that the Charleston Firefighter’s Association, IAFF Local 61 has never made such a statement and we have no idea where this came from. We are looking into this matter.
Roger L. Yow
President
Archived 10/30/07
Local 61 Endorses William Gregorie for Mayor
Archived 10/30/07
Recently one of our members decided to express his views about his support for Chief Thomas in the Post & Courier. While we feel he is clearly in a small minority with his opinions, we do support his right to freedom of speech.
Roger Yow - President
Archived 10/30/07
Ride 4 C9 Update
Laddie Williams and other Augusta Firefighters came rolling into Charleston on Saturday Oct. 13th. ending his 2600+ mile ride from Palm Springs, CA to Charleston, SC. A reception was hosted for them a Halligan's by the Charleston Firefighters Association and the S.C. Prefessional Firefighters Association. At the reception Laddie and Scott present a check to our local in the amount of $13000.00 for the IAFF Charleston Firefighters June 18th Fund.
Mike Parrotta, president of the S.C. Professional Firefighters Association also presented a check for $12224.00 raised from the sell of Charleston 9 t-shirts. This will also go to the IAFF Charleston FF's June 18th Fund.
We owe a heart felt thanks to Laddie William, Scott Rosseau and all the members of Augusta Professional Firefighters Association. You guys are the greatest. Special thanks to SCPFFA Mike Parrotta and Sec/Trea LeRoy Marcotte and Halligan's Restaurant & Bar.
Archived 10/30/07
The news story on Live 5 News this morning
Archived 10/30/07
We will be in Grand Oaks Subdivision off Bee's Ferry Rd. at 11:00 AM Saturday Oct. 27th with the old fire truck to support William Gregorie for Mayor. Everyone is invited to join us.