Does Your Mayor Have What It Takes to be a Firefighter?

Indianapolis – More than a dozen U.S. mayors, including Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, are about to feel the burn. These brave and dedicated city leaders will don firefighting turnout gear (weighing up to 60 pounds) and participate in FireOps 101 (#IAFFMayorsFireOps), a series of intense and authentic firefighting and rescue drills.

“Firefighters are the first people we call when we smell smoke or see flames. We rely on them to save our homes and loved ones, while they put their own lives at risk. We want to give these mayors a glimpse of what it takes to do the job by making them a fire fighter for a day,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger.

The half-day program, planned in conjunction with the 84th Annual Conference of Mayors in Indianapolis, is hosted by the Indianapolis Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 416 and the Professional Fire Fighters Union of Indiana.

Reporters covering politics or public safety and broadcast journalists looking for a compelling video segment are also encouraged to attend FireOps 101. Journalists are invited to participate or observe and cover the event. For more information contact Tim Burn, IAFF Press Secretary, at (202) 230-7167 or tburn@iaff.org. A list of mayors participating follows below:

MAYOR                                        CITY