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.
𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀: 𝗔 𝗛𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀Firefighters face a 10-45% higher risk of colorectal cancer compared to the general population, with some studies showing a 19% increased risk of late-stage colon cancer. The toxins and carcinogens we encounter on the job put us at greater risk, but early detection and prevention can save lives.- Know the signs: Persistent changes in bowel habits, blood in stool, unexplained weight loss, or abdominal discomfort.- Get screened: Regular screenings can detect cancer early when it's most treatable.- DECON is key: Clean your gear, skin, and equipment after every call to reduce exposure to harmful chemicals.Your health is your greatest asset, protect it. Talk to your doctor, schedule your screenings, and encourage your brothers and sisters to do the same. Early detection saves lives.#Local2068 #fairfaxcounty #FCFRD #coloncancerawareness #firefighterhealth #EarlyDetectionSavesLives ... See MoreSee Less
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𝗔𝗹𝗲𝘅 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗸𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆!On behalf of the 1,900 Fairfax County Professional Fire Fighters, Paramedics, 911 Telecommunicators, and Apparatus Mechanics we are proud to represent, we extend congratulations to Alex Ovechkin, a longtime Fairfax County resident, on scoring his 895th career goal and officially passing Wayne Gretzky to become the all-time leading goal scorer in NHL history!From one team of dedicated professionals to another, we salute you, OVI!#Local2068 #fairfaxcounty #FCFRD ... See MoreSee Less
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𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲 𝗖𝘂𝘁𝘀 𝗣𝘂𝘁 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸 Fairfax County’s proposed FY26 budget cuts will eliminate FOUR ambulances, leaving entire communities waiting for critical EMS services. This means fewer ambulances on the street, longer wait times, and delayed transport to definitive medical care during life-threatening emergencies.The proposed closures include:Ambulance 416 (𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗼𝗻)Ambulance 420 (𝗚𝘂𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻)Ambulance 441 (𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲 / 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗳𝗮𝘅 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻)Medic 439 (𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 / 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻)These cuts put lives at risk, and we can't allow that to happen. Our community deserves fast, reliable emergency medical response, not budget cuts that endanger public safety.Contact the Board of Supervisors TODAY and demand they restore funding to protect public safety.Share this with your family, friends, and neighbors, and let's make sure Public Safety stays a top priority for Fairfax County.#FairfaxCounty #local2068 #FCFRD #cliftonva #gunstonva #fairfaxstationva #herndonva ... See MoreSee Less
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𝗛𝗮𝘇𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝘁𝘀 𝗥𝘂𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲!This past Saturday at 0430 hours, Rescue Squad 444 (Scotts Run) and Engine 444 (Scotts Run) responded to a semi-truck crash on the interstate. The collision led to a hazardous fuel and oil spill across the roadway.Why Rescue 444 made the difference:- Stabilized the semi-truck, ensuring a safer scene for all responders.- Contained the hazardous spill, preventing contamination of the stormwater system.- Identified the need to offload fuel due to ruptured tanks, reducing fire risk.- Coordinated with the hazmat team to safely recover remaining diesel fuel.The Threat to Public Safety:If the FY26 budget goes through as proposed, both Engine 444 and Rescue Squad 444 would have been out of service for this call. That means response times would have been significantly delayed, putting both the environment and public safety at greater risk.We need your help to make sure Fairfax County keeps Public Safety a priority. Share this with your family, friends, and neighbors, our community depends on it!#Local2068 #fairfaxcounty #FCFRD #tysonscorner ... See MoreSee Less
