Tucson Firefighters Local 479

IAFF LOCAL 479:
WHO WE ARE … AND WHAT WE DO

Welcome to the Tucson Firefighters Association home page. Local 479 is a charter of the International Association of Firefighters, and represents more than 600 uniformed personnel of the Tucson Fire Department as well as the uniformed personnel of the South Tucson Fire Department and the Tucson Airport Authority Fire Department.

Our union and mission
Local 479 is the third-party bargaining unit for TFD firefighters and emergency medical service workers. It was founded in 1936 -- and today, more than 99 percent of Tucson firefighters belong to the TFFA. We are one of the most effective trade unions in Arizona (a right-to-work state) and continue to win crucial improvements in the areas of salary, benefits and workplace safety.

We work to promote fair grievance settlements, continued training opportunities, and financial or other support for our membership in time of need. We also work to organize other firefighters' unions, and to promote a spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood in the Southern Arizona fire service. TFFA is the only Local in Arizona to have a retirees' association, in addition to two chapters (South Tucson and Tucson Airport).

Our department
The Tucson Fire Department carries an ISO Class 2 rating and is NFPA 1710 compliant. It is the second largest municipal fire department in Arizona, and operates 21 fire stations. Currently, TFD has 21 engine companies, 9 ladder truck/ladder tender companies, and 17 paramedic companies in service. It also boasts specialized heavy rescue, hazardous materials, mass casualty and mobile command center equipment, as well as a 158 acre, state-of-the-art public safety training academy.

Because of Tucson's relatively new building construction (and strict fire and building codes) medical calls far outstrip fire calls here. In 2006, TFD personnel responded to more than 71,000 total calls -- up from just 14,500 in 1980. There were over 60,000 medical incidents, over 10,000 fire suppression incidents, 940 hazardous material incidents, and 59 technical rescue incidents for the year.

TFD administration also promotes advances in the field of paramedicine, working with the University of Arizona's Arizona Emergency Medicine Research Center to conduct in-the-field research on a variety of emergency medical care issues.

Our projects
In addition to advocating for our membership, Local 479 partners with the Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona to conduct lobbying activities at state and national levels. TFFA is highly visible in the community, and has a long history of involvement with charitable causes such as cancer research, child injury prevention, and burn treatment. We are key supporters of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, raising money through community events, Fill-The-Boot campaigns, and ticket sales to semiannual charity concerts. MDA's national corporate headquarters is located in Tucson.

Each November, we host the Tucson Fire Fighters Chili Cook-off, which this year served up 750 gallons (24000 servings) of the hot stuff, and attracted more than 10,000 chili fans to the day-long music and food festival. The most recent cook-off raised more than $57,000 for our Adopt-A-Family program, which helps hundreds of Southern Arizona families during the holidays with gifts of food, clothing, shelter and Christmas presents.

Our city
Tucson is located one hour north of the U.S.-Mexico border, and two hours south of Phoenix, the state capital. It is the 30th largest city in the United States, with a metropolitan population of about 800,000. Located in the Sonoran Desert, Tucson is well known for its mild winters and hot summers, when temperatures can soar above 110 degrees Fahrenheit (46 degrees Celsius).

The Tucson Fire Department has served the city since 1881 -- when residents formed a scrappy, all-volunteer force to protect what was then a Wild West frontier town. Today, TFD is a modern department recognized for excellence, innovation and community involvement. Local 479 is a crucial link to help firefighters continue to serve our citizenry with distinction and pride.