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 MEMBER NEWSThe Texas Fire Chiefs Association has endorsed San Bernadino County Fire Protection District Fire Chief Dan Munsey for IAFC 2nd Vice President. The TFCA encourages members who are IAFC members to vote during the election, being held May 14 through June 18. For more information regarding Chief Munsey and his platform, please click the button below.
TFCA encourages members to enter the 2024 Thought Leadership Essay Competition. The essay competition is not about reiterating known problems in the fire service, restating current doctrine, or drafting theoretical essays; it’s about offering original thought and identifying actions to address the specific root causes of institutional and interpersonal resistance. Thought-provoking essays will ignite discussions and challenge readers to understand & embrace their roles in a diverse and evolving fire service. We encourage new ideas to help foster a culture within the fire service that embraces both change and curiosity. Authors and readers of this essay should be motivated and challenged to act beyond the status quo using critical thinking concepts. We encourage participants to focus on the substance of their ideas and put personal experiences in context without spending too much of their essays on personal stories. We also encourage you to address impactful change at every level of the organization so that the proposed solutions have a broader reach and contribute to overall organizational improvement.
UPCOMING EVENTSIn 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.
As Chief Officers we are about more than recruitment and retention. We must also focus on creating a culture where every member feels valued. We must actively work to change our department's culture to ensure that all members feel like they belong. We must provide training and development opportunities that promote inclusivity and diversity and create unique spaces and divisions within our department to support the needs of all members. We can improve member retention and work toward our shared goals as a community by fostering a sense of belonging and creating an environment where everyone feels welcomed and supported. Let us work together to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for all.
The next Company Officer Symposiums will take place April 22-24 in Wichita Falls and May 6-8 in Sugar Land. 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 to learn more and to register.
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.
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. May 7-8 | Rockwall Resilience Strategies for First Responders (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) Moving Right of Bang: Critical Incident Early Intervention Strategies (8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.) July 16-17 | Weatherford Moving Right of Bang: Critical Incident Early Intervention Strategies (1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.) Resilience Strategies for First Responders (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) Aug. 21 | Harlingen
Resilience Strategies for First Responders (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.)
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!
INDUSTRY NEWSSOURCE: NFPA
Media coverage of the Smokehouse Creek Fire labels it the worst on record, emphasizing its massive acreage burned, but this overlooks previous fires with larger impacts.
SOURCE: Wildfire Today
The expansion of Prescribed Burn Associations (PBAs) across the United States, driven by grassroots efforts and collaboration among landowners, reflects a growing recognition of the benefits of controlled burning and the need to overcome common burn limitations.
TEXAS STATE NEWSSOURCE: The Texas Tribune
A legislative committee concludes hearings on the deadly Panhandle wildfires, criticizing state agencies' communication failures and hinting at potential legal changes.
SOURCE: Click2Houston NBC
Cy-Fair Fire Department's Chief Amy Ramon receives TFCA's Fire Chief of the Year Award, recognized by her peers for her dedication and leadership.
SOURCE: Texas A&M Forest Service
Texas A&M Forest Service allocates $1.3 million in grants to rural volunteer fire departments for equipment and training, continuing support for statewide fire protection.
SOURCE: FireRescue1
The Denton Fire Department’s new Pierce Volterra electric fire engine will be assigned to one of the busiest firehouses in the city.
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE NEWSTFCA is interested in learning about your legislative interests and concerns. Please take a moment to give us your thoughts on what the legislative committee can begin to develop as a list of topics. You can submit as many topics or issues as you would like, but please submit a new form for each topic so we can adequately capture and track the information. The approach to the interim session is as follows:
TCFP UPDATESShare Your Seminars/Training EventsThe TCFP has created a new webpage where departments can share their seminars and training events with the rest of the Texas fire service. Similar to the jobs webpage, to post to the page you must fill out the fields in the application, submit a PDF or include a link with more information, and once your event is approved it will be listed on the webpage. We hope this will be a useful resource for members of the fire service in finding more training opportunities in their areas. Questions or concerns can be sent to info@tcfp.texas.gov. Registration Open for Upcoming Regional MeetingsTCFP offers “regional meetings” throughout the year in a variety of locations around the state. These meetings are opportunities for members of nearby fire departments and other regulated entities to meet some of our staff in person. We want to answer your questions, listen to your concerns, and give timely updates related to commission news. In addition, through a partnership with TEEX, CE will be awarded for your attendance at these meetings. For a list of all upcoming meeting dates, visit the Regional Meetings webpage. TML NEWS
TEEX NEWS
FIRE LAW BLOG
In this episode of Fire Law Roundup, hosts Brad and Curt discuss criminal charges brought against a firefighter who urinated on a colleague’s personal property, a firefighter charged with taking drugs from a suspected overdose scene, an appellate ruling upholding a civil service decision to remove a firefighter from a promotional eligibility list, and a lawsuit filed by a Florida firefighter who was terminated after suffering a cardiac related event.
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