Los Angeles County Firefighters IAFF Local 1014

Representing over 3200 Firefighters, Paramedics, Dispatchers,
Pilots, Wildland Firefighters, Forestry and Health Haz Mat Personnel

FRIDAY UPDATE 

Brothers and Sisters, 

First, we want to thank all our members for again showing that LA County Firefighters are the finest in the nation as we work to protect lives and property in Santa Clarita. We are honored to represent you and your families each day. Stay safe out there and take care of each other. Local 1014 Proud! 

LA Times: Tick fire explodes overnight: 14 Freeway closed, six homes destroyed as battle intensifies

4,300-Acre Tick Fire in Santa Clarita Area Destroys 6 Structures, Threatens 15,000 Others; State of Emergency Declared

The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor

This week, your Local 1014 Executive Board attended The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor's swearing-in of the newly elected President Ron Herrera and also attended the Committee on Political Education (C.O.P.E.) meeting. Working together with our brothers and sisters from across LA County in over 300 unions, representing over 800,000 workers, we ensure that we use our collective power to put people in elected office who represent our members and will fight for the protection of their wages, hours, and working conditions. When we stand in solidarity with our fellow unions, we are unstoppable. 

We are proud to stand with elected officials like Supervisor Janice Hahn and Supervisor Kathryn Barger and all our endorsed elected officials throughout the 59 contract cities in LA County who consistently advocate for our public safety personnel, and the working conditions and equipment they need to protect our communities. 

Political action is one of the most important things we do as a union to protect our members and continue to have public safety be the number one priority for our county and our contract cities. As we have seen this week, we never know when we will be called to put our lives on the line for our communities. We need to have the equipment, personnel, and resources to keep our residents and our members safe. In order to do that, we need to put people in public office who support that mission. 

603-604 Bargaining Unit Negotiations 

Yesterday, our Executive Board negotiations team sat down with the CEO's Office and the Department again to continue our fight for a fair contract for our 603-604 Bargaining Unit members. As a reminder 603-604 Bargaining Units include Dispatchers, Heath HazMat, Fire Prevention and Forestry personnel.  We will keep you posted as we seek to get this table done in the next couple of weeks. We are prepared to fight all the way to the Board of Supervisors and mediation if necessary. We will not put forward a contract that does not value all of our members. We look for a good outcome on this table very soon. Safety series and non-Safety series, we are all one. Local 1014 Strong! 

LACERA Pre-Retirement Classes at Local 1014

Local 1014 will be hosting retirement classes for our members. We are encouraging those over 50 years old to attend for the best information about the retirement process.

This is a full day of retirement training giving you all the tools for a successful retirement.

• Find out your monthly pension amount
• Learn how retiree healthcare works and which medical plans are offered
• Hear about social security and how it relates to your pension
• Get insight into selecting your retirement date
• LACERA and Empower (457 Plan Administrators) will be there

Classes will be held at the Local 1014 Union Hall, 3460 Fletcher Ave., El Monte and begin at 9 AM to 1 PM. All ages encouraged to attend and spouses are welcome!

DATES: Tuesday, November 5th(C Shift); Wednesday, November 6th(A Shift); Thursday, November 7th(B Shift).

Please must RSVP by calling Local 1014 at 310-639-1014.

Tickets Available for Special Screening of "Playing with Fire"

Paramount has offered the California Fire Foundation the opportunity to invite firefighters and their families to a special advanced screening of their new movie Playing with Fire, this Monday, October 28th at the SMG theater in Simi Valley. Details are included in the attached invitation and below. The max of 3 tickets is in addition to the first responder, so the total number of tickets that can be requested is 4.

PLEASE NOTE: Tickets are limited and are available on a first come, first serve basis for this onetime event. RSVP’s should be directed to: corporate_responsibility@paramount.com. 

OPEN ENROLLMENT 2020       

October 1-31 is the LA County Open Enrollment period for 2020 benefits. Local 1014 would like to remind you to review your benefits and encourage you to look at The Local 1014 Health Plan as an option for your family. The Local 1014 Health Plan is among the most comprehensive plans available to Firefighters anywhere in the nation and is tailored to meet our Firefighters’ needs. The Local 1014 Health Plan is the only health plan offered in the County that you can take with you into retirement and maintain FOR LIFE.

Enroll now at www.mylacountybenefits.com. For more information about The Local 1014 Health Plan, please call member services at 800-660-1014 or email medicalplan@local1014.org.

