Two fire fighter union locals in Southwest Washington have merged. International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 1805, which represented 77 employees of Clark County Fire District 6 and paramedics at North Country Emergency Medical Service in Yacolt, joined with IAFF Local 452, which represents 176 employees of the Vancouver Fire Department.
The merged 253-member local is staffed part time by rank-and-file officers at its union hall at 2807 Fruit Valley Road in Vancouver.
Local 452 President Judson McCauley said the two locals had been talking about a merger for a decade; it became official at the start of 2021. When IAFF locals merge, the practice is to take the name of the lower numbered local, so the merged local continues as Local 452. McCauley said the merger has coincided with an uptick in involvement by members. Local 452 is also an active affiliate of the Southwest Washington Central Labor Council, and members take part in charitable campaigns like the annual Fill the Boot fundraiser for Muscular Dystrophy Association.
