Moline Firefighters Association

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Moline pact would keep EMS as city service

Moline has agreed to drop its plans to privatize emergency medical services provided by the fire department, according to a tentative agreement between the city and Firefighters Local 581. The three-year contract will be considered by the city council on Tuesday night.

Garage fire kills two dogs

Moline firefighters are investigating a garage fire that killed two dogs early Sunday. At 1:14 a.m. Sunday, firefighters received a call for a fire at 1607 30th Ave., in which smoke and fire were showing from the roof of a detached, single-car garage, Lt. John Heller said later Sunday.

Friday fire sparked by man using torch

A Moline man was using a torch to cut a bolt for a trailer he was building in front of a small house at 4311 12th St., Moline. He said a spark got away, and before he knew it, the house was on fire. Mr. Thompson said nobody lived in the house, which is owned by his father, Richard Kraklio, who used it for storage. "I can't believe this happened," he said.

Rescue crews recovered the body of a missing Moline man Monday night minutes before friends had planned a candlelight vigil in his honor. Capt. Mick Dochterman, Moline fire department public information officer, confirmed the recovery of a man identified as Matthew Golding. Earlier reports indicated Mr.

Police and fire personnel continued to search this morning for a 37-year-old man who disappeared Sunday night in the Mississippi River off the east end of Ben Butterworth Parkway. Boats from the Moline, East Moline and Rock Island Arsenal fire departments were back in the water as of 8 a.m. They were searching the area near shore off 55th Street.

City negotiating with Genesis to replace 12 union jobs with private employees

City administrator Lew Steinbrecher will begin negotiations with Genesis Health System to provide Emergency Medical Service in Moline. On Tuesday, the Moline Committee of the Whole voted 5-2, with one abstention, to have Mr.
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Moline's Steinbrecher to name possible EMS provider Tuesday
Moline city administrator Lew Steinbrecher is scheduled to name a preferred ambulance provider to aldermen Tuesday and ask permission to negotiate a proposed contract. But what private company he has chosen is unknown. The recommendation is listed on the Moline Committee of the Whole agenda, but the company is not. Mr. Steinbrecher could not be reached for comment Friday.
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Man arrested for arson in Moline House Fire

The investigation of a Tuesday house fire was turned over to the Moline Police Department Tuesday after it the origin was ruled "undetermined" by the Illinois State Fire Marshal's office. Moline Fire Battalion Chief Ted Smith said the fire at 2816 17th St.
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Cause of Moline house fire remains undetermined

A Friday-night house fire in Moline was so extensive that the fire department cannot determine its cause, according to a press release. At 10:30 p.m., the Moline Fire Department responded to a fire at 4039 12th St., a block east of the Alleman High School sports complex.
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Moline to consider raise for city administrator just weeks after a vote to cut 12 firefighters
Following a budget vote to eliminate 12 firefighters and pivatize the city-run EMS begining July 1st 2012, the Moline City Council is scheduled to vote Tuesday night on a raise for city administrator Lew Steinbrecher.
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Moline firefighters, Local 581, seek arbitration in EMS grievance
The International Association of Firefighter's Local 581 has requested that an arbitrator rule on a grievance it filed Oct. 18 against Moline alleging the city did not give proper notice it was considering contracting out emergency medical services.
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Moline City Council approves budget cutting 12 firefighter/paramedics

On a 5-3 vote Tuesday, the city council adopted a $121.6 million budget for fiscal year 2012 with only half a year of funding for fire-based Emergency Medical Services. The vote came despite a request by Ald. Sean Liddell, 7th Ward, that the budget be amended to include a full year of funding for the service. Joining him in opposition were Alds.
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Moline council to discuss specifications for possible private ambulance service Tuesday
Aldermen on Tuesday night will be presented with a report concluding 14 firefighters per shift meets national standards and will be asked to issue a request for proposals to privatize its Emergency Medical Services. The two items, scheduled for the committee-of-the-whole meeting, will take place before the city council votes on the $121.
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Moline hears impassioned arguments on privatizing EMS

Opponents of Moline's plan to privatize its EMS service delivered a barrage of emotional pleas urging the city council to change course during a nearly three-hour budget hearing Tuesday. The proposed budget is scheduled for a vote on Dec. 13.
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Mum's the word for Moline firefighters at city council meetings
Firefighters in Moline were told this week they cannot address the city council about anything related to their employment, job duties or professional responsibilities during city council meetings without prior permission of interim public safety director Kim Hankins.
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Support QC firefighters wristbands now available

