Delray Beach Fire Fighters IAFF Local 1842

09/02/2026

Congratulations to Captain Joseph Falcone, recipient of the 2026 Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association Safety & Health Award of Excellence.

As IAFF Local 1842’s Peer Support Coordinator, Joe has spent years advocating for the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of our members. From peer support and behavioral health resources to cancer prevention and firefighter wellness initiatives, his work has made a lasting impact on Delray Beach firefighters.

We are proud to see one of our own recognized statewide for his dedication to taking care of our brothers and sisters.

Well deserved, brother.

09/01/2026

For more than 70 years, the IAFF has partnered with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) to support individuals and families affected by muscular dystrophy, ALS, and related disorders. This weekend, look for our firefighters at local Publix stores and help us Fill the Boot and make a difference.

08/16/2026

📢Promising news right here in Delray Beach.

Our brother, retired Delray Beach Fire Rescue Driver Engineer Jan Holmsted, recently underwent an innovative, incisionless treatment for Parkinson’s disease at Delray Medical Center.

Parkinson’s affects people and families throughout our community, and firefighters face an increased risk due to years of occupational exposure to smoke, toxins, and other hazards.

We are grateful to see advancements like this happening locally and bringing new options to everyone affected by Parkinson’s disease.



International Association of Fire Fighters

WPBF 25 goes "On the Record" with Delray Beach Medical Center and a patient as they detail a non-invasive procedure for Parkinson’s disease.

08/15/2026

👨‍🚒👨‍🚒👨‍🚒Three of the seven members of Recruit Class 262 have already resigned to join other fire departments.

That is a clear reminder of how competitive the fire service has become across South Florida. Hiring qualified firefighters is only part of the challenge. Keeping them is just as important.

Delray Beach has made significant investments in building a first class fire department, but maintaining that standard requires us to continue closing the gaps where we remain behind our regional competitors.

We will continue working together with the City, through collective bargaining, to ensure we remain a place where talented firefighters choose to build their careers.

Delray Beach Fire Rescue
International Association of Fire Fighters

08/15/2026

👨‍🚒👨‍🚒👨‍🚒Three of the seven members of Recruit Class 262 have already resigned to join other fire departments.

That is a clear reminder of how competitive the fire service has become across South Florida. Hiring qualified firefighters is only part of the challenge. Keeping them is just as important.

Delray Beach has made significant investments in building a first class fire department, but maintaining that standard requires us to continue closing the gaps where we remain behind our regional competitors.

We will continue working together with the City, through collective bargaining, to ensure we remain a place where talented firefighters choose to build their careers.

Delray Beach Fire Rescue
International Association of Fire Fighters

🚒 WELCOME, RECRUIT CLASS 262! 🚒

Delray Beach Fire Rescue is proud to introduce the seven members of Recruit Class 262 as they are early in their journey of training, teamwork, and service to our community.
Please join us in welcoming:
🔥 Christopher Martinez
🔥 Koby Brosnick
🔥 Nicholas Bonani
🔥 Julian Cardona
🔥 Khantrell Burden
🔥 Daniel LeMay
🔥 Christopher Gafanha

Over the coming weeks, these recruits will be challenged physically and mentally as they develop the skills needed to serve with professionalism, dedication, and pride.
We look forward to following their progress and watching them become part of the DBFR family.
Welcome to Delray Beach Fire Rescue, Class 262!

07/15/2026

👨‍🚒⚖️Delray Beach Fire Fighters Local 1842 stands with our state association, the Florida Professional Firefighters.

We support responsible tax relief, but not at the expense of public safety and core municipal services.

This is not “Washington Monument Syndrome.” This is budget reality. When local government loses major recurring revenue, the savings that actually move the needle are not found in small pet projects or minor discretionary spending. They are found in eliminating positions, reducing service capacity, and delaying the work residents expect government to provide.

Amendment 3 does not provide a clear plan to replace the revenue needed to protect the essential services our residents depend on every day. If the revenue is reduced, the service impact is real.

Until there is a reliable funding solution, we cannot support it.

07/15/2026

Delray Beach firefighters battled a 3 alarm fire, with Palm Beach County firefighters, in an area of the city with limited fire hydrant water supply.

Delray Beach Fire Rescue and Palm Beach County Fire Rescue are ISO Class 1 departments because of the complete public safety chain: staffing, training, equipment, response capability, and water supply planning.

When one link is missing, the entire operation becomes more difficult. This incident is a clear reminder that public safety resources are not optional. They are essential.

International Association of Fire Fighters

06/19/2026

06/04/2026

🏛 City Hall Smoke, Mirrors, and the Real Cost of Fire Rescue

Delray Beach may think our Fire Rescue Department is “too expensive,” but when viewed through the Mayor’s own suggested MSTU-style lens, the numbers tell a different story.

Delray firefighters are not overpaid. They are materially behind local comparisons, behind local inflation, and even behind the value Delray firefighters had in the early 2000s.

From June 2004 to the latest available 2026 CPI-U data, the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach CPI-U increased from 185.6 to 369.561, meaning local consumer prices rose by about 99.12%, nearly doubling the cost of maintaining the same purchasing power.

A starting Firefighter/Paramedic salary would need to be about $81,239 today just to keep the same local buying power.

Delray’s current starting salary is $71,634, leaving our firefighters about $9,600 behind.

At the same time, pension benefits have been reduced. The multiplier dropped from 3.5% to 2.75%, employee contributions increased from 6% to 9%, COLA protection was reduced, and retirement benefits are now calculated under a weaker structure.

So the issue is not that Delray Beach Fire Rescue costs too much.

The issue is that our firefighters are being asked to provide high-level service while falling behind the local market, local inflation, and the retirement security firefighters used to have over 20 years ago.

That is not sustainable for recruitment, retention, or the future of this department.


International Association of Fire Fighters

06/03/2026

https://gofund.me/eb001e706

Please help out our Brother and President John Baker while he challenges… Rob Tackett needs your support for Help John Baker and Family Through This Challenge