On February 28, delegates from the International Association of Fire Fighters gathered to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the union’s founding. The IAFF was organized on February 28, 1918, as 36 delegates representing 24 local fire fighter unions convened in Washington, DC. "The extraordinary work of our great union over the last 100 years has made a positive impact on firefighter jobs, livelihood, health and retirement security,” IAFF Local 36 president Dabney Coleman told Union City, “ensuring that this noble profession continues to be as safe as it can be for the greatest membership in the world."