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Portsmouth Professional Fire Fighters & Paramedics Association

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE FIGHTERS

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Portsmouth Professional Fire Fighters & Paramedics Association

3 days ago

Portsmouth Professional Fire Fighters & Paramedics Association

Happy Independence Day!

Have fun
Be safe
Make smart choices!Have a happy and safe July 4th! ... See MoreSee Less

Happy Independence Day! Have fun Be safe Make smart choices!
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Comment on Facebook Have a happy and ...

Portsmouth Professional Fire Fighters & Paramedics Association

6 days ago

Portsmouth Professional Fire Fighters & Paramedics Association

A long time coming but finally here. Thank you to the Portsmouth Delegation of the Virginia General Assembly for your YEARS of support to help us get this passed. Senator John Cosgrove, Senator L. Louise Lucas, Senator Mamie Locke, Friends of Don Scott, Delegate Stephen E. HeretickToday (finally!!) cancers of the brain, colon and testes as well as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are now covered under the Virginia Workers' Compensation Act. This change is a tremendous victory for Virginia’s fire fighters and their families. And a long-time coming!

Thank you to Delegate Stephen E. Heretick, Delegate Alex Q. Askew, Jennifer Carroll Foy, Emily Brewer and Delegate David Reid as well as Senators Jill Vogel, Senator John Cosgrove, Richard Saslaw, and Jeremy McPike for their leadership and relentless support! #vpff #unionstrong #truecancerpresumption ... See MoreSee Less

A long time coming but finally here. Thank you to the Portsmouth Delegation of the Virginia General Assembly for your YEARS of support to help us get this passed. Senator John Cosgrove, Senator L. Louise Lucas, Senator Mamie Locke, Friends of Don Scott, Delegate Stephen E. Heretick
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Comment on Facebook Today (finally!!) ...

FINALLY! 8 years too late for me but grateful that those behind me will have a less humiliating and degrading expierence than I had while trying to recieve WC. Job well done to all those who made it happen! ❤

Awesome news!

Awesome news!!!

👍 good work! What’s the time requirement?

Yeah!!!

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Portsmouth Professional Fire Fighters & Paramedics Association

1 week ago

Portsmouth Professional Fire Fighters & Paramedics Association

Where do the other candidates stand on Labor issues? We need city council members that support our Firefighters, Paramedics, and Dispatchers. Public Safety is always a priority for our citizens, it must remain a priority for the city council. ... See MoreSee Less

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I am the first responders candidate, being apart of an union, I understand dealing with 4 dozen different ideas, and am prepared to help our emergency service people. I applaud you all for your service, but most importantly I will work to fully staff, and fund our First responders across the board. I’ve proposed doing monthly town halls with the fire departments, and quarterly town halls with the police department. Here the members can vent, tell me their concerns, and I will bring this information back to the city council and get them addressed.

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Shift Schedule

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The IAFF Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery is a one-of-a-kind addiction treatment facility specializing in PTSD for IAFF members – and IAFF members only – who are struggling with addiction, PTSD other related behavioral health challenges to receive the help they need in taking the first steps toward recovery. It is a safe haven for members to talk with other members who have faced or overcome similar challenges.

https://www.iaffrecoverycenter.com

We represent the active and retired members of the Portsmouth Fire Department. We are a proud member of the International Association of Fire Fighters, as well as the Virginia Professional Fire Fighters.