In Solidarity,

President Dave Gillotte and the Local 1014 Executive Board 

Los Angeles County Firefighters IAFF Local 1014

Representing over 3200 Firefighters, Paramedics, Dispatchers,
Pilots, Wildland Firefighters, Forestry and Health Haz Mat Personnel

FRIDAY UPDATE 

Brothers and Sisters, 

This week, Local 1014 Executive Board members and the Local 1014 Health Plan had the pleasure of welcoming our Firefighter Paramedic Trainees for Day One of the tower at the LACoFD East County Training Center. Informing our newest members about the benefits of union membership and the excellent healthcare benefits offered through the Local 1014 Health Plan is one of the most important things we do to continue the tradition of strength through unity and solidarity. 

We continue to push for a comprehensive and consistent hiring plan from the Department and the County that prepares for the future of our Department and our members. Staffing is the only way we will solve our ongoing recall issues. 

Trial Shift Schedule Change Committee

As you know, the Trial Shift Schedule Change Committee met and worked for several hours on recommendations regarding what schedule trial would be considered and the best method for going to the ballot.  There was a lot of discussion on the 4/8 and 48/96 schedule.  There is additional information to consider and the committee has been left open to finish up a few items and also to answer some questions the Executive Board may have before the final recommendation of the committee is complete.  The Executive Board will take this matter up at the Tuesday, November 5 Executive Board meeting to keep the work moving forward on this important issue. Our goal is to be done with Executive Board action and able to go to a vote before Christmas. Stay tuned as we work to ensure all voices are heard and that we go to the members with the best possible options.  

#AxeALS 

Pictured: (left) President Dave Gillotte and his crew from Engine 9, Engine 16, Fire Squad 16; (Right) Local 1014 staff supporting Eric and his family. 

Local 1014 and LACoFD are proud to stand with our Brother Eric Stevens of UFLAC Local 112, who is battling for his life. Diagnosed with ALS only a few years into his career, Eric and Amanda need all the help they can get from our fire family. ALS is a very expensive disease, costing patients an estimated $300,000 a year. Every donation counts to allow his family to care for him. Please take a moment to get to know them and consider a small donation through their GoFundMe page.

Local 1014 has made a banner for Eric to join the social media campaign and raise funds. This banner will make its way through stations to raise awareness and funds to help brother Eric and his wife Amanda. If the banner comes to your station please use the hashtag #AxeALS and #TeamStevensNation and encourage people to donate. 

LACERA Pre-Retirement Classes at Local 1014

Local 1014 will be hosting retirement classes for our members. We are encouraging those over 50 years old to attend for the best information about the retirement process.

This is a full day of retirement training giving you all the tools for a successful retirement.

• Find out your monthly pension amount
• Learn how retiree healthcare works and which medical plans are offered
• Hear about social security and how it relates to your pension
• Get insight into selecting your retirement date
• LACERA and Empower (457 Plan Administrators) will be there

Classes will be held at the Local 1014 Union Hall, 3460 Fletcher Ave., El Monte and begin at 9 AM to 1 PM. All ages encouraged to attend and spouses are welcome!

DATES: Tuesday, November 5th(C Shift); Wednesday, November 6th(A Shift); Thursday, November 7th(B Shift).

You must RSVP a spot by calling Local 1014 at 310-639-1014.

OPEN ENROLLMENT 2020       

October 1-31 is the LA County Open Enrollment period for 2020 benefits. Local 1014 would like to remind you to review your benefits and encourage you to look at The Local 1014 Health Plan as an option for your family. The Local 1014 Health Plan is among the most comprehensive plans available to Firefighters anywhere in the nation and is tailored to meet our Firefighters’ needs. The Local 1014 Health Plan is the only health plan offered in the County that you can take with you into retirement and maintain FOR LIFE.

Enroll now at www.mylacountybenefits.com. For more information about The Local 1014 Health Plan, please call member services at 800-660-1014 or email medicalplan@local1014.org.

In Solidarity,

President Dave Gillotte and the Local 1014 Executive Board 

Los Angeles County Firefighters IAFF Local 1014

Representing over 3200 Firefighters, Paramedics, Dispatchers,
Pilots, Wildland Firefighters, Forestry and Health Haz Mat Personnel

LACERA PRE-RETIREMENT CLASSES AT LOCAL 1014 

Local 1014 will be hosting retirement classes for our members. We are encouraging those over 50 years old to attend for the best information about the retirement process.

