Fire Fighter Licensing (H.F. 1805 - Atkins/S.F. 1219 - Rest.) (Laws of Minnesota 2009, Chapter 153.) Minnesota is now the first state in the country to license firefighters. This new law requires that beginning July 1, 2011 all newly hired, full-time fire fighters will be required to obtain a license from the Minnesota Fire Training and Education Board.  Current firefighters are grandfathered in and can obtain a license by paying a $75 fee for a three-year license. The primary requirements to obtain this license are that newly hired individuals must:

• attend a fire fighter course from a post secondary educational institute or accredited institute of higher learning or been in an apprenticeship program maintain by a fire department;
•  complete a skills orientated basic training course in fire fighting; and
•  receive a certificate for passing the test to insure competency in the area of fire prevention, fire suppression and hazardous materials operations.

For a complete legislative Report, upload the attachment below.

In partnership with Novartis Pharmeceuticals and the IAFF with the "Stop-Drop and Control" , we will be assisting in staffing a booth for bringing Blood Preasure awareness and screening for firefighters during the "Governor's Fire Safety Day" at the Minnesota State Fair on Friday, August 28, 2009.

30 volunteers are needed to assist at the booth.  There will be 3 shifts consisting 10 Volunteers per shift.  Shifts are 7:30 am - 11:00 am, 11:00 am - 2:30 pm, and 2:30 pm to 6:00 pm.  Each shift, the booth will be staffed by 10 firefighters, 3 people from Novartis, and 5 nurses from Fairview Hospital.  Firefighters voluteering to staff the booth will recieve 2 State Fair admission tickets for that day. 

To sign-up and pick the shift of your choice, call Char at the MPFF office at 763-545-8100.

Deadline for signing up is July 17, 2009.

Coon Rapids Fire Fighters Local 1935 is hosting a MDA Fall Golf Classic at Bunker Hills Golf Course on August 25, 2009.  They have hole sponsorships available, Foursomes with dinner, Individual Player and dinner and Dinner only.  For registration open the attachment below.  For more information contact Nick House at 763-238-8647.  Or email him at crfdgolfclassic@yahoo.com.  Or you can go to web-sites at local1935.com or coonrapidsfire.com.  Registration deadline is August 14, 2009.

Jon Niebuhr - former President and current Vice President of Faribault Local #665 is leaving the Faribault Fire Department to move to St. Louis to attend Seminary.  He has been a long time officer with the Faribault Local.  The going away party will be at the Faribault fire station on Wednesday, July 8th,  from 4pm - 6pm.

The MPFF is holding its 1st Annual Motorcycle Ride, "Rolling Inferno" on Saturday, July 25th, 2009.

This is a "Free", NO FEE RIDE!

For information: Download the flyer below.

1. Minneapolis               $66,765
2. Duluth                         $47,837
3. St. Paul                       $47,343
4. Moorhead                  $28,011
5. South Metro               $11,994         
6. Coon Rapids             $10,811
7. St. Cloud                    $6,853
8. Hibbing                       $6,069
9. Albert Lea                  $4,012
10. St. Louis Park            $3,437

1. Moorhead                 $904/member
2. Duluth                        $405/member
3. Coon Rapids            $360/member
4. Albert Lea                 $334/member
5. South Metro              $333/member
6. Hibbing                      $243/member
7. Bemidji                      $238/member
8. St. Louis Park           $202/member
9. Faribault                    $173/member
10. Minneapolis               $161/member

• 16^th-18^th: South Metro Local 724/1059

• 3^rd: Albert Lea Local 1041

• 5^th-7^th: St. Paul Local 21
• 24^th-26^th: St. Anthony Local 3486
• 25^th-27^th: Minneapolis Local 82

Duluth Fire Firefighters held "Fire Ops 101," at Lake Superior College Fire Training Center, providing the unique opportunity for the untrained to step into the life of a fire fighter.  Dressed in turn out gear and equipped with oxygen masks, groups of Duluth's elected officials, media, and other community leaders got to see what it's like to be a firefighter."  To read an article and watch the Fox news clip, open the link below.

Duluth IAFF Fire Ops. 101: http://www.fox21online.com/news/fire-ops-101-teaches-community-leaders-about-fighting-fire

The Minnesota Professional Firefighters have partnered with the Regions Burn Center in helping to fund programs benefiting burn surviors and their families.  As part of this new partnership we are announcing their new cookbook Smokin' Hot Recipes that is available now!  To order your copy today, download the information below.

Stop, Drop, Control® is a high blood pressure community outreach program developed as a partnership between the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and Novartis, a global leader in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases for over 40 years.

The goal of Stop, Drop, Control is to increase awareness and encourage the successful management of high blood pressure control among fire fighters. In turn, they become advocates and educate their communities on the urgency of treating high blood pressure.

To learn more about the program click on the link below.

http://www.iaff.org/sdc/

Mark your Calendars for the upcoming IAFF and MPFF 2009 Events!

June 11, 2009 - MDA VIP/Firefighter Day at Camp Courage

August 16-19, 2009 - IAFF ALTS Conference, Denver, CO

September 21-22, 2009 - MPFF MALTS, Kelly Inn, Saint Cloud, MN

November 8-12, 2009 - IAFF Redmond Symposium, Los Angles, CA

During a fire, firefighting personnel are exposed to a wide variety of construction materials, many of which, especially in older buildings, contain asbestos. Firefighters may well be at risk for exposure to asbestos and should be fully aware of its adverse health effects.

An estimated 80 per cent of all buildings constructed before 1978 contain asbestos materials. Here is a sampling of the materials that contain asbestos. The list is merely a sampling of asbestos products, but it illustrates just how widespread the use of this material was in building and construction products.

For more information go to: http://www.mesotheliomawatch.org/category/asbestos-and-firefighters/

At the urging of the IAFF and other public sector groups, the IRS has announced it will delay implementation of a regulation that would change the rules for determining pension eligibility.

Under a proposal issued last year, the IRS sought to do away with using years of service as a criteria to determine eligibility for a pension, seeking to replace it with a straight eligibility age.

The new regulation was scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2009, but after hearing about the serious disruptions this would create for public pension plans, the IRS postponed the effective date until January 1, 2011.

The IAFF will continue working with the IRS and its allies in Congress to assure that fire fighter pensions remain intact.

Read the IRS announcement

The Minnesota Professional Fire Fighters is launching a new interactive program for teachers and students.  KidWise Safety is a comprehensive interactive school program designed to educate students about safety and fire prevention at school, at home, and in the community.   Log on the link and click on lost password to get one.

By popular demand we are leaving this on the Web site.  This is a mini-van fire taken from MNDOT cameras on East Bound I94 in Saint Paul, Minnesota.  The fire caused the vehicles gas tank to B.L.E.V.E.  A must see for all firefighters.

See the Events Calendar for more Information