Boston Line of Duty Death

Boston LODD

On Wednesday, March 26, 2014, the Boston Fire Department battled a 9-alarm fire in a brownstone located at 298 Beacon Street.  While operating in the basement, Lieutenant Edward J. Walsh and Firefighter Michael R. Kennedy from Engine Company 33/Ladder 15 died from injuries sustained when they became trapped by fire conditions.  Lt. Walsh, 43, leaves behind a wife and three children and FF Kennedy, 33, was a Marine Corps combat veteran.  Thirteen firefighters also sustained injuries while fighting the fire.

The members of Local 88 express their deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Lt. Walsh and FF Kennedy and to the Boston Fire Department.  We also wish a speedy recovery to the injured firefighters.

It’s In Their Blood

Firefighters agreement with the public has always been that we willingly get sick and place ourselves in harms way for the general public. In return, the general public helps us get well in the form of Health Benefits. This unwritten agreement has long been understood by first responders and taxpayer alike and worked magnificently for the greater good of our communities. The New Jersey State FMBA has created a website, wwww.firefighterfactsnj.org, to help the public understand the risks firefighters face will doing their job. Please take the time to visit this website and learn more about those health risks.

Find A Cure

October is always busy for members of the Franklin Township Fire Prevention Department as they spend countless hours teaching the public about fire safety. Along with being Fire Prevention Month, October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Many local members are either related to or are friends with someone who has fought this disease. To show our support, the fire inspectors have created a special helmet shield which we will be wearing for the month of October to show how much we care. The fire inspectors are also wearing a pink ribbon across their uniform badges. Also to show their support, the tele-communicators will be wearing a tee-shirt during their shift that sports our local logo in pink with a breast cancer ribbon.  Click on the link below to see our shield proudly displayed on the Newark Star Ledger news website.

http://photos.nj.com/photogallery/2011/10/franklin_township_fire_inspect.html

awareness_helmet awareness_band pink_logo

Never Forget 9/11/01

Tens years ago on September 11, 2001 the United States was attacked by terrorists who hijacked four passenger jets. The terrorists crashed one jet into each tower at the World Trade Center in New York City, one jet into the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and one jet into a field in Somerset, Pennsylvania. The bravery exhibited by firefighters, police officers, emergency medical personnel, and ordinary citizens on that day was unremarkable. On that day in September, 2,977 innocent people were murdered by terrorists. Among the murdered in New York City were 343 firefighters from the FDNY, 23 NYPD police officers, 37 PAPD police officers, and 8 emergency medical personnel. As the tenth anniversary of the attacks closes we ask that you remember those who unselfishly gave their lives on that day and the soldiers that continue to defend our freedom every day.

NEVER FORGET 9-11-01!!!

Public Employee Pension & Benefits

As the economy of the United States and New Jersey begins to slowly gain again, politics and emotions from the growing unemployment rate have begun to pit taxpayers and public employees against each other. The members of Local 88 would like the public to know that we proudly serve our community and it’s residents and visitors. And we ask that people take some of their valuable time to read a research study performed by Jeffrey H. Keefe, an associate professor of labor and employment relations at the School of Management and Labor Relations at Rutgers University. Mr. Keefe explains the results of his research on the comparisons of pay, benefits, and compensations between public and private sector employees. Local members feel that they are being misrepresented in the news and would like the public to read this report and see the situation and facts from a different point of view. The EPI Briefing Report can be viewed by going to the State FMBA website at www.njfmba.org. Thank you for your continuing support.

St. Matthias Carnival

The Franklin Township FMBA Local 88 and it’s members are proud to support many of the diverse organizations in Franklin. One such organization is St. Matthias Parrish. Every year the local supports the church’s annual carnival with the purchase of a banner to be hung at one of their attractions. The thank you post card we received from the church pictured below shows our banner being proudly displayed.

FMBA Local 88 Little League Team

The members of Local 88 have been proud sponsors our youth in the Franklin Township Little League by sponsoring a team. The FMBA 88 team finished the 2010 season with a record of 3-7. Although our team did not win the league championship we are proud of our players for playing their best game after game. Please check our photographs in our events page from teams we have sponsored in the past.

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