This is a full day of retirement training giving you all the tools for a successful retirement.

• Find out your monthly pension amount
• Learn how retiree healthcare works and which medical plans are offered
• Hear about social security and how it relates to your pension
• Get insight into selecting your retirement date
• LACERA and Empower (457 Plan Administrators) will be there

Classes will be held at the Local 1014 Union Hall, 3460 Fletcher Ave., El Monte and begin at 9 AM to 1 PM. All ages encouraged to attend and spouses are welcome!

DATES

• Tuesday, November 5th(C Shift)
• Wednesday, November 6th(A Shift) 
• Thursday, November 7th(B Shift)

You must RSVP a spot by calling Local 1014 at 310-639-1014.

Los Angeles County Firefighters IAFF Local 1014

Representing over 3200 Firefighters, Paramedics, Dispatchers,
Pilots, Wildland Firefighters, Forestry and Health Haz Mat Personnel

FRIDAY UPDATE 

Brothers and Sisters, 

This week, the Local 1014 Trial Shift Schedule Change Committee began its work to recommend a trial shift schedule to the Executive Board. We would like to thank Chair Dave Morse and Co-Chair Jason Green for their work organizing the committee and ensuring that all voices are heard. 

We would like to thank everyone who volunteered to serve on the committee. We will keep you updated as the committee work progresses and we move toward recommendation and a vote. 

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Did you know 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime? In a Florida study, nearly 30% of female Firefighters were diagnosed with breast cancer, a significantly higher rate than the national average. Remember to get an annual mammogram, especially if you are over the age of 40. 

Firefighter Cancer Support Network answers the call when our brothers and sisters receive a cancer diagnosis. As a reminder, the IAFF designated FCSN as a beneficiary for pink shirt sales (Resolution 21 in 2010).

For details about FCSN’s mission, see bit.ly/AboutFCSN. To make a tax-deductible donation, go to bit.ly/FCSNdonation. 

OPEN ENROLLMENT 2020      

October 1-31 is the LA County Open Enrollment period for 2020 benefits. Local 1014 would like to remind you to review your benefits and encourage you to look at The Local 1014 Health Plan as an option for your family. The Local 1014 Health Plan is among the most comprehensive plans available to Firefighters anywhere in the nation and is tailored to meet our Firefighters’ needs. Higher allowances, increased coverage, new benefits, and greater options are just a few of the highlights of The Local 1014 Health Plan in 2020.

The Local 1014 Health Plan is the only health plan offered in the County that you can take with you into retirement and maintain FOR LIFE. It has never been more important for our members to review your healthcare options and ensure that you have the best coverage available for you and your family. 

Enroll now at www.mylacountybenefits.com. For more information about The Local 1014 Health Plan, please call member services at 800-660-1014 or email medicalplan@local1014.org.

In Solidarity,

President Dave Gillotte and the Local 1014 Executive Board 

Los Angeles County Firefighters IAFF Local 1014

Representing over 3200 Firefighters, Paramedics, Dispatchers,
Pilots, Wildland Firefighters, Forestry and Health Haz Mat Personnel

FRIDAY UPDATE 

Brothers and Sisters, 

This week, we celebrated several legislative victories at the State level for our members. Local 1014 was proud to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters across California as the Governor signed into law the Firefighter Behavioral Health Package: 

• SB 542(Stern)-Gives first responders the occupational protections needed to treat Post Traumatic Stress Injuries (PTSI) and begin the healing process. The bill passed unanimously out of Assembly Insurance Committee and moves to Appropriations Committee next. 
• AB 1116 (Grayson)-Peer Support Confidentiality - Sets statewide standards for Firefighter peer support and crisis referral programs. It confers confidentiality for related communications between peer supporters and Firefighters.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed both CPF-sponsored Behavioral Health Bills creating confidential peer-support and PTSI presumption law for firefighters across the state. Chair of the California State Task Force on Behavioral Health in the Fire Service President Dave Gillotte joined California Professional Firefighters President Brian Rice, International Association of Fire Fighters 10th District VP Frank Lima, and members of the Task Force from across the state for the signing. 

This legislative package was the culmination of 3-years of hard work for our members and Firefighters across the state as we fight to break the silence on behavioral health in the fire service. While this was a historic day, the fight is not over as we work to break the stigma. 

