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We are saddened and shocked at the tragic incident that unfolded in Kootenai County yesterday. Firefighters from Coeur d’Alene Fire Department and Kootenai County Fire & Rescue were ambushed while on scene of a brush fire on Canfield Mountain. Two firefighters were fatally wounded in the line of duty, and a third was seriously injured and is in critical condition. These courageous firefighters were serving their community with distinction, with honor and with pride. Our thoughts are with their families, their departments, and the entire North Idaho fire service. Local 29 stands in full solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Coeur d’Alene and Kootenai County during this devastating and unimaginable loss. #IAFF7thdistrict

June is Post Traumatic Stress Awareness Month First Responders may be exposed to hundreds of traumatic experiences throughout their careers. About 30% of public safety professionals will be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress, compared to just 6.8% of the general population. Approximately 20% of firefighters meet the criteria for PTSD at any given time. Firefighters are two times more likely to develop PTSD than the general population. About 19% of firefighters with PTSD also suffer from depression. A study found that 43% of firefighters screened positive for alcohol misuse, which is often linked to PTSD. If you or someone you know is struggling with Post-Traumatic Stress, reach out to the Peer Support Team. Support team members can be found on our website.

Unions have a moral and historical obligation to support Juneteenth. Not just as a day of remembrance, but as a call to action. Juneteenth marks the delayed liberation of enslaved Black Americans, and it reminds us that freedom and equality are not automatically granted. They are fought for, often against powerful resistance. As organizations rooted in collective struggle, labor unions must honor this legacy by actively combating racial injustice in the workplace and beyond. That means fighting for fair wages, equitable hiring, and safe conditions for Black workers, and standing in solidarity against systems that still exploit and marginalize them. True solidarity means recognizing that the fight for racial justice and the fight for workers’ rights are one and the same. #iaff #wscff #spokane #iaff7thdistrict