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Elbert Washington
Elbert Washington
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Elbert
Washington
FDNY
North East
Yes
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I am a retired Member from New York City. I am also a Past President of My Local Chapter, the Vulcan Society FDNY, Inc. I have been a Member of the IABPFF since joining the FDNY in 1973. I had the honor of serving as Vice President of My Chapter under the Leadership of Brother David James Floyd the Founding President of the IABPFF. Brother Floyd was also the First Black Firefighter to be assigned to a Rescue Company in the History of the FDNY. He was a Member of Rescue Company 2, the busiest of the Rescue Units in NYC. And after being Promoted to LT. he returned to Rescue 2 as an Officer. As You can tell he was a Great inspiration in many ways to Us all. I was retired by My Department on May 1 , 1999 due to Line of Duty Injuries. During My Twenty Six Years of Service I served in some of the Busiest Fire Companies in New York City. Engine 290, Squad Company One and Rescue 2. During My Eleven Years at Rescue 2 (1981-1992) I had the Honor of Serving with some of the Best of the "Bravest", as Firefighters are nicknamed in NYC. Of the 343 Firefighters who gave their Lives on September 11, 2001, were 42 who I worked with Personally. Battalion Chief Raymond Downey who was the Chief of Rescue Services that day, was My Captain in both Squad Company One and Rescue 2. He was also one of the founders of the National Urban Search and Teams, that many of You are members of in Your Cities across the Nation.. At the time of My Retirement I was the Most Decorated Black Firefighter in NYC. Something I'm very Proud of, particularly since when I joined the FDNY as a result of a Lawsuit by the Vulcan Society in 1973, We were told that We were lowering the Standards of the Department, and the Union Greeted Us at the Division of Training by stating "WE DON'T WANT YOU" ! but We'll take Your Dues. And when I and a Brother Latino Proby entered the Quarters of My first assignment, while the Companies were on a run, in big bold letters on the Blackboard in the Kitchen were the words, "NO NIGGERS AND SPICS WANTED" ! Keep the Fires Burning for Justice ! Elbert Washington


Comments (26)

To all our IABPFF, EDI and Chicago Fire Department family, I regret to bring sad news and condolences on the passing of former Deputy Fire Commissioner of the Chicago Fire Department, Nicholas Russell.
This news is sudden and I ask all to give the family and Department time and space to grieve and then notify us of arrangements. Please the family in your prayers.

So sorry to hear of the passing of Brother Outerbridge. I can remember him being argumentative on the convention floor back in the 70s. I see he continued to voice his strong opinions well after retirement in some of the things he wrote. Thank you for your committment and contributions to the IABPFF. Rest in Peace

Biography, RIP Brother

Fireman Leslie Outerbridge risked his life to save others and risked his job for racial justice. Born December 29, 1936 in Chicago, Outerbridge grew up in the Cabrini Green projects. His father, a former cricket champion from Bermuda, taught him about fair play. Outerbridge was a good student at Jenner School and entered Wells High School early at age twelve. Dropping out at age fifteen, he joined the Air Force in 1953. There, he played on the installations’ basketball, football and baseball teams. After his discharge, Outerbridge drove a taxi, until his father’s friend, Robert Thompson, a black firefighter, “sponsored” him for the Chicago Fire Department (CFD). Outerbridge passed the written exam, but “failed” his first physical. Later, Outerbridge found that his father’s donation of $300 ensured that he “passed” the second time around in 1961. Outerbridge later returned to school, earning a B.S. from Chicago State University in 1981.

In 1968, Outerbridge, along with Jim Winbush and Wesley Thompson and backed by the NAACP, Operation PUSH, and the Chicago Urban League, with inspiration from Father George Clements, Anderson Thompson, and legal assistance from Attorney Kermit Coleman, formed the Afro American Firefighters League (AAFL). The AAFL completed a study in 1973 that detailed the Chicago Fire Department’s record of racial discrimination in hiring and promotional practices. The United States Justice Department filed a lawsuit against the City of Chicago that same year. Mayor Daley signed the court ordered “consent decree” in 1977, which resulted in increasing the number of black firefighters from 125 to 400 by 1979. Now, the number is over 1,000. Forced to fight a relentless paper war with unhappy CFD brass, Outerbridge discovered that paperwork was their weakness. For thirty-seven years he performed his duties and retired in 1995. Outerbridge was also a founder of the International Association of Black Professional Firefighters in 1969.

A talented photographer and part time model, Outerbridge has researched the history of African Americans, the CFD and the great Chicago fires – a history that goes back to 1873 when Willie Watkins was the first black firefighter. Outerbridge lives in Chicago’s West Chesterfield neighborhood with his wife, Annie.

It has come to my attention that Brother Les Outerbridge of Chicago passed to reward yesterday. Brother Outerbridge was a warrior in the war of racism and discrimination on the Chicago Fire Department and he left his legacy, his book called SMOKE. My Brother will be missed by all that knew him. Rest in Peace Warrior.

IABPFF Member Action Item Matrix

-Make sure you are financial and on your submitted chapter list or the individual member list
-Verify login capability Establish a IABPFF website profile, with bio. Copy old bio info from Drum if applicable. Add city skyline Wallpaper, chapter Logo(Chapter Logo archive is available), and Headshot
-When entering your chapter name also put the acronym in parentheses so that your members will come up in a search if they put in either one
-Verify info, add website etc
-If a board member, add position and link to area of responsibility
-Add facebook/LinkedIn page link, and original membership date
-Become familiar with the IABPFF website
-Save the link to pages of importance, and share with others like the Employment, Executive Board, and Membership pages
-Subscribe to the Announcements page
-Make sure your region and chapter is represented on the site
-Go and add an announcement in your regions area about any of your members that have retired, passed away, or got promoted. Each region has its own area for promotions, retirements or funerals.
-Know who your Regional Director is
-Make note of your areas of interest, the committee associated with them, it’s Chair, and their page
-Consider a committee to head up or work with on the national level
-Those in key positions at the local level should make note of and connect with their regional and national counterparts
-Directors, make sure all committees have a regional Representative

Website Registration Tutorial
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