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Today, August 30, 2024, marks the 15-year anniversary of the line-of-duty deaths of LACoFD Fire Captain Tedmund “Ted” Hall and Fire Fighter Specialist (FFS) Arnaldo “Arnie” Quinones. Captain Hall and FFS Quinones made the ultimate sacrifice while battling the Station Fire and protecting their team members at Camp 16 in 2009. These brave heroes were assisting with fire suppression when their vehicle tumbled down a canyon in Mount Gleason outside of Palmdale. Captain Hall was 47 years of age with 26 years of dedicated service and FFS Quinones was 35 years of age with eight years of dedicated service.
We shall never forget Ted and Arnie and their sacrifice. |
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Brothers and Sisters,
This week, your Local 1014 Executive Board joined thousands of Firefighters from across the US and Canada to attend the 57th International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Convention in Boston. This year, the IAFF celebrated 106 years of progress through unity in the professional fire service.
Every two years, this convention allows our union’s international body to focus on our legislative and operational priorities. Firefighters elected as Union leaders for Departments like FDNY, LA County and City, Baltimore, Fairfax County, Miami-Dade, Chicago, and small department union leaders from small towns throughout America and Canada, joined our host Boston Firefighters Local 718 to do the work representing our members on firefighter issues.
IAFF President Ed Kelly and IAFF General Secretary Treasurer Frank Lima were overwhelmingly re-elected to their positions as well as elections in all 16 Districts were also held. Brother and 10th District Vice President Steve Gilman was re-elected by our membership in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Hawaii and Guam. Congratulations to all the elected leaders and trustees.
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The work of the IAFF Convention centers on Resolutions concerning our wages, hours and working conditions as well as health and safety issues like cancer, mental health, and safety gear. A highlight of the Convention was honoring our own Dr. Derek Urwin for his research and grant-funding expertise regarding cancer in the fire service. His family was with him, and the over 4000 leaders sang happy birthday to his 10-year-old. The hose came down in appreciation of Derek’s selfless sacrifice on behalf of our members and our families. Thank you Derek!
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Some of the highlights in resolutions covered private contracted firefighting issues, federal firefighter issues, cancer research and funding, women in the fire service health and safety equipment issues and more. We deliberated in committees, debated on the floor, and voted in our next two-year agenda with over 60 resolutions to be considered.
Please see the links to the resolutions and convention opening ceremonies and the historic dual Vice President Candidate presentations and remarks from both Senator Tim Walz, and Senator JD Vance. The IAFF is reviewing voting records and issues and support on firefighter issues with both Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates, and the IAFF GP insisted on hearing from both candidates for VP. We are doing the same for all seats, including Congress and Senate in consideration of IAFF support.
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As always, there are Union and work issues for support and your individual votes where you will weigh and measure all issues in life alongside your work issues and cast your vote. There is room for all views and all votes, and room for your Union to do the work it needs to do on your behalf regarding firefighter issues.
Take a look at the convention action and know the IAFF and Affiliates were doing the hard work together with our collective strength. |
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MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR ACTIVE-DUTY DEATH OF FIRE FIGHTER PARAMEDIC DUSTIN ROBERTO
Fire Fighter Paramedic Dustin Roberto, Fire Station 93, Battalion 17, North Regional Operations Bureau, passed away after a short-term illness on Saturday, August 10, 2024, at the age of 34. Fire Fighter Paramedic Roberto faithfully served our Department, residents, and communities for just under five years, and is survived by his wife who is expecting their first child.
A flag ceremony will be held on Friday, September 6, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., at:
Los Angeles County Fire Station 93
5624 East Avenue R
Palmdale, CA 93552
The flag ceremony will be livestreamed on the Department’s YouTube channel at:
https://youtube.com/live/5PsidvgtOT4?feature=share
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 7, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., at:
Real Life Church
23841 Newhall Ranch Road
Valencia, CA 91355
The memorial service will be livestreamed on the Department’s YouTube channel at:
https://youtube.com/live/ZalxAQDZJ_4?feature=share
A reception will immediately follow the memorial service with details forthcoming.
Cards and letters are welcome and may be sent to:
Mariah Moon (spouse)
18476 West Sandalwood Drive
Goodyear, AZ 85338
In lieu of flowers, a GoFundMe has been established to assist the Roberto family during this difficult time. Please consider donating to:
https://www.gofundme.com/support-dustin-and-mariah-robertos-fight-against-cancer
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In Solidarity,
President Dave Gillotte and the Local 1014 Executive Board |
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