St. Petersburg Association of Fire Fighters, IAFF Local 747

06/04/2026

Thank you Representative Cross for all you have done in support of our members! We will miss working with you!

05/29/2026

*HUGE NEWS FOR FIREFIGHTERS IN THE FLORIDA RETIREMENT SYSTEM*

Your union with the help of our friends in state leadership have secured a cost of living adjustment for all members of the special risk class in the FRS system. This mission has been ongoing for 15 years. Thank you to our FPF Legislative team, our FPF DVP’s past and present, and affiliate leaders and members who made the trips to Tallahassee to speak to the importance of this.

This is a huge benefit for our members in Lealman after it was unilaterally stripped from the FRS in 2011.

FPF President Wayne "Bernie" Bernoska gives an update on bills that...

05/28/2026

It’s always a great day when elected officials stop by to listen to the concerns of our members. Kathleen Peters has been a friend to firefighters for two decades. We are proud to fully support her re-election campaign!

05/27/2026

We are proud to support Ken Welch for re-election as the Mayor of St. Pete. He has a proven track record of supporting public safety. We look forward to four more years under Mayor Welch’s leadership!

Welch has leaned into the power of incumbency and a growing coalition of local and regional supporters that say he is still the best candidate for the job.

05/22/2026

Big news for Florida’s firefighters and their families.

Governor DeSantis has officially signed SB 984 into law — and this one matters.

This legislation protects firefighters facing terminal occupational cancer from having to choose between going home to be with their family and preserving their family’s death benefit. No one fighting for their life should have to make that call.

Effective July 1, 2026, firefighters who leave employment due to cancer will have one full year to retain access to the cancer death benefit — giving families the security they deserve during the hardest season of their lives.

Huge thanks to Senator Nick DiCeglie and Representative Demi Busatta for leading the charge on this, to the members of the Legislature who stood behind it, and to Governor DeSantis for putting pen to paper. We are grateful for this work!

This is a win for every firefighter family in Florida. 🙏🚒❤️

05/20/2026

IAFF Local 747 was honored to co-sponsor this year’s Fire Ops 101 alongside the Pinellas County Fire Chiefs Association, Pinellas Local Affiliates, and Clearwater Fire & Rescue Department — thank you for the use of your facilities!

Local leaders, government officials, and community members got a hands-on look at what our brothers and sisters do every day — fire suppression, search & rescue, vehicle extrication, CPR, and more. Events like this matter. When your community understands the job, they understand the people behind it.

Shoutout to the East Lake, City of Seminole, and Gulfport CERT teams for their help on the ground, and to Operation BBQ Relief for sending everyone home full. 🍖

This was the 15th annual Fire Ops 101 — and we’ll see you at year 16!

Photo credits to Fireground 24 Photography

05/14/2026

05/11/2026

For many firefighters, their tireless service has caused damage to their health, and they are no longer able to serve to the fullest capacity.

05/05/2026

May 4th was International Firefighters Day, and we couldn’t let it pass without recognizing the incredible men and women of Local 747. The bravery you bring to every call — and the families who stand behind you — deserve to be celebrated every single day. ❤️🚒

05/03/2026

Our friends at Gateway Subs always take care of our firefighters! They came through strong last night!!!