West Virginia State Firemen's Association

Dear Honorable Senators and Delegates,

On behalf of the entire membership of the West Virginia State Fireman’s Association we would like to formally thank you for your unanimous passage of Senate Bill 213 / House Bill 4107 in both the Senate and the House of Delegates.

This bill will bring fire service training in the State of West Virginia into the 21rst Century and will allow firefighters and first responders to take valuable courses without having to travel long distances and/or spend more time away from their families. The increased access to training opportunities will improve firefighter safety and improve the public safety services provided to the citizens of West Virginia.

This bill will provide a process where end users and the public will have a voice in how their fire departments and first responders are trained.

We humbly thank the 2012 Legislature for this prudent action and for its bipartisan support.

This is a preparation alert. Between now and Monday, we may request
that all available personnel show up at the Capitol to help get this
bill passed, without amendments, in the Senate.

For those available on Monday 2/13/2012, please be prepared to rush to
Charleston for assistance on HB 4107, pertaining to training and
Legislative oversight of training. We will need an “all hands on deck”
response from all available firefighters throughout the State. For
those available and willing, prepare to take days off of work,
vacation days, etc. This bill is this important.

Will are also initiating an email campaign to all Senators regarding
these issues and HB 4107 showing our support. There’s misinformation
being spread by those against this bill and we need to set the record
straight. The correct information will be sent out by the WVSFA over
the weekend. Please copy/paste and/or send out your version of our
mailing to your Senators after you receive it from the WVSFA.

More info to follow over the weekend, including some very shocking
quotes from so-called “leaders” within the fire service.

Thanks and have a safe day!

/john

Photo by John Holstein

State Capitol – West Virginia State Auditor Glenn Gainer III was on hand during Firefighter Day at the West Virginia State Capitol Complex to personally hand-deliver several worker’s compensation reimbursement checks to several departments in the State. Capt. Chasity Gregory of the Alum Creek Volunteer Fire Department was on hand to accept the check for her department. Auditor Gainer stated “…there’s still approximately three and half million of the 5 million million dollars acquired during last year’s Legislative session. We still have many departments left to reimburse and we’ll need to acquire funding in the future.”

Through the help of the Auditor’s office, a streamlined process has been developed to receive, enter and return reimbursements in an efficient manner. Mr. Gainer stated that their office attempts to get each and every reimbursement check out within 24 hours of initial receipt.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia’s volunteer firefighters could seek some of their needed training and testing online through legislation moving this session.

A unanimous House of Delegates passed that proposal Monday. It would also allow these firefighters to pursue training in segments.

Read the Original Article

Legislative Reception:

Feb 7 @ 5pm-9pm Beni Kedem Shrine (Next to Fifth Quarter Restaurant) Quarrier Street, Charleston WV.

Refreshments will be provided.

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Firefighter Day at the Legislature, Feb 8 2012 @ Capitol Rotunda, 9am

Officers of the WVSFA will be on hand to go over agenda items.

Of note:

• Recruitment and Retention
• Legislative Rules for the State Fire Commission
• Restructuring of existing volunteer fire department State Code Items
• Training & Safety