Local 1590 Mission Statement

The Mission of the Wilmington Firefighters Association Local 1590 is to support our firefighters so that they may provide the highest quality fire, rescue, and emergency medical service to the citizens of the City of Wilmington.  The desire is a comprehensive firefighting force that assists members in times of need and positively impacts the community through the department we proudly serve. To accomplish this mission, we shall be committed to:

• Advocating for personnel, training equipment, apparatus, infrastructure, and other resources necessary to enhance public safety

• Pursue competitive wages, hours, and other work conditions so that we may recruit and retain a talented and diverse workforce.

• Protecting the welfare of firefighter personnel through education, charitable, political, legislative, social, and other community involvement.

• Respecting the rights of our members, employer, and the public in order to promote harmony within the Wilmington Fire Department.

The Wilmington Firefighters Association - Local 1590

Since December 17, 1965, we have been the local affiliate of the International Association of Fire Fighters. Our Local represents approximately 265 active and retired members of the Wilmington Fire Department.  We fight for the rights of firefighters in the City of Wilmington and are dedicated to the betterment of our community. Not only does that involve defending labor rights, engaging in concrete legislative action, and providing a voice for the firefighters, but it also includes helping our community. Some of our community events include Aid to the families of fallen firefighters and first responders, Wilmington Classic hockey game benefiting the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation, American Cancer Society, Christmas Toy Drive for Nemours AI DuPont Hospital for Children, coat drive, canned food drives, blood drives, and assisting with our local organizations.

The City of Wilmington is the State of Delaware's largest city, and the only one with a fully paid professional firefighting brigade. The members of the Wilmington Fire Fighter's Association protect a community of about 71,000 citizens within a 17-square-mile area. During the workweek, the population swells to in excess of 150,000 people.

Wilmington is comprised of everything from mansions to row homes, schools, and daycare centers, industrial and manufacturing properties, restaurants, hospitals, a prison, various waterways, the Port of Wilmington, a wastewater treatment facility, a landfill, I-95 and I-495, and high-rise offices and residential buildings.

Our members work in six (6) fire stations within the City and provide firefighting and emergency medical services, specialized search & rescue services; along with a Fire Marshal's Office for Arson/Fire investigation, and fire education & prevention programs. They respond to over 20,000+ calls for service each year.

The department staffs six (6) engines, two (2) ladder trucks, and two (2) Battalion Chiefs on duty at all times. Firefighters in the Suppression Division are currently working a three (3) platoon rotational shift of twenty-four (24) hours on duty and forty-eight (48) hours off, with a scheduled "Kelly Day" (off shift) every 6th tour.  This equates to a 46-hour workweek.

Station and Department Locations: