The Blaze (East) | PFFPNC

THE CAROLINA BL ZE 


Fall 2020 Edition | Professional Fire Fighters & Paramedics of North Carolina

our magazine Welcome to the premiere edition of The Carolina Blaze, an online magazine produced by the Professional Fire Fighters and Paramedics of North Carolina.

We are very excited to present this new publication to you and hope that it provides you with compelling content, new trends in the fire service, and thought-provoking topics and inspiration.

The Carolina Blaze is the result of a collaboration between PFFPNC, IAFF, and local affiliates across the state.

Scott Mullins is the President of PFFPNC and is a captain at the Asheville Fire Department.

Scott also serves as President of the Asheville Fire Fighters Association.

In each edition, we will share stories about the fire service, including real life stories, political news, recipes, trainings, and products. If you have ideas, please send them our way. This is OUR magazine and we promise to keep it authentic, real, and relevant to you and your families.

We also ask that you provide us with feedback on the magazine so that we are able to meet and exceed your expectations as readers, and we ask that you patronize our advertisers. .

As you open your first inaugural issue of The Carolina Blaze, it is our sincere hope that you are inspired and enjoy this piece created just for you.

Happy reading!

Fraternally yours,

Scott Mullins PFFPNC President

Will the 2020 Election Affect PFFPNC’s LegislativeAgenda?

The 2021-2022 General Assembly gavels in a new biennium in January and regardless of who wins the November election, PFFPNC plans to take an aggressive legislate agenda, that will include presumptive cancer legislation, separation allowance, and PTSD presumptive for workers compensation.

PFFPNC’ just concluded a 2019-2020 legislative session in which the House easily passed Firefighters Fighting Cancer Act (HB520), Parity for First Responders (HB278) and Provide WC for PTSD in First Responders (HB622) in the April 2019 only to see the bills parked in the Senate Rules Committee for a second consecutive session never to budge.

So when the question is asked by firefighters what PFFPNC can do to move these bills in future sessions, PFFPNC President Scott Mullins answers simply: Firefighters need to elect state senators who value the lives and livelihoods of firefighters.

“The Senate has been candid with us — they philosophically disagree with our legislation,” said President Mullins. “We need to be equally candid: We need state senators serving who support firefighters.”

Mullins is not the only one frustrated. North Carolina firefighters have become increasingly frustrated and area asking what the chances the Senate could flip power, or even loosen power, so that firefighter legislation could start moving as it does in the House?

PFFPNC Political Director Josh Smith says a power change is possible, but it’ll all comes down to a handful of legislative districts, and possibly an undercard race for Lieutenant Governor.

“The Senate appears to be the one chamber Democrats have a chance of getting from the Republicans, but a lot would need to go their way in order to be successful,” said Smith.

Most political observers see the current spread of 29 Republicans and 21 Democrats getting tighter after the election with Democrats poised to pick up at least two Republican seats in Wake and Mecklenburg Counties, currently held by Senators John Alexander and Rob Bryan. Neither incumbents are running for re-election and Republicans have all but conceded those races to Democrats.

“With an almost guaranteed 27-23 floor, Democrats need to

pick up three seats to get full control of the Senate,” Smith said. Based on ad buys and campaign finance reports, Democrats are focusing on four Republican incumbent seats, including Bob Steinburg (Outer Banks region), retiring Rick Horner (Johnston County), retiring Rick Gunn (Alamance County), and Joyce Kraweic (Forsyth/Davie County).

However, there is another scenario for Democrats to win the Senate. If Democrats pick up two of the four targeted seats and Yvonne Holley, the Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor, wins then Democrats win the Senate because she would break a 25-25 tie.

Smith notes that Republicans are not only defending seats, but are running campaigns in Democratic held districts, most notably the seats held by Senators Harper Peterson in New Hanover County and Jeff Jackson in Mecklenburg County.

“Whether Republicans retain power or Democrats are successful, all firefighters want is for the Senate to treat our profession with the same respect the Republican controlled House shows us,” said Smith. “Hopefully, this election will bring us positive changes.”

Smith points to South Carolina, the 49th state to offer presumptive cancer legislation to firefighters leaving North Carolina alone as the only state to without it.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, a Republican, signed the bill into law in late September and posted a photo on Facebook of him signing the bill into law, stating that he was proud to help firefighters across the state.

“These men and women sacrifice to be there for us in the most difficult moments, and we must do all that we can to be there for them in theirs,” McMaster said.

The bill includes reimbursing a firefighter, including volunteers and forestry firefighters, up to $12,000 a year for out of pocket medical expenses, an up front payment of $20,000 upon diagnosis, and a $75,000 death benefit. (North Carolina provides a $100,000 death benefit for certain firefighter cancers.)

The bill passed the SC House 108-1 after the Senate passed the legislation earlier in the session. Both chambers are led

by Republican majorities.

Subscribe to PFFPNC’s enewsletters to stay up-to-date on this developing story.

WHAT’S COOKIN’!

with Asheville’s Scott Mullins

Boil 5 pounds of bone in split chicken breast and 1 medium diced onion. Add salt & pepper, to taste.

Remove chicken from pot. Set aside broth.

Debone & shred meat, and set aside.

Cook 3 pounds of rice in reserved chicken broth.

While rice is cooking, chop 16 ounces of sausage into 1/4 inch rounds.

CHICKEN BOG

Sauté sausage rounds in large pan on medium heat until browned and cooked through.

When rice is fully cooked add chicken and sausage to warm.

Do you have a firehouse recipe you want to share? Email your recipe to The Blaze editor Brian Lewis at brian@newframellc.com and we’ll publish your recipe in a future of edition.

