IAFF Responds to Rep. Mica

The Honorable John Mica
Ranking Member
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative Mica:

You were recently quoted as referring to a proposal to improve aircraft fire fighting standards as “junk.” On behalf of the nation’s nearly 300,000 professional fire fighters and emergency medical personnel, I am writing to express profound offense at your comments.

Airport fire fighters are committed to protecting the flying public, and are ready to put their lives on the line at a moment’s notice. Current aircraft fire fighting standards make it impossible for fire fighters to conduct a timely, safe and effective response to an incident. Updating these antiquated safety standards to reflect the many changes in aircraft design and fire fighting protocols that have occurred over the past generation is necessary to adequately protect both the flying public and emergency responders.

Your dismissive comment referring to the courageous acts of the nation’s fire fighters as “junk” is deeply offensive to the men and women who risk their lives in service to their community. While you have every right to disagree about the need to update an antiquated standard, you have no right to denigrate the work of true American heroes.

You owe them an apology.

Sincerely,

Harold A. Schaitberger
General President

The International Association of Fire Fighters, headquartered in Washington, DC, is the leading advocate in North America for the safety and training of fire fighters and paramedics. The IAFF represents more than 297,000 full-time professional fire fighters and paramedics who protect communities in every state in the United States and throughout Canada.