Fire service today is increasingly making more data-driven decisions, and the collection and analysis of data have become a new field in the fire service organization. The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) along with Esri will be hosting a one-day Fire Data Analyst meeting to cover the role of this position and how different technologies can help with better analysis.

The meeting will be held in conjunction with IAFC's Fire Rescue International conference, which is being held on Aug. 22 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. in San Antonio. Breaks and lunch will be provided, and seating will be limited. Pre-registration is required, and no walk-ins will be allowed due to space constraints.

For more information and to register, follow the link below to view the flyer for this event.

The San Antonio Fire Dept. would like to formally invite your Department to register to attend the 2nd Annual TX FD Facilities Best Practices Conference.  This free event will include food and educational seminars from your FD peers and leading facility consultants from around the state.

Please find attached the Invitation to register for the conference and to book a hotel room through the QR codes or web addresses provided.

You should also expect to receive email(s) from the San Antonio FD upon registration.

Who Should Come: Those involved with Planning, Construction, or Maintenance of Fire Dept. Facilities:
     •  Fire Chiefs and Assistance Chiefs,
     •  Other Officers assigned to Facilities,
     •  Civilians assigned to oversee or maintain FD Facilities.
     •  Sending 1-3 personnel from your Organization is recommended.

When: Aug. 3-5
     •  Wednesday: Evening Reception
     •  Friday: Lunch

Where: Hilton Palacio del Rio, San Antonio, TX (hosted by SAFD), on the Riverwalk.

Notes:
     •  Please register and book hotels as soon as possible, as space is limited!
     •  Hotel rooms booked with the group discount through the link provided will close July 6.

This training will take place online on Aug. 24 and 31 at 1-3 p.m. CDT.  CPSE charges $400 for this class. The Quality Improvement for the Fire and Emergency Services (QIFES), or its predecessor, is a prerequisite.  This course is mandatory for anyone interested in being a peer assessor.  Please note, peer assessors must also be of officer rank or civilian equivalent. 

The Texas CPSE Consortium will be holding its next meeting and workshop on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CDT at the Henry B. González Convention Center (900 E Market St, San Antonio, TX 78205) in rooms 207A and 207B.  Discussion will focus on health and safety initiatives, accreditation program updates, and professional credentialing.   Lunch will be provided by our sponsors for in-person attendees.  This event is free and open to all interested individuals, but accreditation managers and health & safety officers are highly encouraged to attend. The agenda will be distributed in mid-July. 

SOURCE: Fire Brigades Union
The International Agency for Research on Cancer, a World Health Organization body, has declared that occupational exposure as a firefighter has been classified as carcinogenic. The decision comes against a background of research around the world proving that there are links between firefighting and cancer. Research from University of Central Lancashire in the UK found that surveyed firefighters were four times more likely to have been diagnosed with cancer than the general population.  We now know these links arise from issues including toxic fire contaminants.

SOURCE: International Association of Fire Fighters
Join IAFF/IAFC at the International Association of Fire Chiefs’ Fire-Rescue International Conference in San Antonio, Texas on Aug. 25. Members of the Initiative, including IAFF Deputy Director Grady Valencis, IAFC Fire Program Manager Richard Miller, UC-Davis, CA Fire Department Chief Nathan Trauernicht, Dr. Sara Jahnke from the National Development and Research Institutes, Dr. David Frost from the University of Toronto and Dr. Kerry Kuehl from the Oregon Health and Science University will present “National Fire Service Study on the Wellness-Fitness Initiative and Current Best Practices.”

This FEMA-funded study includes small, medium and large fire departments from the United States and Canada, and focuses on successes and challenges of both management and labor, and how they have developed innovative solutions and best practice guidelines for implementation of the WFI system.

SOURCE: Reyna Revelle, KETK-TV
As of Wednesday, 16 counties are now listed under active fire bans in East Texas as we approach the Fourth of July celebrations. "As the summer has progressed, we've consistently seen lack of rainfall and very unseasonably hot temperatures and low humidities," said Rusk County Fire Marshal, Terry Linder.

Due to an escalation of drought-like conditions, Smith County fire has been responding to about eight fires a day. As of Tuesday, the drought index for Smith County has been at a 628 average. The Smith County Fire Marshal, Jay Brooks, says worries of a fire ban don't arise until the index reaches 700.

"We have an inch and 3/4 of moisture in our ground right now. So, we are definitely seeing that dry out fast. Also, our fires are starting to increase in numbers and in severity. I'm in constant communication with the county judge, and we're possibly looking at a burn ban in the near future," said Brooks.

