September Reports From Your IFA Officers
Kent Brix, IFA President
Greetings fellow Firefighters hope it’s been a fun summer enjoying family and friends. It’s another year that has just flown by with so many amazing events in the communities, it has been a challenge to find time to enjoy all the summer community events as it seems there is one every weekend.
The board met with the Fire Service Training Bureau to ask a few questions on the new ACADIS system. As we know we firefighters typically have reluctance to change even when changes are needed. So, they have made a change at the Bureau to improve personal documentation so you can find your certifications and to register for courses.
The first growing pain is everyone on the department must personally register to the system; once that is done and you want to take a course or have a department training you must register for it personally.
The second growing pain is that certification is controlled through ACADIS so that it follows the NFPA 1010, previously NFPA 1001, so it follows the progression of prerequisites for FF I. This requires us to have Hazmat Awareness & Operations to be certified in FF I. We also must meet requirements to meet the State certification of the Pro Board and IFSTA certification. I believe the ACADIS system has a plus, as you can go in and see where you were strong and where you need to study more on subject areas prior to retaking the exam (questions change each test). They also changed the training material to Jones & Bartlett this is a new process that has the tools to educate us; if we use them and not just read the book. In this resource there is an online portion that we are allowed to use it has quizzes and test throughout the courses. Then there is a portal that allows you to take a sample test to prepare you for the certification testing. Records at the Bureau shows students are not using the test prep portal this could help them with the certification testing. Please reach out to me for any questions that arise on this process.
Keep your calendars open and reach out to your legislators and encourage them to attend as we are working towards hosting an event at convention in Manchester for them. We have been successful in getting them to attend last four years and we could use everyone’s help in reaching out to invite them to 2026 Convention. This year we hope to include a water ball competition between the house and the senate on Thursday September 10th, after the women’s competition. After this event there will be a meet & greet with the board and discuss next years priorities. If you have a legislator that is interested, please invite them, we plan to have them arrive around 10:00 am.
Also, an exciting addition to this year’s convention is that we have partnered with Fire Department Coffee to support the association through T-shirt and FDC Coffee sales. FDC will be at the convention on Friday and Saturday, serving coffee samples and selling shirts and coffee.
As I close, I would like to encourage you to talk and listen to each other as we need to stay strong physically and mentally to provide outstanding service to protect our communities. So please take care of each other, if you have a concern for someone talk and listen to them and point it out to your department leadership, as we are strongest when we take care of our brothers and sisters in the service.
Rick Schmidt, 2nd Vice President
Greetings Fellow Firefighters,
I thought I would give an update on the expansion of the Memorial Wall. I went to Coralville over the weekend and took a walk around the Memorial. The project is progressing along; the blocks are up for the new wall already. It seems to me that things are on schedule and hopefully in a month or so the project will be completed. Of course that depends on the weather.
Are you attending the IFA Convention in Manchester this year? I’m looking forward to seeing you all there. Just a reminder to check the schedule of events as Manchester has flipped the script this year. The State drills will be on Friday in downtown Manchester and the annual IFA meeting is scheduled for Saturday at the campground. Manchester has always hosted a great convention and I’m sure this one will be great as well.
When you read this article, the Iowa State Fair will be over for the year. I want to thank all the volunteers who helped us set up and take down the Hall of Flame booth at the Iowa State Fair. It is a big task and as they say “many hands make light work”, so thank you. Also, I want to thank those who spent time working the Hall of Flame booth this year. It really is amazing how many people came through the Hall of Flame booth each day. I also, want to thank Rusty Hockman and his daughter Ashley for the work they do all year to schedule workers and keep the Hall of Flame booth going.
To close, I will say again, I’m looking forward to seeing you in Manchester in September. And as always, take care of your equipment so it can take care of you!
Aaron Clemons, IFA Past-President
Greetings, fellow firefighters,
This article finds me with mixed emotions. I am sad that in just a few short days, my term on the Iowa Firefighters Association Board will come to an end. At the same time, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity I have been given.
I know I have gained many lifelong friends through my time with the Iowa Firefighters Association. My time on the board has been one heck of an experience— one that has been both humbling and rewarding. Being able to serve alongside so many dedicated firefighters from across our great state is something I would not trade for anything.
Being on the board has also given me a much greater appreciation for what goes on behind the scenes to support the fire service in Iowa. There are countless hours of work, conversations, meetings, phone calls, emails, and decisions that most firefighters will never see.
When I first became involved with the Association, I knew I wanted to represent my department and my fellow firefighters. What I didn’t fully understand was just how much I would learn along the way. I have gained a much greater appreciation for the work that goes on behind the scenes to support Iowa’s fire service.
Serving on the board has given me the opportunity to meet firefighters from large metropolitan departments, small rural departments, and everything in between.
While our departments may look different and the challenges we face may vary, I have found that the heart of the fire service remains the same. We all answer the call. We all put our people first. And we all understand the importance of looking out for the firefighter standing beside us.
Some of my favorite memories from this experience won’t necessarily be the meetings or the official business. They will be the conversations in the hallways, the meals shared with fellow firefighters, the laughs after a long day, and the friendships that came from simply spending time together. Those are the moments that I will carry with me long after my time on the board has ended.
I have also learned that being involved in the fire service means more than simply responding to calls. We have a responsibility to advocate for our departments, our firefighters, and the communities we serve. Whether it is funding, training, equipment, recruitment and retention, firefighter safety, or legislation affecting our departments, our voices matter.
That is one of the things I have appreciated most about the Iowa Firefighters Association. It gives firefighters a voice. It brings departments together and reminds us that although we may serve different communities, we are all part of one fire service.
As my term comes to an end, I want to sincerely thank everyone who has supported me throughout this journey. To the members of the Iowa Firefighters Association, thank you for allowing me to serve. To the board members I have had the privilege of working alongside, thank you for your friendship, your guidance, and your willingness to put in the work necessary to make our Association stronger. To my fellow firefighters across Iowa, thank you for what you do every day. The work isn’t always easy, and it certainly isn’t always appreciated, but it matters. Every time you put on your gear, climb into a truck, walk through a door, or answer a call in the middle of the night, you are making a difference in someone’s life.
I would also like to extend a huge thank you to Eldora Fire Rescue for believing in me when I presented this opportunity to you all. I know sometimes it hasn’t been easy, but your continued support has been overwhelming. I have always been proud to be a firefighter in Eldora. Serving my community has been one of the greatest honors of my life. Being able to take that experience and represent my department and our community at the state level has been something I have never taken for granted.
Although my time on the board is coming to an end, my commitment to the fire service certainly is not. I look forward to continuing to serve my department, my community, and firefighters across Iowa in whatever capacity the future brings.
Thank you for allowing me to be a small part of the Iowa Firefighters Association and for giving me an experience I will remember for the rest of my career.