1969-1978

U.S. President Richard M. Nixon vetoes the fire fighters’ retirement bill, impacting the future lives of 11,000 federal fire fighters. The bill is later reintroduced and IAFF leaders urge its passage.

The IAFF re-publishes an article from Parade Magazine describing the undeclared war on the nation’s firemen. Parade is one of several publications to focus on public attention on the “plight of the nation’s fire fighters who must not only fight fires but rocks and sticks and verbal abuse.”

IAFF President William H. McClennan writes to U.S. President Richard M. Nixon in response to his proposal to submit to Congress a bill that would provide $50,000 for beneficiaries of police officers who are killed in the line of duty. He requests that the bill be extended to include fire fighters as well.

U.S. President Richard M. Nixon signs the 1971 Supplemental Appropriation Bill, which includes $50,000 to fund the initial implementation of the Fire Research and Safety Act of 1968.

The IAFF and the U.S. Department of Labor sign an historic fire fighter recruitment and training contract totaling $425,000.

IAFF President William H. McClennan expresses opposition to a U.S. Civil Service proposal to rewrite position descriptions of fire fighters to include duties not related to their abilities and training and in no way related to fire prevention or fire suppression.

More than 300 delegates attend a symposium sponsored by the John P. Redmond Memorial Fund on occupational health and hazards facing the fire service. The theme of the symposium is “Survival.” Topics include physical standards, heart disease, pulmonary and respiratory problems, protective equipment and vehicular design, training, safety education and recordkeeping and emergency care.

Fire fighters throughout the nation contribute more than $100,000 to the 1971 Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon.

MDA and the IAFF →

May 29, 1971

Four Atlanta, Georgia, fire fighters die battling a blaze May 29 at the Davis Brothers’ Restaurant in downtown Atlanta. The fire broke out after 11:00 p.m. and the sudden blast ripped the building apart, killing the four fire fighters. An additional 23 fire fighters were injured.

IAFF membership exceeds 150,000, achieving a goal set forth at the 1970 IAFF Convention. Fire fighters join the IAFF at the rate of 600 per month.

The IAFF states that withdrawal membership cards should never be issued to a brother who quits the union but remains in the fire service.

The IAFF makes a new watch available to members for $25, which includes the cost of postage, special packaging and insurance.

The IAFF supports congressional bill H.R. 5266 calling for a new commemorative stamp to honor fire fighters and mark the 100th anniversary of the Chicago fire .

The IAFF charters its 2,000th local: Howard County, MD Local 2000.

A new IAFF lapel pin featuring the United States and Canadian flags is available to members. The gold-plated pin costs $2.50 and the 10-carat gold pin sells for $6.50.