Media Advisory 10.12

AFL-CIO

MEDIA ALERT

NATIONAL FIRE SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS URGE CONGRESS TO PROTECT AMERICA’S FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES

 

WHEN:      Thursday, October 12, 2023, at 1 PM ET

WHERE:   D.C. Fire & EMS Engine 3

                      439 New Jersey Ave NW

                      Washington, DC 20001

MEDIA CONTACTS: 

Michaela Campbell, [email protected], 202-371-1279

Sean Carroll, [email protected], 703-795-6213‬

WHAT: America’s fire and emergency services are calling on Congress to ensure that vital fire service grant programs are reauthorized before they face a permanent sunset. 

WHO:   Hosted by the Congressional Fire Services Institute, International Association of Fire Chiefs, International Association of Fire Fighters, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, National Fire Protection Association, and National Volunteer Fire Council.  

Available for interviews:

  • Bill Webb, Congressional Fire Services Institute 
  • Seth Statler, National Fire Protection Association 
  • Chief John Butler, International Association of Fire Chiefs 
  • Chief Kevin Quinn, National Volunteer Fire Council 
  • Dave Hoagland, International Association of Fire Fighters
  • Victor Stagnaro, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

 WHY:    

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) programs are the primary mechanism for the federal government to support local fire departments. These critical programs will sunset on September 30, 2024, if they are not reauthorized. This would impact fire and emergency services ability to protect communities.

Fire departments across the country respond to more than 36 million calls for service each year: structural fire and wildfire, lithium-ion battery and hazardous materials response, opioid overdose and other medical emergencies, natural disasters, and much more. Even while they protect their communities from an ever-increasing range of hazards, firefighters face physical and mental health challenges due to their service. Departments are struggling to train and equip fire and EMS personnel and ensure that they have proper staffing to meet minimum requirements for response. 

Learn more:  www.cfsi.org/support-afg-safer-and-usfa-take-action-now

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