This week the Governor also signed: SB 438 (Hertzberg)- This bill blocks the privatization of emergency dispatch to ensure patient care is the top priority and keeps 911 dispatch in the hands of sworn public safety officers. 

We want to thank Sister Cerena Lewis, Fire Dispatcher, and 603-604 Bargaining Unit member, for joining us to lobby the California State Legislature on SB 438 earlier this year and for providing moving testimony on behalf of our LA County Dispatchers and Dispatchers across California. 

We can never emphasize enough that political action is the cornerstone of protecting our members and their families while improving our wages, hours, and working conditions. Los Angeles County is the largest county in the nation. It is critical that our voice and the voice of our members is heard by those who make life-changing decisions on our behalf. Your Executive Board is continuously working to ensure that our members are protected at every level of government. 

We want to thank the excellent staff at California Professional Firefighters (CPF) for their effort to push these bills through the California Legislature. Special thank you to President Brian Rice for walking the halls to support these bills.  

In Solidarity,

President Dave Gillotte and the Local 1014 Executive Board 

Los Angeles County Firefighters IAFF Local 1014

Representing over 3200 Firefighters, Paramedics, Dispatchers,
Pilots, Wildland Firefighters, Forestry and Health Haz Mat Personnel

FRIDAY UPDATE 

Brothers and Sisters, 

First, thank you to all our members who participated in the Behavioral Health Safety Stand-Down this week. We have received a lot of positive feedback on the program and will be looking to make it even more impactful next year as we work to break the stigma and break the silence. 

IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial 

This week, the Local 1014 Executive Board joined our brothers and sisters from across the nation to honor our fallen Brothers Russell Fagan, Robert Brentley, and Roy Chapman at the International Fire Fighters Association (IAFF) Fire Fighter Memorial in Colorado. 

Click here to watch the full video of the IAFF Memorial Ceremony. 

The ceremony honored 250 IAFF members who died in the line of duty and were reported to the IAFF in the last year. The Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial honors more than 7,500 IAFF members who have died in the line of duty since 1918. The names include those who died on the job, as well as the alarming number who succumbed to chronic illnesses linked to the fire service such as heart disease and cancer. 

California Professional Firefighters Fallen Firefighter Memorial 

Tomorrow our Executive Board will join the families of Randall Duarte, Robert Brantley, and Russell Van Fagan at the California Fire Foundation's 17th Annual California Firefighters Memorial Ceremony on September 28, 2019, at 11:30 am. The ceremony will be held at the California Firefighters Memorial located in Capitol Park, Sacramento, CA. 

Click here to view the live stream of the CPF Memorial beginning tomorrow at 11:30 am. You can also view it live on Facebook.

As we close out Firefighter Appreciation Month, we pause to memorialize the service and dedication of our fallen brothers and sisters and the sacrifice of their families. We will never forget. 

In Solidarity,

President Dave Gillotte and the Local 1014 Executive Board 

Los Angeles County Firefighters IAFF Local 1014

Representing over 3200 Firefighters, Paramedics, Dispatchers,
Pilots, Wildland Firefighters, Forestry and Health Haz Mat Personnel

SAVE THE DATE: 
SUICIDE AWARENESS AND SAFETY STAND DOWN

My Brothers and Sisters, 

This coming Monday, as part of Local 1014 and the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s efforts to make behavioral health a priority for all our members, we will be engaging in a Department-wide Suicide Awareness & Safety Stand-Down. From September 23rd through September 25th, our Department will be engaging in discussions curated by our peer support team, chaplains, and culturally competent mental health clinicians to bring this issue out of the shadows.  You will be receiving materials at your stations and sites with tools and resources to get the conversation started. 

I just returned from El Paso, Texas as part of a 31-member IAFF Peer Team including our own LA County Peers. I can tell you the need for behavioral health efforts in our profession especially for those that combat suicide due to post-traumatic stress and cumulative stress of our job has never been more in demand.  As Chair of the California State Fire Service Task Force on Behavioral Health, I work daily to ensure our Firefighters have the resources necessary to address these issues. I am imploring you to please to make the time and pay attention to this safety stand down like your life or the life of one of your crew members depends on it--it may very well be the case. 

We know that as First Responders, saving lives is the most rewarding part of our profession, but the emotional burden of traumatic calls can overwhelm even the strongest among us. In the last four months, three California Firefighters died by their own hand. In many cases, post-traumatic stress injury is the cause, and all too often, our brothers and sisters suffer in silence.

