The Friday Report
  July 5, 2024
MEMBER NEWS

TFCA is accepting nominations for the following positions:

  • 3rd Vice President (1 Year, moves up to 2nd, 1st, then President)
  • Volunteer Director (2 years)
  • West (2 years)
  • Northwest (2 years)
  • South (2 years)
  • Northeast (2 years)

Please use the form below to submit a nomination, the deadline for nominations is August 15.

Apply Here!

Mobile Incident Command & Response Solution.
Tablet Command®
Tablet Command is a mobile incident command and response solution that increases situational awareness, speeds incident response, streamlines incident management and improves firefighter accountability. With Tablet Command -- a complete MDT replacement with features tailored to the needs of the Fire Service -- an incident commander can tap and drag responding apparatus onto an emergency scene, track progress against checklists, and time-stamp every maneuver throughout an incident.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

For the most comprehensive fire training available, fire professionals choose the Annual Texas Fire Training Schools. Each year, thousands of fire service personnel from municipalities and industry participate in intensive, weeklong open-enrollment courses. Choosing to train during any of the fire schools enables participants to acquire new skills, meet with peers from around the globe, make new connections in the fire industry and to gain confidence from the best in hands-on emergency response training.
Current research on decision-making and leadership shows that specific challenges known as “adaptive,” “wicked,” and “complex” problems are different than those merely considered “complicated,” and they pose unique difficulties for organizational decision-makers. In scenarios involving multiple stakeholders with varying interests and resources, it may seem impossible to find clear, high-confidence solutions to problems or inspire enduring buy-in for important changes. What core concepts play a role in these kinds of problems, and what makes them so hard for leaders to navigate?
The TXFD Facilities Conference gathers Teas fire department logistics and facilities maintenance peers, professionals and planners, as well as leading industry consultants from around the state and beyond to discuss facilities best practices, innovations, renovations, and maintenance challenges specific to fire stations and to Texas. Please register and book hotels as soon as possible, as space is limited! 
The Texas CPSE Summer Consortium Meeting will be held on Monday, Aug.12 at the Southlake DPS North Training Facility. A hybrid option is available.  Click the button below for the agenda and to register.
  
Daniel E. DeYear, Deputy Chief (ret.) from Dallas Fire-Rescue will be teaching this high energy program that addresses 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.
Presented by 1st Responder Conferences in Partnership with First HELP and ICISF, Inc. and co-hosted by the Cypress Creek Fire Department, this training is for current and retired first responders, police, fire, military/veterans, corrections, dispatchers, chaplains, spouses, professional staff, clinicians, and all who work in the public safety field.

This multi-faceted two-day seminar and networking event is designed to improve the mental health and wellness of first responders by discussing the real issues that first responders and their families are currently facing. Our conference will provide awareness, resources, and action items to combat PTSD/PTSI, depression, suicide, addiction, stress, and overall mental health.
  
The Texas Fire Chiefs 2024 Fall Academy will take place from Monday, Oct. 7 to Friday, Oct. 11 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton San Marcos Hotel and Conference Center. 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! Year 2 is sold out, but Year 1 still has spaces available.
Martinez Architects, LP
LAWS Systems
INDUSTRY NEWS
Firefighter Nation (6/26/2024)
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is excited to announce the release of our new resource for volunteer fire service families. What to Expect: A Guide for New Firefighter Families (Second Edition) is designed to help new fire and EMS recruits along with their spouses/significant others, children, parents, siblings, and other family members make the adjustment to the volunteer fire service lifestyle.
Fire Rescue 1 (6/28/2024)
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to decide if a Sanford firefighter can sue for discrimination because the city cut her disability benefits after she retired due to Parkinson’s disease. “I’m seeking justice not only for me, but also for countless disabled firefighters and other disabled workers across the country who deserve to receive retirement benefits without discrimination,” Karyn Stanley, the retired firefighter
FIrehouse Magazine (6/29/2024)
When someone takes a promotion, arguably, they take it hoping to contribute for the better to both the role and their department. Knowing that people take the role with the aspiration to do well, why is poor leadership cited so often in departments across the nation?
Industry’s First Fluorine Free Foam Guide
National Foam, Inc.®
National Foam, a recognized leader in fluorine free foam concentrates, has developed the industry’s first fluorine free foam guide as a comprehensive reference guide for professional firefighters. The guide outlines the basic characteristics and types of firefighting foam as well as application hardware and proper application techniques. Order your free digital copy today. 
www.nationalfoam.com/sfff-guide/
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TEXAS STATE NEWS
Fire Rescue 1 (6/27/2024)
The Tarkington Volunteer Fire Department is commending one of their firefighters for responding alone to a fire to save a grandmother and baby trapped inside.
CBS Austin (7/1/2024)
A fire at the old Buc-ee's location in Luling has been extinguished, and firefighters are now conducting cleanup operations, officials report.
City of Addison (7/1/2024)
Fire Chief David Jones recognized Assistant Chief CJ Alexander at the June 25 City Council Meeting for fulfilling the requirements of and graduating from the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer (EFO) program.
Delta Fire & Safety
HED Architects
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE NEWS