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Not Negotiable..... #staffingmatters
We would like to thank Autobell Car Wash for disinfecting our Trucks during this Pandemic. They are going the extra mile to keep our members healthy and safe!
On Tuesday, Portsmouth City Council took the necessary steps to ensure our community is safer moving into the unknowns of the future. Nathan Clark, Councilman made the motion in the work session on Monday to return the 15 firefighter positions that had been eliminated under previous administrations and added five paramedic positions so we will be able to ensure we provide the highest level of service that our community deserves. That motion was placed before Council and was approved 7-0. We look forward to city adminstration expediting the hiring process, so we can get back to the appropriate staffing levels. John Rowe, Mayor - City of Portsmouth, Vice Mayor Lisa Lucas-Burke, Councilwoman Elizabeth M. Psimas, Councilman Bill Moody, Councilman Shannon Glover, and Councilman Paul Battle we thank you again for you dedication to our community. #staffingmatters #publicsafety #citycouncil
Local 539 would like to welcome back our most tenured active member to work today! Chief Hoffler, we are glad you are back and at the helm to advocate for our members and our communities safey with all the uncertainty surrounding this budget. We know that you will advise the city manager that an increase in staffing is paramount in order to provide the level of service our community deserves. #staffingmatters
We would like to congratulate Class 24 on 20 years of dedicated service to our community! #iaff #strengthandunity #twentyyears
A special thanks to the great people at 619 Cantina Oldetowne for making a GREAT family style dinner to go for some of our members recently. We like to support local Portsmouth businesses the way they have always supported us over the years.
The IAFF is urging Congress to pass stimulus funding for state and local governments. This critical funding will help keep fire fighters on the job as they continue to protect their community from COVID-19 Pandemic. The IAFF has been working with members of Congress and staff since the beginning of the pandemic to make sure fire fighters and fire fighter issues are a priority on Capitol Hill.
FUN FACT FRIDAY Every day our members that work at Station 1 on Effingham Street see this picture hanging on the wall. A sad reminder of what is happening in our city. This is the Fire Department that Dr.Patton and Fire admin have given you! Things only get worse under their wreck-less proposed budget. Dangerous for you and dangerous for us! We are hopeful and confident that the PRO-PUBLIC SAFETY members of City Council will stop this madness and return public safety staffing back to safe levels! Take a look out the window.....is now the time to continue to slash and burn firefighter and paramedic positions in our city? ? #staffingmatters #leadershipmatters #local539
This Dispatcher Appreciation Week we recognize our Local 539 members who are unseen, but work around the clock to keep our communities safe. 911 Dispatchers are the first link to emergency service and we can not operate without them. Local 539 is proud to represent the 911 Dispatchers in the City of Portsmouth!
Happy Easter from all your Firefighters, Paramedics, and Dispatchers in Portsmouth!
#539
As of last night, we have had multiple members quarantined, due to a possible exposure to COVID-19. Our Department's staffing is already at a dangerous level. This is an all hands on deck situation, but we are unable to use these personnel for 14 days. We ask that you pray with us, for our members and our community, in these uncertain times. Dr. Lydia Pettis Patton this is why eliminating positions in public safety is dangerous and irresponsible. We ask that you join us in prayerful support for the affected members and their families and put the much needed positions back in public safety #staffingmatters #539
Our Portsmouth Professional Firefighter and Paramedics Local 539 are having a fundraiser. Proceeds benefit the ongoing fight for cancer and PTSD protection for our first responders, as well as our other local and state charitable efforts. Please call 757-397-9081 to order your whole, smoked Boston butt with a side of sauce. Please share this!!!
During this COVID 19 pandemic, please don't hesitate to call 911 if the need should arise. We will be there for you and your family, ready to provide the highest level of service that our daily staffing will allow. We simply ask that you please inform our 911 call takers if ANYONE in the location is experiencing flu like symptoms. Thank you for allowing our members to take the appropriate precautions to limit exposure to our personnel and to stay safe!
Our Fire Department needed 21 personnel to work OVERTIME today to keep all trucks in service..... If Friday the 13th doesn't scare you, the continued complacency from City Management should. Our department has been in a staffing crisis for many years now. While we appreciate the support of most of the council members that have mandated that our department shall keep all trucks in service, we need a staffing increase to ensure we keep our trucks in service in a safe and fiscally responsible way!!! In this next budget, the Fire Department needs an overall budget increase to include money for an overall staffing increase to 240 sworn fire personnel and 25 full-time paramedics, as well as, money to retain our tenured firefighters and paramedics that are being recruited by other jurisdictions. Once again, we thank the community for your continued support! We hope you will come out on March 23rd to the budget presentation and let our City leaders know that #staffingmatters!
Follow Through Thursday: Our community deserves the highest level of service! We need an increase in funding and staffing in next year's budget to ensure our community isn't put at further risk!