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𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀' 𝗷𝗼𝗸𝗲; 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗬𝟮𝟲 𝗯𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱. If approved, this budget jeopardizes public safety by:Eliminating 4 EMS transport units: Ambulance 416 (𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗼𝗻), Ambulance 420 (𝗚𝘂𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻), Ambulance 441 (𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲) & Medic 439 (𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁)Eliminating 2 Rescue Squads: Rescue Squad 419 (𝗟𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗻) & Rescue Squad 421 (𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗢𝗮𝗸𝘀)Converting 3 units to non-24/7 peak-time staffing: Tower 405 (𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗮), Engine 444 (𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝘁𝘀 𝗥𝘂𝗻) & Rescue Squad 444 (𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝘁𝘀 𝗥𝘂𝗻)These cuts will result in longer response times, fewer available emergency units, and greater risks for both our community and first responders. When every second counts, these reductions could mean the difference between life and death.Public safety is one of the core responsibilities of local government. Tell the Board of Supervisors that protecting our residents and first responders must remain a top budget priority!Help us spread the word! Share this with your family, friends, and neighbors, together, we can ensure our community continues to receive the high-quality fire and rescue services it deserves.#Local2068 #fairfaxcounty #FCFRD #cliftonva #fairfaxstationva #gunstonva #HerndonVA #IAFF ... See MoreSee Less
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𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗺It is with heavy hearts, we share the passing of our member, Retired Captain Barry Maham, after a courageous battle with occupational cancer. For over 25 years, Barry served our department with unwavering dedication, earning the respect and admiration of all who knew him. He was known for his infectious smile, positive attitude, and steady leadership, leaving a lasting impact on both his colleagues and the community.Throughout his career, Barry played a vital role in shaping the next generation of firefighters, dedicating countless hours to our training division and mentoring. His expertise extended beyond the fire ground, he was a dedicated member of the USAR team, deploying to disasters both at home and abroad. Barry also combined his love of fishing and boating with his service, playing a key role in our Marine Operations Team for many years.His commitment to serving others didn’t stop at the fire department. Barry was a devoted supporter of the community and spent countless hours volunteering with Veterans Fishing Adventures, a nonprofit dedicated to taking disabled military veterans on fishing trips, giving back to those who served our country in a way that meant so much to him.Please keep Barry’s wife, Amber, and their children in your thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time. We will share details on services and how we can support the family as they become available.Rest easy, Captain. Your legacy of service, kindness, and dedication will never be forgotten. ... See MoreSee Less
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𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱Yesterday, our members responded to a house fire in the 7900 block of Hill Stream Court in Springfield. Upon arrival, crews encountered significant fire and smoke conditions with flames spreading rapidly throughout the home. Without hesitation, our firefighters launched an aggressive fire attack to bring the fire under control while simultaneously conducting search and rescue operations to ensure all occupants had safely escaped. Once the fire was extinguished, crews remained on scene to conduct salvage and overhaul, carefully eliminating hot spots and preventing any chance of rekindling. No civilian or firefighter injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘀:𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀: Engine 435 (Pohick), Engine 441 (Crosspointe), Engine 427 (West Springfield), Engine 432 (Fairview), Engine 419 (Lorton), Engine414 (Burke), Engine 405 (Franconia)𝗟𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗸𝘀: Truck 422 (Springfield), Truck 441 (Crosspointe), Tower 405 (Franconia)𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗱𝘀: Rescue Squad 419 (Lorton), Rescue Squad 414 (Burke)𝗘𝗠𝗦 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘀: Medic 435 (Pohick), Medic 422 (Springfield), Medic 414 (Burke), EMS Supervisor 405, EMS Supervisor 406, EMS Supervisor 404𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱: Battalion Chief 405, Battalion Chief 408, Safety Officer 402, Deputy Chief 402𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘀: Light & Air 437𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀: Investigator 10, Investigator 12Thank you to our regional partners from Prince William County, The City of Fairfax, and The City of Alexandria for their assistance! We are grateful for the dedication and professionalism of all our firefighters, paramedics and 911 tele-communicators.Help us keep our community safe, check your smoke alarms and have an emergency plan!📸 Credit: Wes' Sister On Fire #local2068 #faifaxcounty #FCFRD #PublicSafety ... See MoreSee Less
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