2025 IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial

Tomorrow, September 20, six of our own will be remembered and forever etched into the legacy of the fire service. Their names will be added to the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Wall of Honor in Colorado Springs during the 38th Annual IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial, alongside 305 other brothers and sisters who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

This year’s additions from our Department are:

• Fire Captain Henry Flores
• Fire Captain Kenneth Renz
• Fire Fighter Specialist Ulysses Duran
• Fire Fighter Specialist William Lenzen
• Fire Fighter Andrew Pontious
• Fire Fighter Jonathan Van Oeffelen

The IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial stands as a permanent tribute to the courage and sacrifice of IAFF members who gave their lives protecting others. Families, friends, and fellow firefighters gather each year at Memorial Park in Colorado Springs to honor the fallen, support surviving loved ones, and ensure their memory lives on in the heart of our profession.

For us, these six brothers represent the very best of what it means to serve. Their courage, dedication, and selflessnessembody the spirit of the fire service and will continue to inspire generations to come. Though they are no longer with us, their names, their stories, and their sacrifice will never be forgotten.

As we join the IAFF and fire service family nationwide in remembrance tomorrow, we ask that members take a moment to reflect on their lives and the ultimate price they paid in service to our communities.

Watch the service here:
- iaff.org/fffm
- Facebook @IAFFofficial
- IAFF YouTube @IAFFofficial 

WEP/GPO Repeal Secures Fair Social Security Benefits for Fire Fighters and Public Servants

Earlier this year, President Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act, officially repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). This long-awaited victory ensures that retired fire fighters and millions of other public employees will finally receive the full Social Security benefits they’ve earned and paid into throughout their careers.

This achievement was decades in the making. Local 1014, alongside our union brothers and sisters in the IAFF and partner unions across the country, worked tirelessly to advocate for repeal. Together, through years of lobbying and solidarity with more than 300,000 members nationwide, we secured one of the most significant retirement protections in recent history.

To help members and their families understand how this change impacts them, the IAFF 10th District has released an informational video, breaking down the details of the repeal, how to check your eligibility, and what to expect moving forward. We encourage all members and retirees to watch and share this resource with their families.

The WEP and GPO had long penalized public servants by unfairly reducing or offsetting earned Social Security benefits. With their repeal, retirees can now access the full benefits they paid into—without cuts.