The Los Angeles Firefighter Official Publication of United Firefighters of Los Angeles City—Local 112, IAFF, AFL-CIO-CLC VOL. 42, NO. 1 January/February 2004 Major Wildfires in Southern California… Heroics of Firefighters on Display for the Nation An horrific series of major members spent successive days members worked outside of the sion water dropping of LAFD would be folly to allow these wildfires swept across Southern and nights fighting the blazes City during these firestorms, Air Operations. The work of events to fade into memory California during late October, while enduring some of the hundreds more protected Los LAFD pilots, their fleet of hel- without taking some valuable devouring 750,000 acres, most dangerous and difficult Angeles with equal diligence. icopters and the speed and lessons from all that transpired. destroying 3,570 homes, and working conditions imaginable. The LAFD Task Force configu- efficiency of LAFD 4-member In the coming weeks, UFLAC killing dozens of people includ- The unwavering bravery of ration proved to be an engine companies were an will take up issues with Depart- ing Engineer Steven Rucker of LAFD members and of every invaluable asset as dozens of effective combination. Thank- ment management regarding the Novato, California Fire firefighter on the line, and the 200 series engines were staffed fully, the City of Los Angeles proper feeding, rest and rehab Department. At the high-point blood sacrifice of Brother up as engine companies and came through these firestorms for firefighters out on the line of the combined effort about Steven Rucker, once again deployed in City firehouses. At without loosing a single build- for multiple days. We also 9,000 firefighters from across reminded an entire nation of the one point the Simi Fire threat- ing to the flames. intend to address continuing the state and country worked character and commitment of ened to take homes and problems surrounding the prop- side by side on the firelines. firefighters everywhere. businesses within Los Angeles Union to address er use of recall procedures Altogether, the LAFD proudly as it barreled over hillsides and problems associated during emergencies. While committed 75 engine compa- LAFD crews on the down upon the Northwest Val- with LAFD policies there was confusion and ambi- nies and 15 Battalion command ground supported by ley community of Porter There is much to be proud of guity regarding holdovers and teams to several fires burning LAFD helicopter pilots Ranch. As the battle raged, regarding LAFD operations recall procedures everywhere, outside of Los Angeles City kept wildfires at bay LAFD crews on the ground during the course of these epic in no place was the situation limits. Hundreds of Local 112 While hundreds of Local 112 were supported by the preci- fires. But at the same time, it Continued on page 8 UFLAC and City Reach Agreement on New Contract by Mike McOsker and Salary Adjustment - gram – Increase of $20,000 This bonus will be flat rated, ard Pay bonus. Both of these Jim Featherstone 7/1/03 2% increase per year for fiscal year 03/04, based on the pay of a fully paid bonuses are also flat-rated, Negotiating Team Co-Chairs 7/1/04 3% increase then increases of 7% and 7% Firefighter III with 10 years of based on the pay of a fully paid After seven long months of 7/1/05 4% increase for FY 04/05 and FY 05/06 longevity. Firefighter III with 10 years bargaining your Negotiating respectively. This will result in Urban Search and Rescue longevity. Team and the City have Health insurance subsidy - a funding level in FY 05/06 of Task Forces and the USAR Special Duty bonus (effec- reached a tentative agreement 7/1/03 $55 per month increase $177, 230. Company (effective 7/1/04) - tive 7/1/04) – Special Duty on a new three-year Contract. 7/1/04 $50 per month increase In addition, the City agreed USAR Company members will members who are assigned to As of this writing, ratification 7/1/05 an increase not to to bonus increases for certain get an increase from their cur- LAFD Incident Management meetings have been scheduled exceed the civilian programs and to the establish- rent Assignment Pay bonus of Teams will receive a 2.75% for December 22 and 23 at the increase of 1/1/05 ment of a first time bonus for $0.75 per hour to a full time bonus. Although it is non-pen- UFLAC hall. The major provi- certain Special Duty members: 2.75% Hazard Pay bonus. sion based, we believe this to sions and significant changes Uniform allowance – Hazardous Materials Task USAR Task Force members be a significant breakthrough in the new Contract include the increases of $100, $25, and $25 Forces (effective 7/1/04) - an will get an increase from their because it is the first ever bonus following: per year, effective 7/1/03, increase from 2.75% Hazard $0.75 hourly currently (restrict- secured on a broad basis for Term – July 1, 2003 through 7/1/04 and 7/1/05, respectively. Pay to 5.5% Hazard Pay for all ed to time spent on USAR inci- Special Duty members in our June 30, 2006. Employee Assistance Pro- members assigned to HMTF’s. dents) to a full time 2.75% Haz- Continued on page 5 In This Issue . Article . Page(s) Major Wildfires in Southern California . 