08/14/2026
A WIN FOR OUR FALLEN AND THEIR FAMILIES
At the IAFF 58th Convention in Arlington, Texas, delegates faced a critical issue regarding how we honor our fallen Brothers and Sisters. A strict enforcement of IAFF policy threatened to exclude retired members who later died from occupational illnesses, including presumptive cancers, from the Fallen Firefighter Memorial Wall in Colorado Springs because they lacked Active Retiree status.
Because Local 493 bylaws lacked a mechanism for this, two of our own fallen Glendale firefighters, along with families across the United States and Canada, were in jeopardy of being left off the sacred wall due to an administrative technicality.
To fix this, Resolution 42 was introduced to the delegates. Glendale Chapter President Arick O’Hara took to the convention floor and spoke passionately in support of the resolution, detailing the heavy impact this policy change would have on our Glendale families.
His message was undeniable: Occupational cancer does not care if you are active or retired, and the Memorial Wall should never be gatekept by a membership status. An exposure that occurred while protecting our communities does not become less real after retirement.
The voices of Local 493 and our union brothers and sisters were heard, and Resolution 42 officially passed. The IAFF will now permanently honor all members whose deaths are attributable to line of duty exposures, regardless of their active or retired dues status.
