It is with great sorrow that WSCFF and IAFF Local 31 Tacoma report the Line-of-Duty death of Albert A. Nejmeh.  Tacoma Firefighter Al Nejmeh died in the line of duty of a heart attack the evening of May 14, 2013. Al passed away while performing CPR on a citizen of Tacoma. 

Al served faithfully on Tacoma Fire Department Ladder 2 since January of 2001.  He is survived by his mother Mary who resides in New Jersey. 

Memorial Service 

Friday May 31, 2013 ~ 1:00 PM
Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall
2727 East D Street 
Tacoma, Washington 98421

Class "A" uniform is requested. Parking is available on site.  For apparatus parking, please contact Captain Lee Law, 253-591-5726 to reserve a space. There will not be an apparatus procession. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Albert Nejmeh Benevolent Fund c/o Tacoma Firefighters, 1109 South 50^thStreet, Tacoma, WA 98408. Other expressions of sympathy or condolences can be sent to Tacoma Firefighters at 1109 South 50^thStreet, Tacoma, WA 98408.  

Obituary and notes of condolence. 

Memorial Service for retired Fire Chief Joe Kolisch

May 24, 2013 ~ 11:00 a.m.
City of Enumclaw Expo Center Field House
1456 Roosevelt Avenue East
Enumclaw, Washington

A reception immediately following the memorial service will be at the Buckley Eagles, 29021 SR 410 East, Buckley, Washington. 

Complete information announced by Enumclaw Fire Department, King County Fire District #28.  

Rally for the Jones Family
Temple of Justice, State Capitol, Olympia, Washington
June 13, 2013, 8:30-9:00am

Business attire is not mandatory, but suggested or SED t-shirts.

We hope to fill the Jones' side of the courtroom.  A respectful silence during proceeding is required. Observers will be allowed to enter after the start time. The Jones case is the second case that morning. First case starts at 9am. Both the City and the Jones' lawyers will make arguments to the court.

History:  On December 23, 2003, Mark Jones, Seattle Firefighter, while on duty at Station 33, woke in the dark of night to use the bathroom.  He fell down the pole hole, a fifteen foot drop onto a concrete floor. The fall caused a multitude of life threatening injuries, including a brain injury. The State determined that he would never work again. 

The City of Seattle refuses to pay for Mark’s medical costs and because he is covered under LEOFF 2 pension system, he has no medical insurance; therefore he was forced to sue The City of Seattle.

The trial concluded in 2009, with a 12-0 verdict.  The City appealed this decision.  It was then heard by the Division One Appellate court in 2012.  The Division One Appellate Court upheld the trial court's decision with another unanimous (3-0) vote.  The City appealed the 3-0 decision to the State Supreme Court.  The Supreme Court agreed to hear Mark's case. The Supreme Court's decision may either affirm the trial court's decision, or overturn it.  If it's overturned, the entire process will start over.

It has been almost ten years since Mark fell down the pole hole.  Seattle's Bravest Charity and Mark's family continue to support him financially. 

We need to rally support for Mark and his family, who continue to fight for Mark's future.  This case has ramifications beyond Mark and his family; it affects all of us, who could be injured on duty at any time. 

Please join us in Olympia the morning of June 13, 2013. 

This one-day basic fire ground operations orientation is intended for public officials, representatives of the media, and civilians, to emphasize the required skills and inherent risks of professional fire fighting and emergency medical response. 

Participants suit up in fire fighter protective clothing, don a self-contained breathing apparatus, and experience a live fire environment.  This controlled demonstration provides a unique opportunity to experience firsthand situations fire fighters and paramedics handle on a daily basis. 

Enjoy the pictures from this year’s event! 

"FIREFIGHTER FOR A DAY  Part I: Fire Ops 101 is a chance to see what they face"   Courtesy of the Renton Reporter.com

June 25-27, 2013
Double Tree by Hilton
Seattle Airport, Seattle Washington

The WSCFF 74th Annual Convention will be hosted by Locals 1747 Kent, 2088 Tukwila, and 2919 City of Sea Tac. The Call to Convention was mailed to all locals on Thursday, March 21, 2013.  Please watch for this important information and contact the council office if your
local did not receive its registration packet. 

Please remember that per capita must be paid through May 2013 in order for your local to attend convention.  

Call To Convention

Check List

Hotel Information

Please take note: The room block cutoff date is May 24, 2013.  Please book your rooms prior to this date!

To make reservations, your local may:

1. Call the hotel directly at 206-246-8600   
2. Call 1-800-222-TREE (8733)       
3. Visit our hotel’s website:  www.seattleairport.doubletree.com 

Committe List

Benefit Ride   Correction, Please Note: The benefit ride will start at Double Tree, 18740 International Blvd.

Golf Flyer

MERP Information

The Washington State Council of Fire Fighters (WSCFF) is proud to announce the 2013 launch of the Northwest Fire Fighters Benefits Trust (NWFFT) offering medical/Rx/vision and dental coverage. On behalf of all of our members and their families, we have worked hard to develop a comprehensive, affordable, and sustainable health plan that will be here for all of us and our families when we need it.

Our goal in creating the NWFFT is to leverage the advantages represented by having our own Trust with our own unique plans. We established this Trust to:

• Create a “like-risk” pool of fire fighters throughout the Northwest - we feel our utilization of health care services is lower than the majority of the population;
• Preserve, tailor, and/or enhance plan designs that our meaningful to us;
• Provide current and future access to retiree health insurance. (Retirees must be tied to a group of participating actives and currently covered on a group plan in order to be eligible)

Click the link below for information on medical and dental plan options available in 2013!

NWFFT Brochure

Please contact the Trust Consultant, DiMartino Associates, for additional information or to a request a quote.

DiMartino Associates
1501 4^th Avenue, Suite 2400
Seattle, WA 98101
206/623-2430

NWFFT@wscff.org

Trust Administrator: Benefit Solutions, Inc. Phone: 866/265-5231