TFCA members should be aware of how their department can collaborate with Red Cross to offer assistance to anyone who has suffered a home fire.  Click the button below to download the Home Fire Response Guide for Fire Departments.

Leading Into the Future
March 19-22, 2024 | Waco Convention Center

The Texas Fire Chiefs Association Annual Conference is the signature event of the Texas Fire Chiefs Association and is one of the state’s largest gatherings of fire chiefs, fire service leaders, and decision-makers.

The conference attracts hundreds of attendees from all regions of the state each year. Our attendees are fire chiefs, assistant fire chiefs, deputy chiefs, battalion chiefs, training officers, fire fighters, and city department executives who work together and get positive results. Come meet and network with top leaders in the fire service, learn from those who are foremost in their divisions who are winning awards and guiding others, and join in the tough discussions. Develop relationships which push through legislation and team up across borders to aid one another. Come witness and celebrate with those who have been called out and awarded valor and honor in the line of duty, and cheer for the one who has been nominated and will be name Fire Chief of the Year. You won’t want to miss it!

TPCA’s Officer Safety Committee, in a joint effort with the Risk Pool, provides training related to resiliency and critical incident interventions on a regular basis around the state. The content is broad enough to apply to all first responders and other departments that work in challenging environments that might take a toll on the employees. There is no charge to attend these programs and attendees do not have to be a member of the Risk Pool.Registration is required so we can account for all attendees.

Hutto Fire Rescue is proud to announce that we will be hosting an 8-hour workshop brought to you by the instructors and founders of Firefighter Functional Fitness.

This course was developed by Coalitions & Collaboratives, Inc and the USDA Forest Service and will be hosted in partnership with Texas A&M Forest Service. Created for current or future mitigation specialists, wildfire program leads, and others who work with residents and their communities to reduce wildfire risk, the Mitigation Best Practices training covers everything from effective communication to strategic wildfire planning. You will come out with the tools to help you engage with local communities and target which prevention strategies are effective.

This high-energy program will address the hottest issues and challenges that company officers face in today’s Fire Service. Topics include communication, trust, ethics, diversity, generational challenges, CISM, accountability, and social media to name just a few. Dates and locations have been announced for all the Company Officer Symposiums in 2024.  Click the button below learn more and to register.

In collaboration with CPSE, the Bryan Fire Department is pleased to invite you to the Quality Improvement for the Fire and Emergency Services Workshop. This course features three full days of instruction to help agencies prepare for accreditation under the 10th edition of the CFAI^® model. It covers the development of the three key documents, the Community Risk Assessment/Standards of Cover, Strategic Plan, and Self-Assessment Manual. 

You and your significant other are invited to the Stronger Families: First Responder OXYGEN Couples Retreat, where you can savor some moments together, recharge, get expert input, and rekindle your love during these challenging times. This retreat includes one night at the Courtyard by Marriott San Antonio Seaworld-Westover Hills, two mid-day meals, and all sessions from the OXYGEN Program, a national program that has served over 80,000 from our U.S. Military & First Responder families. This is a great opportunity to get away together and gain some tools to make your relationship stronger!

The 4.5-day Battalion Chiefs Academy empowers aspiring and new Battalion Chiefs with strategic leadership skills. Focusing on guiding principles rather than tactical aspects, our comprehensive training equips participants to excel in their roles. Join us for a transformative learning experience, honing critical decision-making abilities and paving the way for success as fire service leaders.

The Texas Fire Chiefs 2024 Spring Academy will take place from Monday, June 3 to Friday, June 7 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Grapevine DFW Airport North. Quickly becoming a desired/required credential for fire chief positions throughout the state, the Texas Fire Chiefs Academy is a comprehensive training opportunity for current fire chiefs and those who aspire to be fire chiefs. Current chiefs and executive officers are especially encouraged to attend. Graduates of the Academy receive the Certified Fire Executive or CFE professional designation. Your department may qualify for up to $575 of funding that could go toward tuition!

SOURCE: U.S. Fire Administration
Evidence-based guidelines make it easier for EMS medical directors, leaders and clinicians to provide appropriate care. Read NASEMSO's new guidelines for prehospital airway management.

SOURCE: Fire Rescue 1
A recent survey finds that 86% of female firefighters have been assaulted or know someone else who has been assaulted during fire/EMS work.

SOURCE: International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF)
"This Social Security blanket of protection is about making sure that the people that work hard in this country don’t die in poverty," said Edward Kelly, IAFF General President.

As fires rage in the Texas panhandle, House members seek to learn more about the events leading up to the fire, how resources were deployed, and how such a fire could be prevented. House Speaker, Dale Phelan, announced the formation of the investigative committee on March 12, 2024. 

SOURCE: Texas A&M Forest Service
An advanced wildfire warning system pioneered in Texas Panhandle leverages tech and inter-agency cooperation for swift and effective alerts, enhancing public safety.

SOURCE: Amarillo Globe-News
Volunteer Fire Chief Zeb Smith passed away at 40 while battling Texas' largest wildfire. He was respected as a friend, leader, and family member.

This update covers the following:
  • Texas Primary Results
  • Emergency Management Q&A Available for Texas Cities
  • U.S. Supreme Court Temporarily Blocks Immigration Law
  • State CDBG Non-Entitlement Grant Applications Due Soon
  • Catalytic Converter Grants Available to Law Enforcement Agencies
  • TWDB Hosting Webinar on Flood Infrastructure Fund
  • Federal Infrastructure Bill Update

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup, host Curt Varone discusses disciplinary action taken against firefighters who booed an elected official at a promotional ceremony, the dismissal of two Michigan fire departments from a lawsuit brought by a homeowner who was arrested for assaulting firefighters, a political dispute that resulted in a mayor temporarily appointing herself fire chief, and a decision by the City of Los Angeles to appeal an arbitrator’s ruling about the dismissal of 300 firefighters who did not comply with the city’s vaccine mandate.

SOURCE: Fire Rescue 1
You will be pulled in many directions and take some shots from outsiders, so it’s important to have a support system, says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.

SOURCE: Fire Engineering
Jared Cheselske shares six leadership lessons from his decades in the fire service and his military career.