Cloquet Firefighters Local 880

06/12/2026

Congrats to our union brother Block on passing his Paramedic National Registry Exam!

(Pictured on left)

06/04/2026

Here’s an interesting chart that shows the comparable between a work schedule of a 40 hour a week employee, and a local 880 firefighter.

06/02/2026

June is Men’s Mental Health Month — a time to raise awareness, encourage conversations, and remind men that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Too often, men carry the weight of stress, anxiety, depression, and personal struggles in silence. This month, we encourage everyone to check in on the men in their lives—friends, family members, coworkers, and neighbors. A simple conversation can make a difference.

- Men account for nearly 80% of all su***de deaths in the United States, despite making up about 50% of the population.
- The su***de rate for men is approximately 4 times higher than the rate for women. In 2023, the age-adjusted su***de rate was 22.7 per 100,000 males compared to 5.9 per 100,000 females.
- More than 49,000 Americans died by su***de in 2023, the highest number ever recorded in the U.S.
- Among men, su***de is a leading cause of death, particularly for younger and middle-aged adults.

You are not alone. Support is available, and your mental health matters.

05/28/2026

Today, C shift was dispatched to a structure fire with a reported “porch on fire.” Upon arrival on scene, the engine company immediately initiated fire suppression with an offensive interior attack while the tower company performed a primary search. Within approximately 4 minutes of being dispatched, crews had water on the fire.

One of the biggest benefits of living in a city with union career firefighters is fast response times when emergencies happen. Whether it’s a fire, medical emergency, accident, or rescue call, having firefighters staffed 24/7 means help is already in the station and responding within seconds. In an emergency, every second counts, and quick response times can save lives, reduce property damage, and provide peace of mind to the entire community.

05/24/2026

Today for B shifts physical fitness, they were able to take advantage of the beautiful weather today and play pickleball with community members!

05/24/2026

Congratulations to our union sister Heaton on passing her Paramedic National Registry!

05/21/2026

05/21/2026

C shift was able to spend some time training today with the AB boat with rescue techniques, equipment deployment, and teamwork to stay prepared for emergencies on the water. Training like this helps ensure we are ready to respond quickly and safely when our community needs us most.

05/20/2026

Good news today for our retirees. Unfortunately, the Cloquet Area Fire Districts bonding request was removed in the final days, even as six other public safety and fire station projects were funded statewide. Since 2018, the CAFD has consistently pursued bonding for our new station during every available bonding cycle, without success.

International Association of Fire Fighters Minnesota Professional Fire Fighters - MPFF

Another huge legislative win for the MPFF! Governor Walz just signed the bill that will reduce the waiting period for PERA Police & Fire plan retirees to receive their first Cost of Living Adjustment, or COLA. Previously, new retirees needed to wait two years before receiving their first COLA—that time has been cut in half to twelve months.

Inflation is a major factor when it comes to the long term buying power of our retirees’ pensions. In multiyear stretches of high inflation, retirees watch their hard-earned pension income struggle to keep pace with rising costs of day to day life. Reducing the waiting time to receive a COLA helps to close that gap.

Securing a win like this one is no small feat in a bonding year, and is a testament to the tenacity of our officers, the relationships we build with our legislators, and those legislators’ commitment to supporting our members who have given decades in service to their communities.

Over the next week, we’ll be recognizing some of the lawmakers who led the effort on passing pension improvements and changes to the Minnesota PSOB—stay tuned!

05/20/2026

Your Local 880 is very proud to provide Advanced Life Support (ALS) to our communities. A fun fact, of our current 30 active Union members, 22 of them are Paramedics. 3 of our members are in the process of starting to test for their Paramedic National Registry Exam. And two of our members are enrolled in Paramedic School this fall!

🚑 Did you happen to know? Cloquet Area Fire District provides Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulance service to our region, meaning that paramedics on our ambulances offer a higher level of medical care, including cardiac rhythm interpretation, medications to correct irregular heart rhythms, advanced airway management, and other critical care skills. While Basic Life Support (BLS) focuses on essential care like CPR, oxygen administration, and bleeding control, ALS can make a difference in life-threatening situations. When seconds count, we're ready!

Learn more about the CAFD- https://www.cloquetareafiredistrict.com