Hello, I am Merrick Tassin Chief of St. Tammany Parish Fire Protection District #4. It is an honor to serve as your 1st Vice President and I look forward to moving this organization to the next level. As 1st Vice president I will work with the leaders of this organization to progress the agendas and issues of the Fire Chiefs in Louisiana. Fire Chiefs Association will continue to grow and meet the needs of the Louisiana Fire Service.
I would also like to welcome everyone to LFCA’s website. The LFCA’s goal is to have this website become a useful tool to disseminate information throughout the fire departments in the state.
The board is asking you to help us help you. We need your input on your concerns and issues in order to promote and place in legislation that directly affects you. Please send information from your department to your district representatives or any LFCA board member. We will post it on the website as soon as possible.
Members from your LFCA board attended the CFSI meeting in Washington DC to meet with our state Senators and Representatives and encourage them to support the Assistance to Firefighters Grant and SAFER Grant Programs, Volunteer Emergency Services Recruitment and Retention Act, Volunteer Firefighter and EMS Personnel Job Protection Act, U.S. Fire Administration Funding, Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act, Rural and Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant Programs and the Fire Corps programs.
I think we were successful this last legislative session. Senate Bill 37 would have preventing any agencies with non elected boards (including the fire service) from rolling their millage forward by no more than 2% over the previous year was strongly supported by many but failed by opposition from the LFCA, other fire service organizations and others. A competing Bill by Rep. Arnold that exempted the fire departments and fire districts with non elected boards from rolling the millage forward did pass. Bills that funded LSU Fire training, workers comp for volunteers, a ban on novelty lighters and other pro fire service and fire protection legislation passed with support from the LSFA, PFFALA and others.
It was evident when our three organizations work together we are a strong force and can accomplish our common goals.
The LFCA also has a new representative on the Louisiana Municipal Association Board. Rick Boudreaux was the first member of our organization to sit on LMA board and has done a great job of informing and education their members on PIAL and other operational requirements of the fire service. I succeeded Rick at the LMA convention in August. I will continue to assist their organization and ours by informing them on laws, operational requirements and needs of the fire chiefs and the Louisiana fire service.
Our Legislative Chair Vice President Ed Smith of Baton Rouge and the entire LFCA Board did an excellent job of representing our members at the legislature.
