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  • Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Gregoire addresses Washington State Council of Fire Fighters

For Immediate Release: June 24, 2008

Salutes firefighters� courage and commitment

VANCOUVER � Gov. Chris Gregoire today addressed members of the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters (WSCFF) at their annual conference, acknowledging both their day-to-day bravery and extraordinary emergency services delivered during the December 2007 Southwest Washington floods.

The WSCFF has saved countless lives through its efforts in Olympia to push for better fire safety measures, including fire sprinklers in public buildings, smoke alarms in new homes and fire prevention education in schools.

�Firefighting takes a toll on the men and women who pursue this noble calling,� Gregoire said. �As we witnessed during the Southwest Washington floods, our residents are safer and more secure with you at the ready. We salute you and thank you and your families for your commitment to our safety.�

Gregoire discussed the legislation she has signed to strengthen and improve Washington�s firefighter pension system. She also talked about changes to the Industrial Insurance Act expanding insurance coverage for firefighters. The act added presumed occupational diseases, including heart problems that occur within 24 hours of a strenuous event due to fire fighting and certain cancers.

Founded in 1939, WSCFF coordinates the statewide efforts of professional firefighters by providing leadership and dedicated service resulting in a unified membership that strives to improve social attitudes and promote legislation to benefit the fire and emergency medical service communities and the citizens they serve.

As temperatures increase with the summer season the governor reminds all Washingtonians to exercise caution while enjoying our forests and park lands. The governor authorized the first wildfire fire resources mobilization on June 15, at Baird Springs near Quincy.

Last year the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) with fire protection responsibility for 12.7 million acres of state and private forest land responded to just under a thousand wildfires that burned 24,000 acres. DNR�s fire suppression costs average about $22 million per year.