As we wrap up the month of September and National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month, we must remember to continue this practice all year long. Please continue to use the resources at your stations and sites to access our Peer Support Teams and Behavioral Health Resources or visit www.healingourown.org for additional resources. Your participation could save a life. 

IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial 

As the Local 1014 Executive Board prepares to honor our fallen brothers, Russell Van Fagan, Robert Brantley, and Roy Chapman, in Colorado Springs at the IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial, I ask all to reflect and remember ALL of the fallen both in Los Angeles County and across the nation.

The 2019 IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial Service will be broadcast live via streaming video on Saturday, September 21. The ceremony in Colorado Springs, Colorado, which officially begins at 11:00 a.m. (Mountain Time), will honor 250 IAFF members who died in the line of duty and were reported to the IAFF in the last year. 

On behalf of the Local 1014 Executive Board, thank you for your commitment each and every day protecting our communities. Please keep our fallen brothers and sisters who have made the ultimate sacrifice in your thoughts and prayers. Always remembered, never forgotten. 

In Solidarity,

President Dave Gillotte 

Los Angeles County Firefighters IAFF Local 1014

Representing over 3200 Firefighters, Paramedics, Dispatchers,
Pilots, Wildland Firefighters, Forestry and Health Haz Mat Personnel

                 
Good Friday the 13th Sisters and Brothers of Local 1014! 

State Legislative Update 

Today marks the last day of the current legislative session in Sacramento. Our CPF lobbyists and local affiliates from throughout the state have been busy tracking votes and working amendments to advance and protect our membership. The following bills are all part of the legislative package we are working to get voted on and signed into law by the Governor: 

• SB 542 Post Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI) Presumption (introduced by Local 1014),
• AB 1116 PEER Support Confidentiality,
• AB 1544 Community Paramedicine,
• SB 438 911 Public Fire Dispatch Protection,
• SB 266 Retiree Pension Protection, and
• ACA 1 Funding for Local Public Safety. 

We will update you on our efforts as the legislative session comes to a close and as we see movement on these bills. 

Budget Deliberations  

Local 1014 has also been very busy on the home front. President Gillotte met with Chief Osby again this week to address the many issues facing our membership. The number one topic of discussion was the budget shortfall and its potential impact on our members. Priorities like turnouts, TI’s, apparatus, equipment, and staffing are all priority items to protect.

We have scheduled a labor-management budget meeting to prioritize by agreement the items that need to be funded. We will keep you posted as we work to protect our important working condition items. We also laid into the Department heavily on E 233 and a second squad in the Antelope Valley. We now finally have movement to get this done and in place ASAP.  The Chief agreed it has been far too long and gave orders to the Chief Deputy of Operations to move it into service.   

Trial Shift Schedule Change Committee
The Trial Shift Schedule Change Committee has been selected and will be getting to work over the next 30 days with Committee Chair Dave Morse and Co-Chair Jason Green heading up the project.  Following the Committee's work, we will be going to a ballot vote to ask whether our membership wants a trial shift schedule change. The type of schedule will be the topic of the Committee's work and we will keep you informed as that work progresses. Whether you are pro or con on a trial schedule change of any kind, get ready to vote when the time comes.  We want as many voices and votes as we can get.  

Staffing 
Long-term staffing push and the hiring to accomplish it is in full swing with Local 1014 at the table to push for an abbreviated drill tower and back to back concurrent classes to get the Firefighter Paramedic folks out and into the field. The PM classes are going as scheduled and these recruits will be going into Firefighter positions. They will have the ability to work “P” but priority to existing senior members for PM post positions will apply. 

Also, the written test was given for entry-level Firefighters. We will be pushing for at least 3 classes in 2020. We have a valid written exam in place and which will allow the FSA Internal Promotional Process (i.e. Bridge Program) to get back in full swing. We are also continuing to evaluate every 30 days the effectiveness of the short-term fixes we negotiated last month. Please keep us informed on what is working and what is not. 

603/604 Contract Negotiations
Our asks for the hard-working brothers and sisters in Dispatch, Forestry, Health Haz Mat and Fire Prevention have been taken directly to the Fire Chief for his support on the last few items to give our members a fair and appropriate contract for their hard work.  We have asked for support from the Chief for a special bonus structure for each unit totaling only $950,000 in a $1.2 billion budgeted department. The Fire Chief knows the issues and the value of our members and we will be fighting hard to get his support as well as the CEO's support. 

