Hey,
The Pittsburgh Firefighters Union President (IAFF Local 1) wants an inspection of one of their firehouses because of a significant number of cancer-related deaths among the members stationed there. President Joe King requested the inspection in a letter Monday to Fire Chief Darryl Jones. It is reported that at least 9 firefighters from Engine and Truck Co. 24 have died of cancer. He did not say whether all had the same cancer or cite a time period for the deaths.
"Something is seriously wrong, take my word that they all died of cancer, many of them at a relatively young age," Mr. King said in the letter. Mr. King sent the letter two days after PA’s Gov. Ed Rendell vetoed a bill that would have made it easier for firefighters with cancer to receive workers compensation benefits.
Be it the building, the exhaust from the apparatus or the ground in the area, something is wrong.
ONE FINAL EFFORT, CAN YOU HELP BY CONTACTING YOUR SENATOR?
SADLY, it appears that political support to 9/11 Responders who are ill, is just about lost.
NY Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand again pushed for bipartisan support of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act on Tuesday of this week. The bill would guarantee health care and financial compensation to all the first responders, iron workers and volunteers involved in the Ground Zero clean up. It would give up to $7.4 billion to those workers sickened during the cleanup. The bill seeks to create a more than $7 billion fund for volunteers who worked at Ground Zero and are now suffering health problems as a result.
In January, the newly elected House takes over, and is unlikely to support the bill. Gillibrand is leading the charge to convince all Senators to support the bill, but the Senate only has a couple weeks left to sway opinions. Convincing Republicans has been “very hard” Gillibrand said.
IF YOU SUPPORT THE ZADROGA BILL, PLEASE REACH OUT TO YOUR SENATOR TODAY:
PAY THE TOLL OR GET A TICKET
An ambulance crew transporting a critically ill patient to the hospital was ticketed for failing to stop at the Tacoma N(WA) arrows Bridge and pay the toll. State Department of Transportation officials say the automated toll system doesn’t determine whether an ambulance is in an emergency situation and that the crew should have called immediately to have the infraction waived.
“We’re not out to charge anybody for going through in an emergency situation,” said WSDOT spokeswoman Patty Michaud. “We just need to know.”
Read more from the Fire Chiefs perspective: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/12/02/1448239/ambulance-crew-issued-ticket-for.html#ixzz16xzeqE3b
"OLD TIMERS"
REST IN PEACE CHIEF JOE TIMONEY, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PAOne of my favorite types of conversations are with fire service "old timers". I am talking about the very senior veteran firefighters who were going to fires before every seat had an SCBA, before rigs had a radio or even a roof. And while I was around during that end of that period, I was a kid who started as a FF in the early 70’s. That was when those old timers were in their prime, they were the "older" chiefs or at that time, were thinking of slowing down.
I absolutely love talking to the old time veteran Firefighters (especially when I’m traveling) and always take advantage of the chance to do it. One of my favorite ways to get them talking (which is rarely a problem!) is to ask the following question:
"So, has much changed around this fire department since you joined up" ?
Then grab a seat, sit down, watch out and listen because that "question" always gets the flood gates of local fire service history wide open. While many younger Firefighters may be quick to "blow off" the old timers, there is a whole lot there to learn from, you just have to listen. They’ve "been there/done that" and probably
more than most FF’s do today. Or at least they’ll make it sound that way.
One of those "oldtimer" Firefighters, a friend of mine, died 2 weeks ago. I knew he was going to die as he reached out to me and others a few months ago to tell us. As usual, we talked about a lot of stuff but the one thing I remember is that he told me very proudly, that "I had a great life, heck, I was a fireman"!
Chief Joseph Timoney, a lifelong Wyndmoor (PA) resident and former Fire Chief of the Wyndmoor Hose Fire Company No. 1, died of cancer Nov. 22. Chief Joe was 85 years old. The Chief joined his fire company in 1948 and served as the chief during the 1970s and ’80s, and as again as a chief officer from the 1960s on. He was active in various roles within his "fire comp’ny" right up until the end.
As is said, Joe was a firefighter who was always a firefighter, 24/7-365.
We would catchup to Chief Joe in the recent past summers when my family & friends traditionally vacation together in Ocean City, New Jersey. Joe would go "down the shore" each summer as well and without any formalities, he would go for his morning walks and catchup to us on the beach, where the annual "fire chat" conversations began. It started a few years ago when he saw a few of us (along with our kids and most recently grandkids) wearing our "colors", our fire t-shirts and the "beach visits" continued each year.
About 8 weeks ago Joe called and told us that he didn’t have much time left. But again, we had time then to have "fire chat" and we did several times after that call. Rest in peace Chief Joe Timoney.
Read more about Joe here: http://tinyurl.com/36cbwb8
Take Care-BE CAREFUL.
BillyG
The Secret List 12-2-10 / 1048 Hours
