Photo: Fire Chief Scott Freitag
The Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority (CAFMA) is aware of a recent press release distributed by a representative of the Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona (PFFA) regarding the censure of Fire Chief Scott Freitag by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) union. We find it necessary to address misinformation contained in this release.
Lack of Notification and Due Process
Neither CAFMA, our Board of Directors, nor Chief Freitag were informed of the IAFF’s censure resolution nomination or vote prior to its public announcement. CAFMA has not received any official communication from the IAFF regarding this matter. It is important to note that allegations of this nature should be addressed through proper channels, with all parties given the opportunity to present their side of the story. That did not occur here.
Health Insurance and Employee Safety
Contrary to allegations in the IAFF release, there has been no refusal to discuss health insurance between leadership and labor. Leadership only requested to address this in the upcoming fiscal year (2024-2025) due to loss of personnel managing the health insurance program and as a result of other matters before the Authority, including formal hearings related to issuance of an ambulance Certificate of Necessity. Additionally, CAFMA provides a comprehensive cancer screening program through the Vincere Cancer Center at no cost to our firefighters and supports firefighter cancer initiatives through the Congressional Fire Services Institute. CAFMA also took a proactive approach to firefighter mental health, signing a contract with an outside third party culturally competent behavioral health firm that has provided significant additional resources to all personnel.
Union Meetings and Employee Harassment
Throughout his decade-long tenure as Fire Chief, Chief Freitag has never monitored union meetings. Labor-Management meetings are held monthly, and the union has a seat at the table, a voice in policy and budget issues and in standard operating procedure.
Additionally, minutes and recordings are taken at every Labor-Management meeting to document discussions and remain transparent.
Until June 2024, Chief Freitag had not been accused of harassment or bullying. These recent claims were promptly addressed and thoroughly investigated by Human Resources with oversight from an outside third-party attorney. The investigation is complete and CAFMA anticipates the resolution of those allegations in the next week. We are confident that Chief Freitag will be fully cleared of wrongdoing.
Cancer Prevention Measures
CAFMA is deeply committed to cancer prevention and mitigation for our firefighters. We have undertaken a series of significant measures to enhance safety and reduce cancer risks since August of 2018.
Station Upgrades:
Stations 50, 51, 53, 54, 57, 59, 61, and 62: Implemented various upgrades including stainless steel countertops, epoxy flooring, radiant heaters, and AirVac filtration systems to reduce exposure to potential cancer-causing agents.
Warehouse Building:
Replaced carpet with epoxy flooring to address risks from inspecting and washing firefighting gear.
Clean Cab Apparatus:
In late 2020, CAFMA began transitioning to clean cab designs for new fire engines to minimize contamination within the cab. This includes moving air packs and thermal imaging cameras to outside compartments. The first three of these clean cab engines was placed into service in October 2023, with more scheduled for delivery.
Fleet Cancer Mitigation:
A strategic plan is in place to retrofit existing engines to the clean cab design, prioritizing newer units. We are also planning future upgrades to address cancer mitigation in both our fleet and facilities.
Additional Cancer Mitigation Measures:
Installed water filtration systems and conducted agency-wide testing for arsenic in water. Regular maintenance includes filter changes and carpet cleaning. Future projects include replacing forced air heaters with radiant heaters and installing AirVac filtration systems where feasible.
Staffing and Budget
Staffing remains a priority. We have a three-year staffing plan in place to improve staffing levels. In 2024, CAFMA hired 26 firefighters and graduated eight new paramedics. An additional eight paramedics will graduate in summer of 2025. CAFMA operates 10 full-time stations across three shifts, as well as one additional 40-hour peak time response engine. This amounts to 31 firefighting crews in total. Current CAFMA crew staffing:
- Four crews: 5-person staffing
- 20 crews: 4-person staffing
- Seven crews: 3-person staffing
Fifteen additional firefighters will be out of the Fire Academy and on the engines in December of 2024. The current staffing levels are affected by funding constraints and available personnel, a challenge faced by fire agencies across the region; as such, we have been working towards adding additional staffing and have committed to four-person staffing when feasible.
CAFMA is committed to transparency and regularly posts our annual budgets on our website at www.cazfire.gov. We go the extra mile by including detailed financial information in our Board meeting packets, which are also available on our site. Rising economic costs are beyond the organization’s control; however, we endeavor to remain fiscally responsible. Labor has always had a seat at that table, and all meetings related to creation of, and approval of the annual budget are conducted as public meeting open to all.
CAFMA’s Commitment
Under Chief Freitag’s leadership, CAFMA has made substantial progress in enhancing operations, services, and community outreach. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and professionalism in serving our community. Any concerns or discrepancies brought to Senior Staff’s attention will be addressed through appropriate channels, ensuring all perspectives are considered. Further, CAFMA Senior Staff has always been highly proactive, implementing new policies and procedures–often with Fire Board approval–on a regular basis, as reflected in CAFMA’s monthly Board meeting minutes available on its website.
“The Fire Board expects a high level of professionalism from all CAFMA personnel,” said Matt Zurcher, CAFMA Board Chairperson. “We take all complaints and grievances against the organization and its members seriously and as such, we have been working with legal counsel through every step of the investigative process. As Board Chair, I am disturbed that these baseless accusations have been made against our organization and its leadership.”
CAFMA remains steadfast in its dedication to transparency, integrity, and the well-being of its personnel. We value open communication and are committed to addressing any concerns through appropriate channels. CAFMA’s ongoing efforts to enhance safety, health, and operational efficiency reflect our commitment to serving our community with excellence. We appreciate the continued support of our community and stakeholders as we navigate these challenges and uphold our mission to provide exceptional emergency services.
