Attention TFCA Members,

Nominations are currently being accepted for the following Executive Board positions:

   •  3rd Vice President
   •  Secretary (3 year term – 2023-2025)
   •  Volunteer Director (2 year term – 2023-2024)
   •  Northeast Director (2 year term – 2023-2024)
   •  South Director(2 year term – 2023-2024)
   •  West Director (2 year term – 2023-2024)
   •  Northwest Director (2 year term – 2023-2024)

Nominations are open until 5:00 p.m. on Sept.16. Please email Chief Keith Kiplinger (Elections Committee Chair) your nomination at kiplingerk@nactx.us. Elections will be held later in the month of September. Those elected will be announced in early October 2022, after validation from the Elections Committee.

The City of Taylor Fire Department and the Taylor Professional Firefighter Association
cordially invites you to participate in an Emergency Responders, Military Personnel & Vehicle Memorial March through downtown Taylor.

The memorial march will take place on Sept. 11 at 7:00 pm. Participants will begin lining up on W. 7th Street at Davis St. in front of the old high school at 6:00 p.m. The march will end at Heritage Square with a memorial program to follow. Honor Guards and Pipes and Drums are welcome.

Please RSVP to (512) 352-6992 or michele.vrabel@taylortx.gov by Friday, Sept. 9.

The annual TIFMAS Symposium is an opportunity for the Texas Fire Service to join together to work to improve the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System. The symposium is designed to give the fire agencies across Texas a better understanding of TIFMAS, to include incident response discussions, case studies and the lessons learned.

The TIFMAS Symposium will be held in Waco on Oct. 9-12.

Last week, Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell discussed the revamp of NFIRS. As Past President Stephens stated in that meeting, we need to standardize and define the data we are collecting. Rebecca Harn from the IAFC has also been in conversations with Dr. Merrell about the IAFCs involvement in this. To that end we are looking to expand the Tech Council membership, and this is a great time for any fire chiefs with TFCA to join the council and help drive data collection and would give the TFCA a voice. 

The fire service is changing at an ever increasing-pace and technology is at the hub of these changes. The technology available to firefighters today includes wearable biometrics, augmented reality, virtual reality, robotics, data analytics, and real-time situational awareness. The IAFC Technology Council serves as the knowledge center for technological developments that affect the fire service. Rather than being driven by technology, the council drives the technology public and private industries are developing to improve our operational efficiencies, effectiveness, and firefighter safety. If you are an IAFC member and want to be on the forefront of advancements for the fire service, we need your help. No previous knowledge of technology is necessary, just a desire to help drive the future. 

If you are interested in joining, please visit the learn more link below. Thanks, Chief Roseberry, for providing this information. 

SOURCE: Samuel Burnley, Charlotte Florida Weekly
Utilizing real fire with a fake aircraft, Charlotte County’s new state-of-the-art simulator will train firefighters to battle blazes at airports. Charlotte County’s ARFF simulator is the most technically advanced training installation in the United States.

The aricraft firefighting simulator combines elements of an Airbus A320 and Boeing 737. The interior is designed to replicate that of an actual aircraft. Charlotte County hopes to attract aircraft rescue firefighting departments from all over the southeastern United States to use the simulator for their training.

SOURCE: Time Out Magazine
A new photography exhibit at the New York City Fire Museum shares photos of 9/11 first responders in  as a way to illustrate the continuing impact of the attacks.

The exhibition, called “One Day in September,” features a series of profound, editorial-style portraits of first responders’ family members, created by renowned photographer Richard Wiesel. Each photograph is paired with a short interview with the subject. The exhibit also includes images showing personal artifacts, such as fire helmets and badges, provided by first responders’ family members.

“We are committed to sharing the stories of the heroes of one of the darkest chapters in our city’s history,” the Museum said in a statement. “Richard Wiesel’s profound portraits remind us of the painful loss of that day, while also offering a measure of hope and healing.”