We will keep you posted as we seek to get this table done in the next couple of weeks. We are prepared to fight all the way to the Board of Supervisors and mediation if necessary. We will not put forward a contract that does not value all of our members. We look for a good outcome on this table very soon. Safety series and non-Safety series, we are all one--Local 1014 Strong. 

Payroll

Local 1014 Executive Board has been working exhaustively with the Department to ensure that our retro payment to our members is true, accurate, and complete. The August 30 pay warrant included monies due to personnel that worked alternative overtime during the retro period. This included working down and working from 56 to 40 hours and vice versa. The tiered Paramedic post position bonus up to 2% is still due for the retro period as well as the peer counselor bonuses. 

We are working continuously with the Auditor-Controller, the Chief Executive Office and management regarding the implementation of all other pending bonuses. It is a huge undertaking in coordination with Department personnel to determine who is eligible for these monies and when they became eligible. This will be a timely process but please be assured but the money due to our members will come and be retroactive to October 1, 2018. 

Finally, we continue our work with Fire Chief Osby, Supervisor Janice Hahn and the Board of Supervisors to evaluate the possibility of increasing funding for our Department in 2020 to provide for infrastructure, equipment, and most exciting, staffing!  We are making the push to move to 4-0 staffing on all of our rigs to meet national standards and make our working conditions better and safer. 

At this point, we can report that the work we have been doing to test funding possibilities is very positive. We will be going forward boldly to get this done, the question is only how and when. This will be a Local 1014 legacy item of which we can all be proud. Like Proposition E and our special fire tax, it will take work and money, but it will be well worth it in the end. 

As always, be safe and we will keep you up to date on the work as it progresses this next month.  

In Solidarity,

President Dave Gillotte and the Local 1014 Executive Board 

Los Angeles County Firefighters IAFF Local 1014

Representing over 3200 Firefighters, Paramedics, Dispatchers,
Pilots, Wildland Firefighters, Forestry and Health Haz Mat Personnel

                 
Brothers and Sisters, 

Our membership has spoken through a motion (Motion No 058-19) to appoint a committee to recommend a potential trial shift schedule change.

The trial schedule change committee has been appointed by President Gillotte. Local 1014 2nd Vice President Dave Morse will chair the committee and Director Jason Green will co-chair, both will be non-voting appointees to the committee.  

The committee will begin work immediately with a 30-day window to report back to President Gillotte and the Executive Board. Following this report, the Executive Board with General Membership notification will put forward ballot language for a vote on a trial shift schedule change. 

We look forward to having a robust debate, discussing our differences, and putting forth a potential trial schedule to a majority vote to determine our next actions. The votes and number of ballots returned will determine our direction. 

In Solidarity,

President Dave Gillotte 

Los Angeles County Firefighters IAFF Local 1014

Representing over 3200 Firefighters, Paramedics, Dispatchers,
Pilots, Wildland Firefighters, Forestry and Health Haz Mat Personnel

SAVE THE DATE: 
SUICIDE AWARENESS AND SAFETY STAND DOWN

Brothers and Sisters, 

September is National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. As part of Local 1014 and the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s efforts to make behavioral health a priority for all our members, we will be engaging in a Department-wide Suicide Awareness & Safety Stand-Down. During the week of September 23rd through September 25th, our Department will be engaging in discussions curated by our peer support team, chaplains, and culturally competent mental health clinicians to bring this issue out of the shadows.  

We know that as First Responders, saving lives is the most rewarding part of our profession, but the emotional burden of traumatic calls can overwhelm even the strongest among us. In the last four months, three California Firefighters died by their own hand. In many cases, post-traumatic stress injury is the cause, and all too often, our brothers and sisters suffer in silence.

You will be receiving materials at your stations and sites with tools and resources to get the conversation started. Additionally, please continue to use the resources at your stations and sites to access our Peer Support Teams and Behavioral Health Resources or visit www.healingourown.org for resources and additional stand-down materials.  

Don’t let our brothers and sisters suffer in silence. Your participation could save a life.

We wanted this message to stand-alone so its importance will resonate. Next week, we will be issuing an update on important items such as staffing, paramedic pay bonus, and announcing the members of the schedule change committee...stay tuned.   

In Solidarity,

President Dave Gillotte