WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, Ohio — Local 699, the union representing career firefighters at the Washington Fire Department, is celebrating 50 years of continuous affiliation with the International Association of Fire Fighters, the department said in a Facebook post.
“Fifty years reflects five decades of firefighters standing together for this community and for one another,” the department said in the post announcing the milestone.
The recognition is documented on a certificate signed by IAFF General President Edward A. Kelly and General Secretary-Treasurer Frank V. Lima, dated August 2026, honoring Local 699, Washington Professional Fire Fighters, for its continuous affiliation with the union.
The IAFF was founded in Washington, D.C., in 1918, when delegates from 24 local unions gathered for the organization’s first convention. Affiliated with the AFL-CIO, the IAFF now represents more than 344,000 full-time firefighters and emergency medical personnel across more than 3,500 local affiliates in the United States and Canada.
The Washington Fire Department, known locally as WCHFD, is led by Fire Chief Chris Wysong and includes an assistant chief, three captains, three lieutenants, six firefighters and 11 paid call firefighters, according to the city of Washington Court House’s website.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the Washington Fire/Rescue Department.
