West Virginia State Firemen's Association

For Immediate Release

Volunteer Fire Department’s Workers Compensation Premium Increase Relief

3/14/2011

The West Virginia State Fireman’s Association would like to thank the Senate and the House of Delegates for working to help resolve the crisis facing West Virginia’s volunteer fire departments related to projected increases in Worker’s Compensation premiums. At 9 am on the morning of the last day of the session, the legislation needed to assist the volunteer fire service appeared stalled in both the Senate and the House. The WVSFA leadership went to work by personally meeting with Senators and Delegates one-on-one and with various committees to get the legislation moving. Many individual Senators and Delegates assisted in the bill’s resuscitation. After passing through the Senate Finance Committee (Senator Prezioso, Chairman), with the support of the Governor’s Office and the leadership of the Senate and House of Delegates, a bi-partisan, bi-chamber bill was adopted.

Without State help, many departments were faced with closing their doors as of July 1, 2011. WVSFA Officers and the Legislative Committee with support of the Governor’s Office, worked late into the night with members of both the Senate and the House on the final day of the session to hammer out a plan for relief. House Bill 3271 which had been amended in the Senate, was sent back to the House for review and finally passed at 11:15 p.m. – just 45 minutes before the close of the 2011 session. The bill will provide for $5,000,000 to be set aside in a fund to help departments offset anticipated increases in Worker’s Compensation premiums – some increases are projected to be as high as 700%. Volunteer Fire Departments, many of which are already running on extremely tight budgets, simply had no way to absorb the projected increases in coverage which is mandated by law in order for these departments to operate.

The funds will be placed into an account that volunteer fire departments may use to offset the increases that they incur. The bill that passed provides the $5,000,000 for one (1) year which will allow time for options on a permanent solution to be explored. The State Association will need to come back to next year’s legislative session to find a permanent solution. Members of the Senate and the House of Delegates have acknowledged the need for a permanent solution to this crisis.

The West Virginia State Fireman’s Association would like to thank our lobbyist, Sam Love, Glenn Whittington of the Buffalo VFD, the members of the Cedar Grove VFD, and all of our firefighters who called and emailed the legislators and let them know how important this legislation was for West Virginia’s fire service. The officers, Legislative Committee and Publicity Committee will continue to keep everyone informed of the status of Worker’s Compensation for volunteer fire departments and the legislative rules that will be enacted to access the funds.

WV State Firemen’s Association

Press Release

1/13/2011

West Virginia volunteer firefighters from all across the State showed up in numbers and got some good news at Wednesday’s State of the State Address at the State Capitol.  Representatives of Governor Earl Ray Tomblin told leaders of the West Virginia State Fireman’s Association (WV SFA) that the Governor has allocated $2,500,000 to a “Volunteer Firefighter’s Worker’s Compensation Relief Fund”.  This money would be pooled for all of the volunteer fire departments in the State for use in paying Worker’s Compensation premiums which are expected to skyrocket.  WV SFA leaders were grateful for the Governor’s actions but are hopeful that the legislature will also step in and help meet the remainder of the projected liability that will be generated when the moratorium on premium increases expires on June 30, 2011.  Projections have called for premium increases of up to 700% for some departments.

Also at the Capitol, on Wednesday morning the Worker’s Compensation Task Force met and sent its final reports to the Governor for his consideration.  The task-force, appointed by then Governor Manchin, was in agreement with the State Association on many aspects of the Worker’s Comp issues including Compensable Injuries and Risk Assessment.  There was also agreement that there is conflicting data on injuries and their root causes but it is believed that these smaller issues can continue to be worked through with the legislature to resolution via open dialogue.

WV SFA President Jim Oldaker stated, “We appreciate Governor Tomblin’s effort to start the process of resolving this crisis.  He has a clear understanding of the potential impact the loss of Worker’s Compensation coverage for volunteer fire departments will have on emergency service delivery in the State.”

Volunteer firefighters are also going to be pressing the legislature on issues related to Broadform Liability and the retention and recruitment of volunteers in their ranks.  John Holstein, Chief of the Danville Volunteer Fire Department in Boone County summed up the issue in stating, “We’re losing well trained volunteer firefighters on a weekly basis and we’re not getting the number of new recruits that we’ve seen in the past.  This is an on-going issue that we cannot stress enough to our representatives.”

Volunteer firefighters are planning to be at the Capitol throughout the 2011 General Session and will have a “Meeting with the Legislature” on February 2, 2011.  All firefighters from across the State are encouraged to attend to meet with the Delegates and Senators to discuss their specific needs and concerns.

The West Virginia State Fireman’s Association represents over 300 volunteer fire departments across the State and serves as the State’s liaison with the National Volunteer Fire Council.  For more information, please feel free to contact WV SFA President Jim Oldaker at jlochf17@aol.com.

The 2011 General Session of the West Virginia Legislature will have to address issues critical to the continued operations of over 400 volunteer fire departments in the State.  VFDs are going to lose Worker’s Compensation coverage – insurance required for operation of a VFD – on June 30, 2011 unless a solution is found to address the anticipated 600-700% increase in premiums projected.   Many volunteer fire departments in the State cannot absorb the projected increases and may be forced to close if there isn’t some form of relief granted.  Similar situations in other states have lead to the closure of volunteer fire departments like the Knight Township Volunteer Fire Department in Indiana which closed its doors on January 1, 2011.

