McKeesport Firefighters IAFF Local 10

06/17/2026

The McKeesport Firefighters provided free snow cones at the City of McKeesport’s annual Good Neighbor Day celebration. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hello and enjoy a treat. It’s always a pleasure to participate in such a great community event and spend time with the residents we serve. 🚒🍧

05/30/2026

🚑 MORE THAN FIREFIGHTERS: WE ARE YOUR FIRST RESPONDERS 🚑

⚕️​Firefighters are fully trained first responders and EMTs. In an emergency, we don't just mitigate property damage-we deliver critical, life-saving medical care right on the scene.

🏥 When a patient is rescued, in critical condition, or waiting for transport, a properly staffed 5-person crew ensures that medical interventions happen seamlessly while the patient is packaged without compromising personnel safety.

05/30/2026

💪 LOBBYING FOR THE FRONT LINES 💪

🏛️ ​The EFOA along with the New Jersey Firefighters PFANJ and International Association of Fire Fighters actively lobbying local, state, and nation decision-makers to recognize that proper staffing is an investment, not an expense.

💲​The Reality: Opponents often claim cities cannot afford to fund adequate crew sizes. But chronic understaffing actually costs communities more in the long run through skyrocketing overtime budgets, worker’s compensation, increased property losses, and severe organizational burnout.

📈​ When cities like ours prioritize and secure dedicated staffing revenue, the data shows an immediate return on investment:

​Better Outcomes at Fires: Faster containment means drastically reduced property damage and higher victim survival rates.

​Increased Morale: Providing crews with the adequate workforce needed to safely execute tactical maneuvers reduces job-induced anxiety and physical fatigue.

​Firefighters Showing Up to Work: Safe staffing decreases on-the-job injuries, reduces long-term health exposures, and prevents the systemic burnout that causes operational absenteeism.

05/30/2026

📈WHAT THE STUDIES TELL US 📈

📊​Rigorous, independent research proves that numbers on the apparatus directly translate to lives saved:

​The NIST Landmark Study: Controlled live-burn research by the National Institute of Standards and Technology demonstrated that larger crews complete critical fireground tasks up to 30% faster than understaffed teams.

​The FSRI Health & Safety Study: Research by the Fire Safety Research Institute confirms that the 4-person baseline is a floor, not a ceiling. Moving to a 5-person model dramatically reduces extreme physical exhaustion, limits rapid fire growth, and minimizes toxic gas exposures.

​Real-World Performance Outcomes: Field simulations evaluating engine crew sizes showed that adding personnel yields an 11% faster time to put water on the fire, a 27% faster victim removal time, and a staggering 74% improvement in establishing a reliable water supply.

05/29/2026

🚨WAITING IS NOT A PUBLIC SAFETY STRATEGY🚨

We are honored to see our Local recognized in the Spring 2026 edition of Fire Fighter International magazine. Out of more than 360,000 IAFF members across the United States and Canada, the work being done here in Bethlehem is being noticed. (Link in comments)

This recognition belongs to our members, our supporters, and the residents who continue to advocate for a stronger fire department and safer community.

Bethlehem is growing, and a growing city deserves a public safety model that grows with it. Local 735 will continue to be proactive, not reactive, in advocating for safe staffing, firefighter safety, and the protection of our community.

Our work is being seen. Our message is being heard. But most importantly, the conversation is growing.

WE’RE JUST GETTING STARTED

🇺🇸🚒

05/28/2026

05/24/2026

This morning, McKeesport Firefighters continued an annual tradition of honoring our veterans by cleaning the memorial stones at Memorial Park ahead of tomorrow’s 10 AM service. 🇺🇸

04/25/2026

No fires today… just extinguishing pregnancy suspense. 💙🚒
It’s a boy!!!! Congratulations from McKeesport Firefighters IAFF Local 10



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