1939-1948

The IAFF decries Congress’ decision to refuse to provide protection for civil defense workers and urges fire fighters to arrange for their own coverage.

IAFF Secretary-Treasurer George Richardson is appointed a member of the Labor Advisory Committee of the Office of Civilian Defense, representing the American Federation of Labor.

The Healey Bill, H.R. 4882, as now written, protects all those covered by pension systems and permits the extension of the Social Security Act to those employees not having any pension protection.

Provisions of the Selective Service Act state that whenever any fire fighter is called before the local draft board, he may ask that he be placed in a deferred class because of his occupation.

The IAFF holds its 16th Convention in Columbus, Ohio, the first wartime Convention.

List of All IAFF Conventions →

The IAFF asks secretaries of locals to provide new contact information for members who are serving in the Armed Forces so they may continue to receive their copies of the International Fire Fighter. The IAFF also recommends that secretaries keep records of time contributed by fire fighters to the nation’s war efforts. Many enlightening and inspiring letters commending this request from locals are received by IAFF headquarters staff.

November 28, 1942

400 people are killed in a fire at the Cocoanut Grove, a restaurant/supper club. Rescue operations begin immediately, but the full horror of what awaited the fire fighters inside the building was not fully realized for a period of time. The IAFF praises Boston Local 718 fire fighters for their heroic efforts in battling the Cocoanut Grove night club fire.

In a chemical research breakthrough, flammable fabrics in the home now may be “flame-proofed.” Known technically as ammonium sulfamate, the new fire retardant has multiple industrial uses as well, such as in airplane manufacture, in shipyards and for workmen’s clothing in steel mills.