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Ego Sum Fratres Custos 
Firefighters Against Cancer The Bettendorf and Riverdale Fire Associations, including Bettendorf L3190, are efforting to raise awareness of women’s cancer education, treatment and survival in their communities. They are joining a National event that will bring the Pink Fire Truck Tour into the Bettendorf/Riverdale area. Both fire departments plan on wearing pink on August 15th to draw attention to the cause. Learn more at www.qcwearpink.org
Bettendorf Council Approves Firefighter Hiring http://qctimes.com/news/local/bettendorf-council-approves-new-firefighter/article_e1a13ee2-6810-11e1-8324-0019bb2963f4.html Though the city council agreed to hire one of the three firefighters requested, 3190 would like to clear up any misconceptions that may have developed in the process.
1. Bettendorf staffing is “safe”. Based on NFPA standards that are echoed by organizations such as the International Ass. of Fire Chiefs, Insurance Service Organization and The International City Management Ass. Bettendorf staffing is not safe for firefighters or citizens.
2. Bettendorf Fire Dept. could be more “efficient”. There is nothing “efficient” about being ill prepared to handle the publics emergencies. If firefighters are at an EMS call in a pick-up truck when a fire call comes in, going back to the station to retrieve a fire engine is an inefficiency that could prove deadly. Today’s fire engines are equipped to handle fires, EMS calls, major car accidents, and begin the process of handling water related rescues, haz-mat calls, and technical rescue calls, such as cave-ins, collapses and rope related rescues. This helps firefighters be prepared at a moments notice.
3. Firefighters aren’t needed on some EMS calls. Fire based EMS is more readily available and provides better response times than private ambulance. Also, major EMS calls require more than two EMT’s and it is not known at the time of dispatch how serious the call is. Also, eliminating some EMS calls does nothing to reduce response times, or approach NFPA standards of firefighters on the scene of fires and major emergencies. It is quite frankly a moot point at this time.
4. Bettendorf cannot afford more firefighters. $300K to open and staff a new fire station is so inexpensive Bettendorf cannot afford not to do so. With an $80 plus million dollar budget, $300K is well less than 1% of the entire budget. The “bang for the buck” the city gets with this investment is outstanding. Few, if any, fire departments in Iowa can get so much improvement for such a small investment. Also, there is approximately $1 million in available funds, the staffing plan can be accomplished and there would still be monies available for other projects.
5. The Chief says there is no need. "Voelliger said the city is growing, and the department must grow with it to provide adequate protection. “We’re not trying to get bigger because we want to get bigger,” he said. “We’re trying to get bigger because there is a need.”" QC Times, Bettendorf Council Backs Off Tax Cut 2-11-2012 Read more: http://www.qctimes.com/news/local/bettendorf-council-backs-off-tax-cut/article_7d1dffae-5524-11e1-8563-001871e3ce6c.html#ixzz1oIKjBqxt
Your fire department needs to grow and evolve with the community and your support is appreciated. Please call or e-mail your alderman and let him/her know you support the Fire Chiefs staffing plan.
Local 3190 Educates and Informs The Quad City Times recently published an article outlining the needs of the Bettendorf Fire Dept. including L3190's detailed information packet. Use the link below to to view those articles and documents. http://qctimes.com/firefighter-staffing/pdf_08c6bada-068f-11e1-b6c8-001cc4c03286.html
Local 3190 and Local 17 Host State Convention, Give To Charity This past July L3190 and L17 hosted delegates from around the state for 3 days of IPFF business and pleasure with our brothers and sisters. The convention was held at the Davenport Radison with a day of golf at Palmer Hills in Bettendorf. With money raised from raffles and auctions we were able to donate $1000.00 to MDA, $1000.00 to the St. Florian Burn Foundation and $500.00 to the 9-11 Patch Project. Thanks to everyone who helped out, especially L3190 Kyle Priest and L17 Eric Griffin.
New Residential Fire Study Shows Effects of Crew Size on Fire Fighting Operations
April 28, 2010 -- A landmark study released by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) shows that the size of fire fighting crews has a substantial effect on the fire service's ability to protect lives and property in residential fires. Click here to read the news release.
Conducted by a broad coalition in the scientific, fire fighting and public safety communities, the study results found that four-person fire fighting crews were able to complete 22 essential fire fighting and rescue tasks in a typical residential structure 30 percent faster than two-person crews and 25 percent faster than three-person crews.
The report is the first to quantify the effects of crew sizes and arrival times on the fire service's lifesaving and fire fighting operations.
This and other scientific data in the report will help educate public officials, fire chiefs and other decision-makers on the importance of adequate staffing and deployment with respect to fire fighter and public safety.
Study investigators from NIST and the IAFF announced the results of the study at a press conference at the Hilton Washington in Washington, DC, before the start of the annual Congressional Fire Services Institute meeting of top fire safety officials from the across the nation.
The study is funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters grant program.
Read General President Harold Schaitberger's blog, "Fire Fighter Staffing and Deployment Study Released"
For more information, contact Lori Moore-Merrell at lmoore@iaff.org or (202) 824-1594.
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Bettendorf Firefighters Continue To See Increase In Emergencies In 2011, the Firefighters of Local 3190 responded to 3,072 emergency calls, including fires, car accidents, hazardous material spills, and medical emergencies. This number is an increase from the previous year and is consistent with previous upward trends in emergency calls. Since 2000, the Bettendorf Fire Dept. has seen an increase in call volume over 20%. These upward trends are expected to continue as the population of the city (6.2% from 2000-2010, US Census Bureau), and the fire protection district grows. Also contributing to the increase is the rapid development of previously undeveloped land. These developments include commercial structures, housing sub-divisions, and highly populated structures such as apartment buildings and senior living centers. In an attempt to keep up with this growth, the fire department has added staff, increased training, and improved procedures. The members of L3190 are commited to maintaining excellence during this growth and look forward to the continued support of management, and the community and hope for the same from city leaders .
If you have any questions or comments, contact us at: info@iaff3190.org
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