The International Association of Fire Fighters is the AFL-CIO affiliated labor union representing more than 2,900 affiliates in more than 3,500 communities in the U.S. and Canada. The 274,000 members of the IAFF are the nation’s full-time professional fire fighters and paramedics who protect the lives and property of 85% of the nation’s population. 3 of every 4 United States fire departments are all-volunteer, but only 1 of every 4 United States residents are protected by such a department. Volunteer EMS providers are responsible for staffing nearly 75% of Wisconsin’s ambulance services. However, they are responsible for responding to only 25% of Wisconsin’s EMS calls. The majority of ambulance responses and transports are provided by full-time professional EMS and fire based EMS departments. Furthermore, IAFF professional members are the largest providers of pre-hospital emergency medical care in North America.
The City of Middleton Paramedics were granted membership and sworn in by the International Association of Fire Fighters on June 4, 2003.