Moline Firefighters Association IAFF Local 581 is proudly selling "Support Quad Cities Firefighters" wristbands. Cost: $3.00 All proceeds to be used to help defer legal costs in our efforts to stop the layoffs of our 12 brothers and sister firefighters. You may E-Mail Kevin Hamilton to order: hambone@iafflocal581.
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Download:

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After 30 years, Moline fire chief retires

He was looking for job security when he went to the Moline Department from a foundry job from which he often was laid off. "After I was here for a short bit, I knew I would be here for a long time," said Fire Chief Ron Miller who's leaving the department today after 30 years.
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firehouse.com blogs on Chief Miller's resignation
Chief Miller...going national? His actions following a council decision to lay off 12 members makes national headlines on firehouse.com. Follow the link to see it. http://www.firehouse.
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Fire union: Moline officials have 'blood on their hands'

Michael Lucchetti is one of 12 firefighter/paramedics likely to lose his job next July 1 and he doesn't know what he'll do.
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Fire chief resigns after Moline aldermen vote to cut 12 firefighter/paramedics

Shortly after Moline aldermen voted down a motion to raise property taxes to pay for a full year of Emergency Medical Services, Fire Chief Ron Miller announced he would retire. The vote came at the two-hour Moline Committee of the Whole budget workshop in which aldermen went page by page through the budget asking questions, seeking additions and suggesting ways to cut costs.
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Fire damages Moline home

An adult and two children escaped their burning house Tuesday in Moline. Moline Fire Capt. Mick Dochterman said firefighters were called to 422 4th Ave. about noon and had the fire under control within 15 minutes. He said the fire is believed to have started in the attic, but there was smoke and water damage on the lower floor.
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Local 581 Members Fighting at the 2011 Halloween Parade

Thanks go out to all the Local 581 members and their family who helped provide the citizens of Moline information regarding recent recommendations by the mayor and city administrator to cut our jobs! Keep up the good fight and wear them down every second that you can! Urge the citizens to call their aldermen to voice opposition to cutting our jobs.
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Moline firefighters: Consider how much your life is worth
The Moline City Council Tuesday will decide how much your life is worth. Here's a question I'd like them to answer: Is your life worth a few bags of dead leaves? Because when it comes down to it, our city council is going to decide if taxpayers in Moline would rather pay the city to pick up their leaves or maintain our current system of public safety.
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Moline fire chief: Cutting EMS is risking people's lives

Aldermen on Tuesday heard different views on a proposal to eliminate 12 firefighter/paramedics as part of the Fiscal Year 2012 budget. Two residents and a doctor who specializes in emergency medicine addressed the council Tuesday night. No public comment will be permitted Oct. 18 when the council meets in a work session to decide what to add, cut or eliminate from the budget.
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Union questions privatizing EMS
A spokesman for the International Association of Firefighters Local 581 believe too much has been left unsaid about the possibility of Moline privatizing its Emergency Medical Service. "This is about everyone, not just residents of Moline, but in reality, everyone who travels through here," said Moline fire Lt. Brian Vyncke, union president.
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Moline fire chief worries city's $1.72 million deficit will burn his 68-member team
Moline Fire Chief Ron Miller said he is worried about his firefighters. His team of 68 sworn personnel is at risk of getting cut by almost 20 percent because of hard budget times in the city. On Tuesday, city administrator Lew Steinbrecher gave the city council his written budget message. In it, he stated the fiscal 2012 budget started with a $1.72 million deficit.
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Moline city administrator recommends privatizing EMS to help balance budget
City administrator Lew Steinbrecher is recommending Moline privatize EMS, its emergency medical service, to reduce the fire department by 12 people as one way to help balance budgets in fiscal year 2012 and subsequent years. In his budget message to Moline aldermen Tuesday, Mr.
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Moline firefighters busy with 2 structure fires (3rd shift)

Moline firefighters had a busy day August 30th. Among the usual EMS calls, 2 structure fires were handled. The first fire came in as smoke coming from the roof of Paragon, an office furninture distributing company. Upon arrival, Engine 13 reported light smoke from the rear area of the roof over the business.
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