The current worker’s compensation provider, Brickstreet, has stated publicly that it will no longer cover fire departments under the current premium structure.  Brickstreet already sent a notice to volunteer fire departments in May of 2010 informing them that their Broadform liability coverage(s) would not be renewed.  This refusal to renew generated a potential crisis in volunteer fire department operations across the State with some threatening to close their doors if officers and Board members were not protected.  An opinion from the General Counsel for the Insurance Commission stated that volunteer fire departments didn’t need Broadform liability coverage as, in her opinion; they are protected under the State’s Tort Claims Act.  Sam Love, lobbyist for the West Virginia State Fireman’s Association, stated, “If we supposedly didn’t need it, why were they selling it to us and charging us for it?  Further, if it was not needed and we couldn’t be sued under Broadform, why did they feel the need to cancel it?  It just doesn’t make sense.”  The issue remains unresolved for many and the State Fireman’s Association feels that there needs to be legislative clarification for volunteer fire departments and other emergency responders.

Jim Oldaker, Chief of the Alum Creek Volunteer Fire Department and President of the State Fireman’s Association, stated, “We want to work with the Governor’s Office and the Legislature to avert a crisis…there is no glory in fighting a fire that could have been prevented.”  He goes on to add, “We would like to sit down and meet with the Governor so that he fully understands the situation that we are facing.”  The West Virginia State Fireman’s Association has been working with the West Virginia State Fire Chief’s Association on the legislative agenda.  Gary Bonnett, Chief of the Bank District Volunteer Fire Department and President of the State Chief’s Association stated, “These issues impact us all and we need to find a resolution in this session.  The clock is ticking for many fire departments.”

The West Virginia State Fireman’s Association is also wanting the Legislature and the Governor to help them with issues related to the retention and recruitment of volunteers.

Firefighters plan to show up in force at the State-of-the-State address to speak with their legislators and they plan to be active in pressing their case during this legislative session.

The West Virginia State Fireman’s Association represents over 300 volunteer fire departments across the State and is the State’s liaison with the National Volunteer Fire Council.  The Association works to promote firefighter health and safety, fire prevention, and the operations of volunteer fire departments across the State.  For more information about the WV State Fireman’s Association please visit our website at http://www.wvsfa.org/.  For more information about the West Virginia State Fire Chief’s Association, please contact Gary Bonnett at gbonnett@cebridge.net.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10-07-2010
West Virginia State Firemen’s Association

The Public Relations Department of the West Virginia State Firemen’s  Association is pleased to announce the production and release of the new  “Recruitment” video for West Virginia State Volunteer Fire Departments.  In cooperation with several volunteer departments and Suddenlink Media,  this video (and audio version) have been developed in the hopes of running as a “Public  Service Announcement” (PSA) on local television and radio stations to garner more volunteers for the fire service in West Virginia.

In the past several years, the number of volunteer fire fighters has sharply declined. Without having an adequate number of people to do operations, fire and rescue protection will decline. The fire service in West Virginia needs your help. Visit your local volunteer fire department and see just exactly what you can do to help. Whether it’s running emergency responses or helping out around the station, everyone can make a difference.

Below, a lower quality YouTube video shows the PSA in its entirety. For a high quality copy of this video in DVD/bin (dvd image file) for burning to DVD, please email John Holstein. This file can be used by your local TV station as a Public Service Announcement (PSA).

Press Release

For Immediate Release

8/22/2010

Wheeling, WV

The West Virginia State Firemen’s Association met in Oglebay Park in Wheeling last week for their 82nd Annual Convention. Topics of discussion were the recent broad form liability issue (deliberate intent) and recruitment and retention of viable fire fighters throughout the State.

Other important topics of debate included pending worker’s compensation issues and the special committees appointed by Gov. Joe Manchin’s office to review compensable injuries, deliberate intent and risk management. The convention also discussed efforts being made toward scholarships awarded to volunteer firefighters attending trade, technical and college level courses related to the fire service, the junior fire fighter’s camp offered by the West Virginia University Fire Service Extension and safety seminar’s offered by the National Volunteer Fire Council. Volunteers from around the State representing a majority of Volunteer Fire Departments were delegates to the convention.

State Senator Kessler, a potential gubernatorial candidate, addressed the convention on Thursday and Friday. Several area House of Delegates members were also in attendance.
On Friday, Gov. Joe Manchin addressed the convention. Manchin and Senator Kessler both assured attendees that legislation would be in the works to obtain the immunity that VFD‘s are seeking.

The following firefighters were elected to officer positions within the association: Chief Jim Oldaker, Alum Creek Volunteer Fire epartment, elected as President of the West Virginia State Firemen’s Association; Brian Malcomb, Chief of the Springfield Volunteer Fire Department elected as 1st Vice President; Lee Goodwin an Officer in the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department elected as 2nd Vice President; Chief John Holstein, Danville Volunteer Fire Department, was chosen as 3rd Vice President; Harry Shockey an Officer at Morefield VFD elected as Executive Secretary; Assistant Chief Larry Goodwin of Vienna VFD, elected to Sgt. at Arms; Sandra McDonald from Charles Town elected as Financial Secretary; Tim Evans, Chief of Keyser VFD, elected as Assistant Secretary; Colleen Beauchesne, a Lifetime Fire Service Member, elected as Treasurer; Lou Richmond from Glen Dale elected as Historian; and David C. Harman elected as Parlimentarian.

The convention continued through Saturday where members discussed various issues pertaining to the fire service in West Virginia along with regular business meetings to discuss issues within the association. Holstein emphasized that the WVSFA encourages all fire fighters in the State to attend the convention and for all fire departments in the State to join the association.

Over the course of 2010, many legislative issues were addressed, several of these issues ended with positive steps taken by the legislature that directly affect every volunteer fire department in the State and several issues that affect all fire departments, paid and volunteer. The association actively lobbies the legislature during all sessions. The organization wishes to thank all sponsors and volunteers that made the 2010 convention a success and especially the Marshall County Fire Fighter’s Association for hosting the event.