TFCA 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:

  1. Update our relationships with elected officials and re-establish a formal scope of work.
  2. Educate members on local impact and advocacy.
  3. Gather the membership's interests and concerns in order to develop a TFCA prioritization list and focus for the session in 2025. The committee's recommendation for TFCA's 2025 89th legislative prioritization list will be presented to the TFCA executive board and membership for approval sometime between August and September 2024.

Click Here for the Questionnaire

TCFP UPDATES

DEADLINE: Fire Marshal Exam

The special temporary provision (a.k.a. the grandfathering period) during which you can take the fire marshal certification exam without first having to take an approved course is coming to an end. If you haven't scheduled your fire marshal exam yet, please submit your application right away.

You must apply to take the exam by Aug. 1, 2024, and you must take the exam by Aug, 30, 2024. If you miss the Aug. 1 application deadline, you must take and pass an approved course before you can apply to take the exam.

For more information, see the full announcement on TCFP’s website. If you have additional questions, contact testing@tcfp.texas.gov

Registration Open for Upcoming Regional Meetings

TCFP 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

Rick Randall Upcoming Training

July 16-17
Weatherford
Moving Right of Bang: Critical Incident Early Intervention Strategies (1-4 p.m.)
Resilience Strategies for First Responders (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.)

August 21
Harlingen
Resilience Strategies for First Responders (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.)

October 15
Cedar Park (Link to program not yet available)
Resilience Strategies for First Responders (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.)

Clear Launches New Service for Fire Departments
Clear Career Professionals, LLC®
Unlock your team's potential with our specialized fire department recruitment solutions. From sourcing top-tier fire department executives to interim placements and finely-tuned promotional assessment centers, we ensure the best fit for your department's success. Trust our tailored approach to match your department's unique needs, ensuring optimal performance and exceptional service delivery. Let us ignite excellence in your firefighting force!
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TEEX NEWS

 Fire Officer IV

 Aug. 12-16 | Round Rock

 Fire Officer III

 Aug. 26-30 | Flower Mound


For course descriptions and current schedule, location, and registration information, see the individual course pages on the TEEX website.

On Duty Health
Komatsu Architecture
FIRE LAW BLOG
  
In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for July 1, 2024, Curt and attorney Bill Podszus discuss a lawsuit filed by seven LA City firefighters injured in the explosion of a CNG powered semi-truck; a litigation mess in Clarksburg, West Virginia involving FLSA overtime claims and the termination of the fire chief; a ruling in favor of the Baltimore Fire Department in a disability discrimination suit; and a disability discrimination suit filed by an Atlanta Fire Department battalion chief.
HONORING OUR CRAFT

This annual award recognizes individuals from the fire service with outstanding commitment and contributions to the Texas Fire Service. All donations will be to TEEX for the support of the Texas Fire Service Hall of Honor.

Nominations can be submitted to the website at https://txhallofhonor.org/

Any issues or help you need from us, feel free to email txhallofhonor@teex.tamu.edu.

Project Leadership, Planning and Management
FDCS®
Helping North Texas Municipalities with ground up construction, remodels and additions of Fire Stations, Police Sub-Stations, Libraries and City Government Centers.
 
If your community is experiencing rapid growth, has limited resources, looking for a better way, or stuck in the mindset of “we’ve always done it that way”, let FDCS help take your project to the next level of success.
For more information, please visit our website
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