Local 2068 Health & Safety
Fire fighter occupational cancer is the leading cause of line-of-duty death in the fire service.
At the 2023 IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial, 63% of the names added to the wall were members who had died from occupational cancer.
In partnership with the Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN), the IAFF has designated January as Fire Fighter Cancer Awareness Month to provide fire fighters the necessary tools and guidance to develop life-saving protocols for cancer prevention and to support those with a cancer diagnosis within their departments.
The IAFF Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery is a one-of-a-kind addiction treatment facility specializing in PTSD for IAFF members – and IAFF members only – who are struggling with addiction, PTSD other related behavioral health challenges to receive the help they need in taking the first steps toward recovery. It is a safe haven for members to talk with other members who have faced or overcome similar challenges.
𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝟭𝟬-𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟭𝟯𝟵𝘁𝗵 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹! Ten years ago today, the women and men of the 139th Recruit School walked through the doors of Fairfax County Fire & Rescue for the very first time. September 2, 2015 marked the start of a journey that has since been filled with challenges, growth, and countless calls answered.A decade later, you continue to serve with the same commitment and courage that brought you here in the first place. Your Local 2068 family is proud to stand beside you as you celebrate this milestone.Here’s to the memories made, the bonds forged, and the years still ahead. Stay safe, and congratulations on 10 years of service!📸Credit: Dennis Michaliga#Local2068 #FairfaxCounty #FCFRD #UnionProud ... See MoreSee Less
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𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱. 𝗪𝗲 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗜𝘁 From firefighters, paramedics, 911 dispatchers, and apparatus mechanics, to teachers, nurses, grocery clerks, delivery drivers, and every worker who shows up day after day, today is for 𝗬𝗢𝗨.Labor Day isn’t just a day off. It’s a day to honor every hand, every skill, every shift that keeps our communities alive and thriving. We see you. We thank you. We stand union strong with you.#LaborDay #Local2068 #UnionStrong #FairfaxCounty #FCFRD #Solidarity ... See MoreSee Less
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𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘁! Thanks to your generosity, our A & C Shift members have kicked this campaign off strong! Now it’s time to see if B Shift can keep the momentum going.For the next two days, today and tomorrow, your firefighters, paramedics, 911 dispatchers, and apparatus mechanics will be out in the community filling the boot to support the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the fight against neuromuscular disease.Let’s keep the energy high, Fairfax County! Fill those boots and help us make a difference! #Local2068 #FillTheBoot #MDA #FairfaxCounty #FCFRD #UnionStrong ... See MoreSee Less
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𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘁! After a strong start yesterday, your firefighters, paramedics, 911 dispatchers, and apparatus mechanics are back out today filling the boot to support the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the fight against neuromuscular disease.Let’s keep the momentum going, Fairfax County! Fill those boots and help us make a difference! #Local2068 #FillTheBoot #MDA #FairfaxCounty #FCFRD #UnionStrong ... See MoreSee Less
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𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬! Starting today through Monday, your firefighters, paramedics, 911 dispatchers, and apparatus mechanics will be out in force “Filling the Boot” for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA)!With your support, we’re aiming to remain the #1 highest-collecting Local in the country once again. Every dollar makes an impact by funding life-saving research, summer camps, family support, and programs that improve the lives of those living with neuromuscular disease.If you don’t see us out and about this weekend, you can still help. Check the link in the comments to donate online and join us in the fight against neuromuscular disease.Thank you for your continued generosity and for helping us make a difference in so many lives!#Local2068 #FillTheBoot #MDA #UnionStrong #FairfaxCounty #FCFRD ... See MoreSee Less
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𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗱 = 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘁!This Labor Day weekend, your firefighters, paramedics, 911 dispatchers and apparatus mechanics will once again be out in the community “Filling the Boot” for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA)!Starting Friday and running all weekend, you’ll see us on street corners, in front of stores, and at town centers with our boots in hand. Every dollar you give helps us bring hope to families living with neuromuscular diseases.For decades, Fill the Boot has been one of our proudest traditions in Fairfax County and thanks to your generosity, Local 2068 has consistently led the nation in fundraising!Your donations make a difference by supporting:Summer camps for kidsCutting-edge research tied to FDA-approved therapiesMDA Family GetawaysPrograms improving the quality of life for those affectedThank you for always supporting this effort. With your help, we’re aiming to remain the #1 highest-collecting Local in the country once again!𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗱, 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘂𝘀 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘁!#Local2068 #FillTheBoot #MDA #FCFRD #UnionStrong #FairfaxCounty ... See MoreSee Less
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𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲 – 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁In the early hours of Tuesday morning, your Fairfax County firefighters and paramedics were dispatched to a reported house fire in the 9600 block of Commonwealth Boulevard in the Kings Park West area.Our members arrived to find smoke showing from the roofline of a single-family home and quickly located a fire in the rear of the house. Your firefighters rapidly extinguished the fire and conducted salvage and overhaul operations.Fortunately, there were no civilian or firefighter injuries. Most importantly, the home was equipped with working smoke alarms that alerted the four occupants and saved their lives.A strong reminder that smoke alarms save lives! Excellent job by all of our 911 dispatchers, firefighters and paramedics to mitigate this emergency! 📸Credit: Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department#Local2068 #FCFRD #fairfaxcounty #UnionStrong ... See MoreSee Less
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𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗟𝘁. 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗮 𝗛𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀! Last week, our member Lieutenant Laura Huggins was honored as she retired following a remarkable career with Fairfax County Fire and Rescue.Lt. Huggins dedicated her career to protecting the residents and visitors of Fairfax County, and her leadership, professionalism, and commitment to the fire service will leave a lasting legacy.On behalf of Local 2068, we thank you for your years of service and wish you all the best in your next chapter. Join us in congratulating Lt. Huggins on her well-earned retirement! #Local2068 #FCFRD #fairfaxcounty #UnionStrong ... See MoreSee Less
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𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗞𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗢𝗳𝗳 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘁!A huge thank you to our retirees for stepping up last week to support our MDA Chair, Joel Kobersteen, in the behind-the-scenes prep for this year’s Fill the Boot campaign!There’s a tremendous amount of work that goes into making this campaign a success every year, and it wouldn’t be possible without Joel’s leadership and the dedication of our volunteers. From retirees lending a hand, to our office staff keeping things organized, to the members out on the streets collecting each day, this is truly a team effort.We’re grateful to everyone who helps make Fill the Boot such an impactful campaign for the MDA community!#local2068 #FCFRD #fairfaxcounty #UnionStrong #mda #FillTheBoot ... See MoreSee Less
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