The International Association of Fire Fighters is the AFL-CIO affiliated labor union representing  more than 2,900 affiliates in more than 3,500 communities in the U.S. and Canada. The 274,000 members of the IAFF are the nation’s full-time professional fire fighters and paramedics who protect the lives and property of 85% of the nation’s population. 3 of every 4 United States fire departments are all-volunteer, but only 1 of every 4 United States residents are protected by such a department. Volunteer EMS providers are responsible for staffing nearly 75% of Wisconsin’s ambulance services. However, they are responsible for responding to only 25% of Wisconsin’s EMS calls. The majority of ambulance responses and transports are provided by full-time professional EMS and fire based EMS departments. Furthermore, IAFF professional members are the largest providers of pre-hospital emergency medical care in North America.

     In addition to professional fire fighters and paramedics, the IAFF represents: Full-time emergency medical technicians, hazardous materials experts, technical rescue personnel, crash and fire rescue specialists, communications personnel, fire investigators, fire inspectors and others in professional related fire and rescue services. Furthermore, state employees (such as the California Forestry fire fighters), federal workers (such as fire fighters on military installations), and fire and emergency medical workers employed at certain industrial facilities.

     One of the oldest public employee unions in America, the IAFF was formed in 1918, at a time when many fire fighters were required to live in firehouses and be on duty 24 hours a day every day, with only the occasional day off. Back then, civil service laws were few and almost all pay, promotions and other benefits came and went at the whim of local patronage.

     The IAFF was behind nearly every advance in the fire and emergency services in the twentieth century, from the introduction of shift schedules early in the century to the enactment of the 2-in/2-out safety regulation and the long campaign to develop and implement an NFPA standard for professional fire departments. The NFPA 1710 Standard governs the deployment and staffing of professional departments--a breakthrough measure that will benefit every man, woman and child protected by professional fire fighters and paramedics.

     With extremely active political and legislative programs, and with recognized experts in the fields of occupational health and safety, fire-based emergency medical services and hazardous materials training, the IAFF has long occupied a special place in the North American fire service. The IAFF is the primary advocate for providing fire fighters and paramedics with the tools they need to perform their jobs, and the resources they need to protect their wages, benefits and retirement.

     The IAFF has been the leading force behind numerous advances for the fire and EMS, including:

• Passing heart, lung and other disability laws to protect fire fighters who become ill from on-the-job hazards

• Enacting federal benefits for the survivors of fire fighters killed or totally disabled in the line of duty

• Establishing progressive civil service laws in the U.S. and Canada

• Enhancing public safety through national standards ensuring professionalism and high standards of training and education for fire and EMS personnel

• Establishing training programs for hazardous materials emergencies

• Establishing minimum staffing requirements for fire fighting

     Fire fighting and EMS are still one of the most dangerous occupations in North America: one in three fire fighters is injured in the line of duty every year. As a result, the IAFF is extremely active in promoting occupational health and safety, working to include all fire fighters under federal OSHA protection, and supporting national standards for safe apparatus, equipment and practices. IAFF is extremely active politically, fighting for better public safety at every level of government – local, state and federal. IAFF members live in every congressional district in the U.S. and all across Canada.

     The IAFF supports numerous charitable activities. It is the largest national sponsor of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, underwrites scholarships for the children of members killed in the line of duty, and supports research into the treatment of and rehabilitation from burn injuries through the IAFF Burn Foundation.

The City of Middleton Paramedics were granted membership and sworn in by the International Association of Fire Fighters on June 4, 2003.