News: News

WSCFF Legislative Liaison Bud Sizemore Takes New Role with DNR 

Legislative Liaison Bud Sizemore, retired, L1747, Kent, has resigned his position with the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters (WSCFF) to take a new job as Deputy Director of External Affairs for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. We appreciate his years of extensive work within the WSCFF and congratulate him as he begins his new...

Line-of-Duty Death: A Fire Family Story

Erik Shouse, L2781 Snohomish County, died at age 40 from cardiac arrest at his home on Camano Island in April 2018. A year later, the Department of Labor and Industries determined that he died in the line of duty of an occupational disease. His wife, Kalina, has been a tireless advocate for fire fighters...

Retirement is a huge life change. Consider it!

WSCFF Retirees Association Advisory Board Member Steve Hostetter reflects on planning for retirement. As a recent retiree, I often have conversations with fire service friends about retirement. The discussion is usually about the financial considerations and benefit choices like survivor options and purchasing service credits. Recently I’ve been making it a point to ask...

NWFFT changes name to IAFF Health & Wellness Trust

WSCFF Secretary-Treasurer Greg Markley is pleased to announce a refreshed brand identity for the Northwest Fire Fighters Benefits Trust. The new name and logo are indicative of the evolution of the Trust since its inception in 2013.  Markley says, “while this is a significant change, and we remain ever proud of our Pacific Northwest...

Governor Inslee Signs WSCFF Backed Pension Reform Bill

On Thursday, March 24, Governor Jay Inslee signed into law Substitute House Bill 1701, providing a significant pension benefit for members of Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters LEOFF Plan 2, and making WSCFF history. Years of lobbying and relationship building resulted in the unanimous passage of this pension reform legislation. “This has been...

Response to Vaccine Mandate

The WSCFF has been fully engaged on the recent proclamation by Governor Inslee mandating COVID-19 vaccination of healthcare workers including those of us in the fire, paramedic, and emergency medical services.

2021 WSCFF Convention Highlights

The Washington State Council of Fire Fighters held its 82nd Annual Convention, in person, at the DoubleTree Hotel in SeaTac, hosted by IAFF Local 1747 Kent. Two hundred and forty-three delegates and 37 alternates, representing nearly 8,500 WSCFF members, met to elect officers, discuss, debate, and vote on resolutions, and set the direction for...

We Can Do Better!

At this pivotal point in our country’s history, the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters is proud to stand with our brothers and sisters across this great state and nation and say, black lives matter! Racism, bias, and intolerance must end if we are to achieve what is described in our Declaration of Independence...

Retirees Association Moves Forward

The newly formed WSCFF Retirees Association is dedicated to inspiring, organizing and building a robust, empowered community for retired firefighters.  The Retirees Association Board, made up of LEOFF 1 and LEOFF 2 retired members, was not able to meet in person, as planned, in April.  Nonetheless they continue to move forward to serve the...