DC NEWS T

he US House passed HR 1646, the Helping Emergency

Responders Overcome (HERO) Act by voice vote and is now in the US Senate. This high-priority IAFF legislation (not to be confused with the HEROES Act) addresses the real need for increased mental health resources within the fire service.

The HERO Act establishes a new grant program to train fire fighters to serve as peer counselors. Second, it directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop new guidance to educate fire fighters on identifying and preventing post- traumatic stress disorders.

Third, it directs the CDC to develop research and educational material on the culture within fire departments so that evidence-based therapies can be developed. Finally, the bill creates a database at the CDC to compile statistics on the incidence of suicides among public safety officers.

“This bill will provide researchers and policymakers data needed to better comprehend the scope of suicide in the fire service community and find best practices to reduce incidents,” said PFFPNC Political Director Josh Smith. “We encourage the US Senate to take up this bill during this session.”

FAMILY BUSINESS

By Keith Wilder On December 5, 2018 twenty-seven new firefighters joined the ranks of the Raleigh Fire Department as Recruit Academy 43 graduated in a ceremony at the Duke Energy Center in downtown Raleigh.

New firefighter Cameron McAuliff was one of those new firefighters and it was my honor to pin my badge on his uniform, a ceremony that overwhelmed me with pride in my profession, my family, and this fraternity of brother and sisters I consider my family.

I am in the short rows of my career and nothing makes me prouder than seeing Cameron with eyes wide open and absorbing a firefighter culture that shaped me.

My wife Andrea, who is Cameron’s mother, posted on Facebook how special the ceremony was to her.

“Last night was one of my proudest moments as I watched my husband pin on my son’s first badge as a Raleigh firefighter. I pray the next 30 years are as fulfilling for Cameron as they have been for Keith. I know he will carry on Keith's legacy in serving the people of the great city of Raleigh to his highest ability. We are so proud of you son!”

Two years after Cameron became a firefighter, Keith says he still gets choked up thinking about how sharing a profession with a family member is special. “We see things through a lens that many people don’t understand,.” Kieth sad. “He understands why I am with the way I am, especially when it comes to health and safety. “ Keith also understands that his work both on the job and through the IAFF is to leave the firefighting profession for the next generation, including his son.




Investing in Firefighters Saves Families Money

Few in the  public understand how their community firefighters save them in insurance premiums on their home insurance policies.

Homeowners insurance ratings are issued by the Insurance Services Office (ISO) and are based how well a local fire department can protect its community. Top ratings are obtained by less than one percent of North Carolina's fire departments. A higher rating means the city is better able equipped to respond to fires, which will allow property owners and businesses to pay lower insurance premiums.

PFFPNC recently celebrated the Hickory Fire Department becoming one of the only fire departments in North Carolina to achieve a Class 1 fire protection rating, which will result in property owners saving money.

The ISO rating is based on a 100-point scale with half of the score determined by the fire department's staffing, capabilities, training, and equipment. The other 50 points measure the city’s water supply and infrastructure, emergency communication systems, and community risk reduction programs.

2020 Wall of Honor Memorializes Karen Shuart, a North Carolina Firefighter Each year in September, the sacrifice made IAFF honors the

by IAFF members who have given their lives in the line of duty. The annual ceremony remains an uplifting service for the families, friends and loved ones, celebrating the lives, heroism and accomplishments of our union’s bravest of the brave.

This year, the IAFF engraved 245 members’ names on the Wall of

Honor in Colorado Springs on September 19, including Karen Shuart, who died in January 2019 at age 58 of ovarian cancer.

Shuart began her career with the Asheville Fire Department in 1994 and served her community for 25 years.

With the significant health concerns related to COVID-19 and all the restrictions across the U.S. and Canada, the 2020 Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial ceremony proceeded this year without attendees, but was viewed on YouTube (www.youtube.com/ IAFFTV/live) or Facebook (www.facebook.com/ IAFFonline).

“Karen was an incredible firefighter, a dedicated union member, and a

friend, and it was my honor to see her name etched on that sacred wall,” said PFFPNC President Scott Mullins, who last attended the ceremony in 2019 to escort the family of Will Willis, age 34, who died in 2018 .

“While we are all disappointed that we are unable to attend this solemn ceremony to honor Karen and her service to Asheville, the IAFF has invited all 2020 honoree families to attend the 2021 Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial.”

Mullins said fallen members will receive proper recognition along with those lost in 2020 at a traditional ceremony, with all families receiving their flag.

The IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial is located in the shadow of Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

For more information, contact fffm@iaff.org.







PFFPNC mourns the loss of Rep. Linda Johnson, a Cabarrus County Republican lawmaker, who died in February from cancer.

The 20-year veteranlegislator was a high-ranking appropriations chair in the House who reveled in visits from firefighters across North Carolina.

In Memoriam

“Her door was always open for us and we were always greeted with a hug,” wrote PFFPNC DVP Ben Bobzien, who exchanged text messages and phone calls with Rep. Johnson just days before she died. “She was full of integrity, loyalty, and strength and I will miss her and her friendship. I pray for her family’s comfort and healing through this difficult and sad time.”

PFFPNC DVP Jeff Tracey, who also serves as president of the Cabarrus Professional Firefighter Association, praised Rep. Johnson for using her power at the appropriation table to protect money dedicated to the Line of Duty Death cancer benefit. “She was a friend to firefighters right here in her home district, and she was a friend to every firefighter across North Carolina,” he said.

Rep. Johnson’s death was felt across North Carolina’s political world and across partisan lines, including Gov. Roy Cooper, who released a statement praising her public service to the state and Cabarrus County and ordering flags fly at half-staff.

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