1, 8-11 UFLAC – City Reach Agreement on Contract . 1, 5 UFLAC Stewards . 2 Report from the President . 3 2003 Income Tax Information . 4 Update on Direct Reimbursement Dental Plan . 4 Children’s Scholarship Program. 5 Your Health – Recognizing the Signs of Stroke . 12 Drinking in the Firehouse – A National Embarrassment. 13 UFLAC Holiday Open House – A Pictorial. 14 IAFF Award Winners . 14 Grieving Behind the Badge – Life Altering Events . 15 LAFD-LACOFD-LAPD-LASD Boxing . 16 The Los Angeles Firefighter 1571 Beverly Boulevard PERIODICAL Postage Paid Los Angeles, California 90026 at (#ISSN01907573) Los Angeles, CA January/February, 2004 This is the fire coming up the mountain on the first night. …the “Old Fire” took out 400 homes in San Bernardino and 3 days later took out another 350 homes near Lake Arrowhead. More photos and fire coverage on pages 8-11. Photo and information by Mike Meadows, CFPA Page 2 Los Angeles Firefighter January/February 2004 UFLAC Stewards Spend Three Days UFLAC 2002-2004 Executive Board UFLAC 2002-2004 Executive Board in Palm Springs PRESIDENT Patrick S. McOsker, Engineer. UFLAC Office gaining” and “Planning and might be expected of them in SECRETARY Implementation of a Political their valuable and very impor- Don R. Forrest, Inspector I . UFLAC Office Campaign”. All of us, includ- tant role as Union Stewards. FIRST VICE PRESIDENT ing the Stewards, spent three Our Steward membership Michael K. McOsker, Engineer. UFLAC Office all-day sessions learning valu- can look to the future for more SECOND VICE PRESIDENT able information, which will of these types of summits so Stephen E. Norris, Captain II. Fire Station 63-B allow us to better represent our that we can remain progressive TREASURER membership. It was also was an as a Union. Whenever possible, Brian K. Hishinuma, Captain II. Fire Station 38-C excellent venue for our Stew- your Union Board will make DIRECTOR ards to “get their feet wet” in every effort to send all interest- Randy W. Beaty, Captain II . Fire Station 60-B the all-important Union opera- ed Stewards to these vital train- James G. Featherstone, Captain II, . Fire Station 64-A tions. ing exercises. Lawrence D. Fierro, Firefighter III . Fire Station 114-B Those Stewards that attended In closing, anyone interested Paul Gilbrook, Apparatus Operator . Fire Station 47-B said that it was an excellent in making the commitment of Ted Nonini, Firefighter III . Fire Station 70-C learning experience which gave becoming a Union Steward for EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE DIRECTOR them some expertise into what the UFLAC membership and Jerry Brakeman, Retired Firefighter by Ted Nonini a Union is all about and what Continued on page 5 Attendant. UFLAC Office Director EDITOR The continued growth and Jim Perry, Retired Fire Captain II. UFLAC Office success of UFLAC’s Steward’s Station Stewards Program was evident this past Banks, Michelle . FS-QIS November when over twenty Castro, Joe . FS-35-C Station Stewards attended the Carpenter, Gary . High Rise Unit IAFF Affiliate Leadership Chan, Reuben . FS-64-A WESTERN LABOR COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION Training Summit in Palm Coleman, Joe . FS-47-C Springs. Crandall, Michael . FS-105-A From November 16th Delgado, Ray . FS- 42-B through November 18th, the Donato, John . FS-112-C IAFF conducted an Affiliate Fabela, Dave . FS-27-A Leadership Training Summit Fletcher, Craig . FS-109-C at the Riviera Hotel in Palm Gibson, Jim . FS-6-A Springs, California. The sum- Haro, Ray . FS-23-A mit offered three days of class- Hurtado, Francisco. FS-70-C es to union leaders and our James, George . OCD-C These emblems on the masthead of any labor publication certifies that the publi- cation is a member in good standing of the International Labor Communications Stewards, which were extreme- Jaminal, Adelino . FS-68-A Association and is bound to observe the ILCA Code of Ethics ly beneficial to all of us. Just, James A. FS-69-A Pat McOsker, Paul Gilbrook, Kennedy, Cameron . FS-15-A IAFF and AFL-CIO affiliates have prior approval to reprint or excerpt articles in myself and Brian Hishinuma Kennington, Tom . FS-3-C the Los Angeles Firefighter — Please include credit line. who also taught a class and Note: Photos and cartoons may not be reprinted without the expressed written Kleckner, Mark .