There we were back in September of 1999 at the New Jersey State Firemen’s Convention in Wildwood New Jersey. It started in a little bar on a big island. Throwing a few cold ones down and telling war stories with Firefighters from everywhere. From the other side of the bar, moving from person to person was “The Chief”.We knew he was a chief as he proceeded to tell it to anyone who made eye contact with him. He proceeded around the bar trying to destroy the morale of anyone who was not a chief by telling them what a big shot he was with a department no one ever heard of. As we all came to the conclusion that “The Chief” was a asshole, there he was before us.

He bellowed, “Hey guy’s, I’m the Chief of **** Fire. Where you boy’s from?” We replied with, “We all from Poser Fire Department out by Pittsburgh. We run about 7000 fires a year. I’m the Chief, he’s the Deputy Chief, he’s the Assistant Chief, he’s the Battalion Chief, he’s the District Chief, he’s the Haz-mat Chief, he’s the EMS Chief and all these guys are Duty Chiefs”. As everyone around us realized that we created a completely fictional department and titles for ourselves to burst his balloon, everyone in the bar laughed but “The Chief”. He then left the bar to the chant “Jerk off” by two hundred firefighters. The rest of the night everyone in the bar was addressed as Chief. Over the next few days, everywhere we went someone yelled “Chief” to us and the IAFFC was born. .

Today our membership spans the U.S. from East to West and north to Alaska, spreading cheer, comradery, and boosting morale of the Fire service at the expense of the Chief. The IAFFC, where every Fire, EMS, First Responder and Fire truck owner is welcome, BUT THE CHIEF!