New MSFDA President

   Hello Firefighters, I am excited and honored to be your President. As we go forward, I invite you to connect with me on ideas, thoughts, or concerns that you may have regarding the MSFDA or if you just want to talk. The MSFDA is an organization for you, all firefighters in Minnesota, and I, along with your regional board director, will do what we can to help you through all that there is to offer through the MSFDA. Please take advantage of us as you need, or if we can help you with any other questions, do not hesitate to contact one of us. 

   First of all, I would like to take this time to thank Dave Yurczyk for his commitment as a Board Member, involvement in numerous committees, and most recently as President of the MSFDA. Thank you for your contribution to the fire service and the firefighters of the State of Minnesota and around the country. Hopefully you will be able to spend more time doing the hobbies that you obviously enjoy, woodworking and gardening. 

   Next, our MSFDA Annual Conference in Mankato is a few months past now, and I thank those who attended. I’m confident you received the education that you were hoping from the classes, and that you were also able to take something new back to your department to share with them. Over the years, especially 20-30 years ago, I remember going to MSFDA conferences and being there with hundreds of firefighters from around the state. I know it’s early, but I’d like to challenge you to invite at least one more firefighter to attend the conference with you and help us get it to that 400-500 attendees at next year’s conference, which will be held again at Breezy Point. I know we can make this happen!  What an opportunity to meet firefighters that you may have not seen in years, or maybe since the last conference, and also meet new ones. So, mark your calendars for September 19-20, 2025! Hope to see you there. 

   Finally, I would like to briefly touch on the new proposed OSHA rule. I ask that you take time to read, listen, and ask about the rule before you form an opinion regarding it. This brings me to an information packet I received; in it was the question: “Why is OSHA doing this?” and the answer in the author’s words were: “OSHA has been watching and paying attention to the fire service and our requests for more help with cancer and mental health and suicide. OSHA doesn’t necessarily feel the fire service has done enough to reduce death and injuries (cardiac deaths included) by using a voluntary method. OSHA appears to believe the fire service has not done a good enough job of using the NFPA consensus standards or other ways to reduce injuries and death.”  I’m sure each one of us can say that we know someone that has or is dealing with one of these, so this is my little plug: That is why we at the MSFDA strongly encourage every department throughout the state to get the Mn FIRE Awareness Training--and it’s “FREE”!  It is an invaluable tool for your members to receive this training, so please contact Rebecca or DeeDee to schedule your training or talk to them about what all is offered.                                                                   Call-763-221-9329 or Email: info@mnfireinitiative.com 

   As the cold season nears, I ask that you do your part in helping educate the public on winter safety. 

   Stay safe my fellow firefighters. 

Dale Grochow, 

MSFDA President