Again over the weekend, our department had to lower the standard of care for our community by having ambulances in service with no paramedics on them. We find this completely unacceptable because we know there are qualified applicants just waiting to be hired some of which have already served our community, retired and wish to come back as part-time employees. This negligence from City Administration has to stop. Our community safety relies on having properly staffed ambulances with the highest level of care. We don't want you to need a paramedic and not have one! Tell the city to hire the firefighters and paramedics to keep our community safe! #staffingmatters #ALSmedicsonly
Local 539 Fun Fact Friday: In 1985 the Portsmouth Fire Department responded to 4,700 emergency calls. The department had 219 sworn personnel(Firefighters, Lieutenants, Captains, Battalion Chiefs) In 2019 the Portsmouth Fire Department responded to almost 20,000 emergency calls and since 1996 is now responsible for staffing 5 ambulances for emergency medical calls. The city pay & classification plan allows for 215 sworn personnel.
Virginia firefighters and paramedics have been asking for this legislation years. Please click the link and contact the Delegates asking them to add HB438. No more studies! Last year more firefighters took their own lives than died in the line of duty. According to the Firefighter Behaviorial Health Alliance, 122 fire fighters and 18 EMTs committed suicide in 2019 nationwide. Sadly, far too many fire fighters in Virginia suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and lack avenues to address behavioral health issues. HB438 will define PTSD as an occupational disease for Virginia’s fire fighters, paramedics and law enforcement officers and help them get the treatment they deserve. Sadly, but not surprising, entities like VACO and VML are fighting to prevent PTSD from being recognized as an occupational disease. Money is more important than First Responder lives to them. https://virginiageneralassembly.gov/house/members/members.php?subcommittee=H02002
Come out get some great food and support our dispatchers!
The Portsmouth Firefighters and Paramedics Local 539 said goodbye to a long time member and past president Tyrone Wisher. Ty, was a member of the local since 1985 and served in various roles and committees, serving as local president from 2004-2006. Brother Wisher was a member of the International Association of Firefighters Human Relations Candittee and had a lasting impact on those he met. We will miss you Brother.
Cancer and PTSD bills pass Senate Commerce and Labor and now move on to Senate Finance! More info to follow.
The annual Clam Chowder is BACK!! February 8th from noon till 5:00....or until we run out of chowder At..”the hall” 3704 Winchester 50/50 raffle Great food Great times Bring the family! Contact: John Williford Carroll Ward Jim Breckenridge Local 539 members-FREE Public-$10 50/50 raffle Great food and drinks Great times Bring the family! Contact: John Williford Carroll Ward Jim Breckenridge
Congratulations to Local 539 Executive Vice President Levin Turner on his graduation from the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership. This year-long program helps develop political leaders throughout the Commonwealth. Great work Brother!!
Today we remember our Brother Lt. Ben Fuller. LODD 12-9-2017
Stop by the Union Hall on December 13th to help the Portsmouth E-911 Dispatchers raise money for Telecommunications Appreciation Week.
Happy Thanksgiving to all the citizens and guests of the great city we serve!!! Unfortunately for several of our members, Thanksgiving with family will have to wait another year. As families began gathering in the kitchen this morning and preparing for the days festivities they received a phone call from a Portsmouth Fire station telling them their loved ones would not be home today as planned and scheduled. MANDATORY HOLDOVER OVERTIME is a painful reality we deal with every day during our STAFFING CRISIS. On Thanksgiving morning it becomes not only a fire department problem, but a family dinner table problem as well! We hope that as the decision makers and leaders of our city enjoy their Thanksgiving with family and friends today, they remember those who were told they can’t go home this morning. Staffing matters. It saves lives, and days like today.....it affects the lives of everyone involved. #staffingmatters #iaff #local539 #family
Working hard to get there For you For us
⚠️⚠️⚠️*DANGER AHEAD*⚠️⚠️⚠️ Today is a scary day to be a citizen, guest, or business owner in Portsmouth. EMS2 responds to ALL major medical calls in the city (cardiac arrests, car accidents, shootings, stabbing, fires, etc). Today, because of staffing, EMS2 is OUT OF SERVICE. The only answer, the only way to protect our city is adequate staffing. City leadership along with the City Manager have to allocate proper funding in the Fire Department budget to keep people safe! Lack of vision and leadership means a lack of safety for our public and our members! Good luck out there, we will continue to try and provide effective emergency services with less and less!!!
Don Scott and Senator Lucas are friends and supporters of the Portsmouth Professional Firefighters Association. We support both of them this coming Election Day! On November 5th vote for true supporters of public safety personnel!
Stop by and see the fire engine and crew from station 9. 1-3pm today
Its Fire Prevention Week. In a home fire seconds count. Make sure you have working smoke alarms. #staffingmatters #NFPA1710 #IAFF
Sept. Membership Meeting -------------------------------------------------- A reminder that the September membership meeting is this Monday the 16th at 9am.
Being great
2nd flight CHAMPIONS
1st flight CHAMPIONS
Awards Dinner
The President addresses the masses
Old school captains.....and a new school chiefs aide!
What was that “boom”
Apparently they used to all be stationed together or something. Who cares
Kevin Roenker stopping to say hi to the fans
Thank you so much to the Wylie family for EVERYTHING they do for LOCAL 539
Tending the flag for Chris LaLonge, who was very tired after running all those calls
Thanks to our brothers in blue
The prodigal child returns
So much talent in this picture Daniel Painter Jr.
Former president Rusty Quillin gearing up for an impressive display of skill and talent
As usual, Trevor Tippett just laying around doing nothing
LOCAL 539 leadership Kurt Detrick and Levin Turner paying homage to our EVENT SPONSOR Atlantic Emergency Solutions
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