The Friday Report
  July 19, 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.

Learn More
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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.
 

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.

2024 Fall Academy – College Station – Registration Now Open!

Event Details
Sun., Oct. 27 | 4:00 – 6:00 pm | Registration and Check-In Open
Mon., Oct. 28 | 7:00 – 8:00 am | Registration and Check-In Open
Mon., Oct. 28 – Thurs., Oct. 31 | 8:00 am – 5:00 pm | Required Academy Classes
Fri., Nov. 1 | 8:00 am – 12:00 pm | Required Academy Classes and Graduation

Breakfast will be served Monday - Friday. Lunch will be served Monday - Thursday. Dinner is on your own each night.

Location
Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center
177 Joe Routt Blvd.
College Station, TX 77840

Registration Information
Registration Fee - $1,250

REGISTER HERE

Martinez Architects, LP
LAWS Systems
INDUSTRY NEWS
NFPA Blog (7/12/2024)
The electric vehicle industry has taken off in recent years, but battery electric vehicles (BEVs), hydrogen fuel cells, and hybrid vehicles have introduced different fire hazards compared to traditional internal combustion engines.
Fire Rescue 1 (7/16/2024)
Diversity, equity and inclusion work together to foster a more hospitable for all employees, and it is the fire chief's job to implement these programs.
Fire Engineering (7/11/2024)
Safety is a core component of firefighters' training, but that dedication to firefighter safety has potential effects on occupant rescue.
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
CBS | Austin (7/13/2024)
Thirty-three cadets graduated from the Austin Fire Department's spring Pass the Torch program, which gives them the chance to experience of what the fire academy is like.
ABC 10 KTEN (7/16/2024)
The City of Denison plans to add Fire Station No. 4 near the Preston Harbor development, which is expected to have between 7,500 and 10,000 homes.
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

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!
Learn More
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TEEX NEWS

 Fire Officer IV

 Aug. 12-16 | Round Rock

 Fire Officer III

 Aug. 26-30 | Flower Mound

 Fire Officer I

 Sept. 9-13 | Pharr


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 15, 2024, Brad and Curt discuss a disciplinary investigation into a Kentucky firefighter caught hanging out of the window of a moving Cadillac while wearing a department t-shirt; the dismissal of a contentious lawsuit involving several New Haven chiefs; the settlement of a Fourth Amendment locker search case in Pawtucket, RI; a proposal for a global settlement of claims against Maui County over the catastrophic wildfires that occurred last year; and the settlement of the Juneteenth Spoof lawsuit out of Rochester, NY.
HONORING OUR CRAFT
Community Impact
The Celina Fire Department received the Texas Fire Chiefs’ Association's Best Practices designation for its demonstrated excellence in all fire service operations.

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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