The Texas Fire Chiefs Workshop is a comprehensive networking opportunity for current Fire Chiefs (Head of Department). Earn the Additional 20 Hours Required by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection with your peers in one event!

The workshop will take place Dec. 14-16 at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa, 9800 Hyatt Resort Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78251.

Pflugerville will be hosting the next Quality Improvement Through Accreditation class on April 4-6, 2023.  This is a pre-requisite for accreditation managers and peer assessors. A consortium meeting will likely be hosted the day before. Expect registration to be open on the CPSE website within the next week.

Become an outstanding leader in the fire services community by acquiring fresh and up-to-date leadership training through the TEEX Leadership Development Symposium. Topics include leadership, management, safety, budgeting, and more. The 2023 Leadership Development Symposium will be held on January 9-11, 2023 in Frisco, TX! For event details, registration and hotel reservation information follow the link.

SOURCE: Va.gov
If you encounter a homless veteran, let them know the VA is there to help. Utilize and share this informative brochure to help end homelessness among veterans.

By Jacqueline R. Wilmot, P.E. for NFPA
Being raised by a volunteer firefighter, I was taught at a young age to always look for my 2nd exit, and when traveling to never to stay above the 4th floor because fire department ladders rarely reach above the fourth floor. It was also pretty “normal” for us to travel with a portable Carbon Monoxide (CO) detector. Why? Because CO poisoning incidents in hotels are not uncommon and regulations on CO detection differ significantly from state to state.

SOURCE: Thomas Insights
German startup Dryad Networks is attempting to help detect wildfires before they spread out of control with a new Internet of Things (IoT) device. The technology is powered by sensors designed to detect fires within the first 60 minutes of ignition. The solar-powered sensors measure temperature, air pressure, humidity, and other variables to detect fires faster than current methods.

SOURCE: KLTV
Severe storms ripped across East Texas last week, and one firefighter was caught in the middle. Randy Jones arrived at the station Friday night, preparing emergency equipment to help in damage areas, unaware of what was coming next. “It just hit. The rain hit, and 10 seconds later the building started coming apart,” Randy said.

“He called us as soon as he was able to get clear to tell us to take shelter,” said Randy’s wife Michelle. “When he got to his phone he said, ‘take shelter, take shelter.’ It was terrifying not knowing if he was really ok. He was still stuck in the building.”

SOURCE: American Legion
An exhaustive lists of Veterans Day discounts for veterans and servicemembers for restaurants, retail outlets and recreational opportunities. While these discounts have been verified, be sure to check your local franchise to confirm they are honoring the discounts and for more information. 

SOURCE: Big Country Homepage
In an effort to raise awareness for Gulf War Illness, Staff Sargent John Mumby set out from Waskom, Texas the Louisiana border headed to Fort Bliss in El Paso on foot. When Mumby walked into Sweetwater, he was welcomed with homemade breakfast, courtesy of the City Chamber of Commerce and Fire Department. 

“It’s not like we had it planned, it’s just. We asked him and he said yes. And we’re more than willing to accommodate him,” said Sweetwater Fireman and Veteran Eric Medina.

This update covers the following:
  •  TWDB Opens Applications for Flood Mitigation Assistance Grants

“World-renowned training in her backyard” is how Shannon Mauras describes Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service fire and emergency training in just a few words.

Initially a school teacher, Mauras felt a calling to become a first responder. In 2020, she joined the Brazos County Precinct 3 Volunteer Fire Department. She took basic EMT training through TEEX and completed the blended program through the annual fire academy. After receiving fire and hazardous material (HAZMAT) certifications, she joined the College Station Fire Department (CSFD) in August 2021.

“Students come from other states and even other countries just to train here,” she said. “TEEX offers the full package."

The NFPA 1041 Fire Instructor II course is designed to meet the needs of entry-level fire and emergency service instructors by meeting or exceeding the job performance requirements in National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1041, Standard for Fire Service Instructor Professional Qualifications, Chapter 5 “Fire Instructor II.” 

Upon completion of this course you are eligible to take the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications (Pro Board) written exam and skills testing.  Participants that receive a Pro Board certification are eligible for certification through Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) through reciprocity. In addition, participants can apply for certification through State Firefighters’ and Fire Marshals’ Association (SFFMA).

The NFPA 1021 Fire Officer II course is designed to meet the needs of the mid-level officer/supervisor and satisfies the requirements of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1021, Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications, Chapter 5 “Fire Officer II.” It is designed around classroom lectures and group interactive exercises to improve your abilities to manage multiple fire companies, including responsibilities such as strategic planning and operations, personnel development, and organizational communications.

Upon completion of this course you are eligible to take the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications (Pro Board) written exam and skills testing. Participants that receive a Pro Board certification are eligible for certification through Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) through reciprocity. In addition, participants can apply for certification through State Firefighters’ and Fire Marshals’ Association (SFFMA).

The NFPA 1021 Fire Officer III course is designed to meet the needs of fire executive management and satisfies the requirements of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1021, Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications, Chapter 6 “Fire Officer III.” It is designed around classroom lectures and group interactive exercises to improve your abilities to manage a fire service organization, with an emphasis on community/government relations, as well as model planning, budgeting, human resources, trends and support organizations, and emergency service delivery. This course includes a written project that requires you to develop a strategic plan. 

Upon completion of this course you are eligible to take the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications (Pro Board) written exam and project based testing.  Participants that receive a Pro Board certification are eligible for certification through Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) reciprocity.

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup, Brad and Curt discuss a $32 million award against a Kansas City firefighter for causing a crash that killed three people last December, discipline for two Denver firefighters for their roles in a botched death pronouncement of a woman who was still alive, a grand jury decision not to indict anyone following looking into the death of a recruit firefighter at the New York State Fire Academy in 2021, a professional standards investigation by the Rochester Police Department recommending that a police officer who handcuffed an EMT last July face disciplinary charges, and a lawsuit filed by a group of 78 municipalities and fire districts in New York state have filed suit against a consulting firm associated with opioid manufacturers, seeking to recoup costs associated with the opioid epidemic.

The Washington Township Fire Department has created an entertaining and educational parody of Cher's "If I Could Turn Back Time," emphasizing the importance of checking smoke detectors to make sure they are working correctly and practicing home fire drills with your family.

“We wanted to have some fun, but also continue to find a way to get the fire safety message across,”  Fire Chief Alec O’Connell said. “People can sing along and remember to check their alarm batteries.”