Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association of Connecticut 

FEDERAL FIREFIGHTERS’ FAMILIES TOY DRIVE

Dear Brothers & Sisters:

This holiday season, we are reaching out for support for some of our own who are facing unique challenges this year.

As you know, our federal colleagues recently endured a difficult period without pay due to the government shutdown. While their pay has started to come through, the timing has placed immense financial stress on many families, particularly when it comes to providing a joyful holiday for their children.

We want to ensure that the kids of our sister and brother firefighters don’t have to feel the strain of that uncertainty during the holidays. We have organized a collective effort to bring some well-deserved cheer to their homes.

How You Can Help:

We have created an anonymous Amazon Wish List that contains gift ideas for children of various ages in these families. There are also gift cards included on the list that will be gifted to the pre-teen and teenage children. Purchasing an item from this list sends it directly to us for distribution. 

AMAZON WISH LIST

We recognize the holidays are busy and everyone is stretched thin, but even purchasing one item can make a tremendous difference.

The hard deadline for all purchases is December 19th. This deadline is essential to ensure we have enough time to distribute all the gifts before Christmas Day. 

Please feel free to reach out to Caitlin Clarkson Pereira, Fairfield Firefighters, Local 1426, with any questions or with thoughts on additional ways to support these families at either ccp1426@gmail.com or (310) 998-7593.

Thank you for everything you do and for your generosity toward our extended family. It is deeply appreciated.

In solidarity,
Peter Brown, President
Louis P. DeMici, Secretary
Steven H. Michalovic, Treasurer

Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association of Connecticut 

Details for Line of Duty Services
New Haven Firefighter Christopher Brainard

Dear Brothers & Sisters:

We regret to inform the membership of the passing of New Haven Firefighter Christopher Brainard, who lost his battle to occupational cancer on December 3rd.

Details for LODD services for FF Brainard are as follows:

Viewing Hours
Sunday December 7th
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm 
Riverview Funeral Home 
390 River Road
Shelton, CT 06484

Funeral Service
Monday December 8th
11:00 am 
Riverview Funeral Home
390 River Road
Shelton, CT 06484

Please keep the family of Firefighter Brainard and members of L-825 in your thoughts at this difficult time.

In solidarity,
Peter Brown, President
Louis P. DeMici, Secretary
Steven H. Michalovic, Treasurer

24^th Peter S. Carozza Biennial Convention of the
Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association of Connecticut
Foxwoods Resort Casino/Tower Towers
November 16-18, 2025

CONVENTION PHOTOS

The Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association of Connecticut would like to congratulate President Michael Podzaline, Norwich, Local 892, on his appointment to serve as one of the UPFFA representatives on the CT Commission on Fire Prevention & Control. He will join UPFFA District Vice President Dan Tompkins as they address the challenges facing the fire service in the coming years. 

We know Mike and Dan will be strong advocates for all firefighters across the state and wish them well in their roles. 

The UPFFA of Connecticut has established our own 457(b) plan as an additional retirement plan option for our members. 

We believe the plan is reasonably priced and offers a variety of investment options. The enclosed enrollment kit and plan fee disclosure will allow you to compare it to your current plan offering.

We have also engaged Coastal Bridge Financial Advisors to provide on-site education for locals utilizing our plan. 

Important Plan Information from Ct. Fire 457 (b) Plan

Ct. Fire 457 (b) Enrollment Kit

The 2025 Annual
UPFFA Golf Tournament

I want to take this opportunity to thank the Golfers, Sponsors, and the Staff at Laurel View Country Club for making our Golf Tournament a great success.

Hope to see everyone next year!

Pete Brown, President

CT Firefighters Seek New Cancer Protection with Access to Workers' Comp

UPFFA of Ct. President Peter Brown concerning House Bill 5501, An Act Concerning Alternative Physical Testing Requirements for Female Candidates for Firefighter Positions

IAFF and Metro Chiefs Advise Members of Adverse Health Risks Linked to Fire Fighter Turnout Gear

REMINDER TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE
Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association of Connecticut

PLEASE BE SURE TO REGISTER ON THIS SITE TO ACCESS ALL FEATURES!!

The PSLF program offers complete federal student loan forgiveness after making 120 qualifying payments while working in public service. As you may know, since the Department of Education created a temporary PSLF waiver in October 2021, more than 70,000 student loan borrowers qualified for federal student loan forgiveness under the PSLF program, totaling close to $5 billion in relief. Even more public servants have received credit for past periods of repayment that previously did not qualify, putting them closer to reaching the minimum number of payments required for forgiveness. The Department of Education estimated that at least 550,000 public servants will benefit from the temporary waiver. 

The temporary waiver allows monthly payments that previously weren’t eligible to count towards the 120 required monthly payments for PSLF. It will help the many borrowers who have previously been denied forgiveness because they had the wrong type of federal loan, were in the wrong type of repayment plan, encountered a payment technicality or administrative error, etc. However, this waiver expires on October 31, 2022. We want to make sure that all public servants have the opportunity to benefit from this important change.

PSLF PROGRAM – Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

CONNECTICUT STATE FIRE FIGHTERS’ ASSOCIATION      

 MEMORIAL FOUNDATION

Ct. State Fire Fighters' Associaiton Cover Letter

Ct. State Fire Fighters' Association Pledge Form