SOURCE: Almiya White, KBMT
Days after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, hospitals, clinics, and even fire departments are preparing to navigate the ruling. After the abortion ruling, the Port Arthur Fire Department is prepared for an uptick in newborn drop-offs. According to Port Arthur Fire Chief, hardly anyone uses their Safe Haven resource, but that could change after the Supreme Court ruling.

You may have seen signs showing that fire stations are a "safe baby site." Safe Haven laws have been in place for decades. "I'm not sure everybody knows that fire stations are Safe Haven facilities," Port Arthur Fire Chief Greg Benson said. Since 1999, the Texas Safe Haven law has protected moms who feel they cannot take care of their newborn babies. Benson said they are prepared for a ripple effect following the court's ruling.  

SOURCE: The Graham Leader
As of Wednesday, an estimated 11,598-acre wildfire continued to burn in Palo Pinto County south of Graford as firefighters both in Palo Pinto County and surrounding counties as well as the Texas A&M Forest Service continue efforts to suppress the fire. The fire began Thursday, June 23 approximately 10 miles south of Graford.

Texas A&M Forest Service reported they received a request for assistance on the wildfire from Palo Pinto County at approximately 2:30 p.m. Thursday. Departments from Palo Pinto, Parker, Erath, Jack, Young County and more have been assisting with suppression efforts. The Texas A&M Forest Service reported at 9 p.m. Thursday that the Dempsey Fire was estimated to be 500 acres and 15% of the perimeter contained.

SOURCE: Insurance Journal
The Austin, Texas fire department reported at least 90 fires the night of July 4th in spite of a fireworks ban ordered by Austin and Travis County officials.

Most of the fires were small grass, dumpster and trash fires, the Austin Fire Department tweeted. Several fires reached one to two acres in size. There were three structural fires, though the fire department had not yet confirmed their cause.

To download your copies from our website:

  1.  Go to our calendar webpage: https://www.tcfp.texas.gov/newsevents/calendar
  2.  Select the red buttons for either of the meetings (July 13 = commission workshop and
       July 14 = commission meeting). This will open a pop-up box.
  3.  Select the link for the agenda to download a PDF copy to your computer

The meeting notebook (which contains the agenda and supporting documentation) has not been finalized. It will be posted to our calendar webpage as soon as we can make it available.

If you would like the commission to know your opinion about any of the agenda items but cannot attend the meeting in person, you are welcome to email your comments to: info@tcfp.texas.gov or mike.wisko@tcfp.texas.gov

To ensure the commissioners receive your comments, we ask that you please submit any written comments to us at least one day prior to the meeting. 

The Texas Fire Service Hall of Honor Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals from the fire service who have served their communities and the state of Texas with outstanding commitment and contributions to the Texas Fire Service. This year, nominations for the award will close on Wed, Aug. 31. 

This week's update covers the following:
     •  Texas Supreme Court Rules on Construction-Site Waste Hauling License Fees;
         Declines to Weigh in on Solid Waster Franchise Fee Authority
     •  The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act,
     •  State Leadership Announces $105.5 Million for School Safety Initiatives,
     •  Federal Infrastructure Bill Update,
     •  House and Senate Committee Interim Hearings.
     •  Don't Forget: Resolutions for 2022 Annual Conference Due Aug.

In this edition of Fire Law Roundup for July 4, 2022, Curt discusses the newly amended Florida Firefighters’ Bill of Rights. Happy Fourth of July and/or Happy Independence Day.

 

Your training program is the vehicle for your organization’s pursuit and achievement of excellence. When training is diminished, the department and its personnel suffer. How do you know if your training function is adequate?

Whether you have a state-of-the-art academy-based training division or just one volunteer training manager, there are certain warning signs you should watch for. In this white paper, Battalion Chief Bruce Bjorge shares 6 signs for which fire service leaders must be on alert.

In this video, hosts Dan DeGryse and Robbie Fisher talk with guest Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas about firefighters and suicide prevention. Dr. Spencer-Thomas lost her brother to suicide in 2004, and has since started the Carson foundation and become is an internationally-recognized leader and in-demand speaker on topics of resilience, mental health and suicide prevention.  In this Straight Talk, she discusses suicide prevention as it relates to the industry.

In times of uncertainty, leaders have a responsibility to inspire hope. Sharing hard-won wisdom, business leader Ken Chenault talks about what it takes to enact positive, enduring change -- and why it's more important than ever to invest in responsible innovation that uplifts people and centers equality and fairness.