48-years-old, living a healthy lifestyle and exercising regularly. This doesn’t sound like a heart attack victim. But unfortunately in the fire service it often is, as OFPD Captain Gary McCutchen learned firsthand.

Ongoing shift work, disrupted sleep, heat stress, and fluid loss can all lead to ongoing cardiovascular problems for firefighters. These preexisting heart issues combined with the stress during, or after, an emergency call can result in sudden cardiac death, which consistently accounts for approximately half of on-duty firefighting fatalities.

As a profession, firefighting is hard on the body, as many have learned by suffering a debilitating injury or a life-threatening medical diagnosis before they reach retirement age. Prop. F, on the Nov. 3 ballot, would provide additional funding for the District’s pension fund, which provides for the retirement of our firefighters. If approved by the community, it would cost the owner of a $200,000 home $3.17 a month, around the cost of McDonald’s Happy Meal.

You can learn more about this proposal here or by calling 636.272.3493.

Cancer. It is a word that strikes fear the moment it is heard, and O’Fallon Fire Protection District retired Battalion Chief Mark Stenger has heard it from doctors countless times since 2012.

During every shift, firefighters are exposed to cancer-causing materials while assisting with car accidents, fighting fires and performing rescue operations. This ongoing exposure results in cancer being the number one cause of death for active firefighters, resulting in up to 70% of line-of-duty deaths yearly.

Cancer, cardiac arrest and career-ending injuries often result in firefighters leaving the fire service before their retirement benefits are available. Today, working to the point of retirement means a firefighter needs to stay on active duty until they are well into their 60s, with more than 30 years of service.

Funding from Prop. F would give many of our firefighters the opportunity to retire before they become disabled, or receive a life-threatening medical diagnosis, and protect the level of emergency services we receive.

You can learn more about this proposal here or by calling 636.272.3493.

Learn how Prop. F would impact the future of our community, our firefighters and our quality emergency services. Continue reading “Proposition F” →

The average age of our O’Fallon firefighter/paramedics/EMTs is 47 years old, and many have served for 25 years or more. Most of these first responders will serve on the firetruck well into their 60s until they can retire. Continue reading “Prop. F: Our Quality Emergency Services” →

Prop. F Would Allow Firefighters To Retire When They Need To

Firefighters devote their lives to protecting our future, our lives and our property, responding to an average of 12,000 emergency calls during their career. In return, the District makes a commitment to protect their future by providing an adequate retirement program.

Continue reading “Prop. F: Our Firefighters” →

Prop. F Would Support The First Pension Fund Update In Decades

In 1994, more than 25 years ago, the community made the commitment to provide a reasonable retirement package to O’Fallon Fire Protection District firefighter/paramedic/EMTs by approving a pension fund. This is a separate fund that can only be used for fire district pensions. Since then, our community’s population has more than tripled, and our District has grown from 17 employees to 71 to keep the growing community safe. Continue reading “Prop. F: Our Community” →

How To Vote

In Person

Continue reading “How To Vote” →