SOURCE:  Office of the Texas Governor | Greg Abbott
On Wednesday, Governor Greg Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to immediately begin discussions with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and share necessary documentation to determine the state's eligibility for assistance following last month's major flooding event in North Texas. 

Following a review of damage assessment information provided by Texans utilizing the State of Texas Individual Assessment Tool (iSTAT), state and local officials believe the flooding damage is sufficient to meet requirements for a declaration by the SBA. The program would provide long-term, low-interest loans to qualifying Texans through the SBA’s disaster grant programs.

“The State of Texas thanks all North Texas residents impacted by the August flooding event who submitted damage information through the self-reporting damage surveys,” said Governor Abbott. “This information has helped local and state officials determine eligibility for federal assistance, and we are working swiftly to help Texans and ensure our communities are provided with all resources available at the state and federal level to recover." 

SOURCE: 12NewsNow
This Sunday will mark 21 years since the the 2001 terrorist attacks took place. Southeast Texas firefighters plan to walk 9.11 miles Saturday, September 10 at Raymond Gould park in Vidor in memory of the first responders who gave their lives on this tragic event.

Their goal is for the Southeast Texas community to feel what it's like to walk in their shoes. They're inviting people to either walk or gather to cheer people on. Firefighters are encouraging people to walk in the procession or stand on the sides of Main Street, cheering with flags. The community can also help by volunteering or donating items like water. 

SOURCE: Austin American-Statesman
The Pflugerville Fire Department has already improved diversity after providing free in-house training to cadets.

According to Chief Nick Perkins, those interested in becoming a firefighter usually have to pay about $10,000 or more for their firefighter and EMT certification. The fee poses a financial hardship for many marginalized communities.

ESD No. 2, also known as the Pflugerville Fire Department, is paying the certification fee for those in its in-house program. The district set apart $1 million in its yearly budget to cover the fees and salaries of those in the program, in addition to providing the training, Perkins said.

This is a reminder regarding the Continuing Education requirement for review of the Annual Injury report, detailed below. To view the latest Injury Report, follow the Learn More link below.

Texas Administrative Code
TITLE 37  PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONS
PART 13  TEXAS COMMISSION ON FIRE PROTECTION
CHAPTER 441  CONTINUING EDUCATION
RULE §441.5  Requirements
(a) Continuing education shall be required in order to renew certification.
(b) The continuing education requirement for renewal shall consist of a minimum of 18 hours of training to be conducted during the certification period. Of the 18 hours, two hours shall be a review of the most recent TCFP injury report, with a focus on the top three leading causes of injuries during the reporting period. All documentation of training used to satisfy the continuing education requirements must be maintained for a period of three years from the date of the training. Continuing education records shall be maintained by the department in accordance with the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, State and Local Records Management Division, Records Schedule, or Local Schedule (GR 1050-28), whichever is greater.

The Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) is seeking qualified applicants for an opening on the Investigator Ad – Hoc Committee. Please  submit the application via email to cbarnett@tcfp.texas.gov. Applications will be accepted through Friday, September 30, 2022. To download the application, follow the Learn More link below.

In this article, we break down several legislative updates and the history behind the legislation that is relevant to the TFCA.  Follow the Learn More link below to read the detailed review.

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup, Brad and Curt discuss the settlement of a reverse discrimination lawsuit filed twelve years ago against the Northeast Ambulance and Fire Protection District in Missouri; a disparate impact race discrimination lawsuit filed by 12 Chicago Fire Department lieutenants who took a promotional exam for captain; the sentencing of a West Virginia firefighter who sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl in a firehouse; and a gender discrimination suit filed by a Connecticut battalion chief who was passed over for promotion.

In this short but humorous video, the Fire Department Chronicles host illustrates the different types of sirens you might use to respond to different situations in the field.

SOURCE: KBTX
Colton Adams is one of the two Centerville Firefighters who was hit by an 18-wheeler while responding to a crash on I-45. He lost his leg in the accident, but now he’s relearning to walk with his prosthetic, as seen in this heartwarming video.

Adams asks if you see an emergency vehicle, please slow down and move over for your safety and the safety of our first responders.