IAFF Local 22 is sad to report that we lost Battalion Chief Linda Long, our first female Battalion Chief. Chief Long first rose through the Emergency Medical Services ranks of the Fire Department as a Paramedic and up to the rank of Fire Service Paramedic Captain. She then crossed over to the Firefighting side of the department and climbed the ranks from  Firefighter to Battalion Chief. She was well respected in all aspects of our profession and looked up to by many, especially our female members. Her grit and determination were inspirational, especially her fight with job-related cancer, which ultimately took her from us last night. One of her last wishes to us at Local 22 was to fight the city from denying members job-related cancer claims, which is still happening to this day. We call on Mayor Parker’s administration to stop appealing our members’ cancer claims. It is bad enough our members have to fight  with cancer. They should not have to inform their family they also have to battle the city to cover their cancer illness.   In 2010, the Pennsylvania Firefighter Cancer presumption legislation was one of the largest Bi-Partisan bills ever passed in the state. There was only one no vote, and Governor Shapiro and Mayor Parker were State Representatives at the time who both voted in favor of the law. A Republican Governor, Tom Corbett, signed it into law. The city can honor Chief Long by not fighting our members’ cancer claims anymore. Do the right thing. Enough is Enough! -President Mike Bresnan

Celebrating our 107th year serving and protecting Philadelphia. Here's to many more.