NOTE: This month's letter was written by 1st VP Billy Tidwell

 

Dear Members of the State Firefighters and Fire Marshals’ Association of Texas,

 

The month of May was one for the books, with most of Texas experiencing extreme weather conditions, from flooding and tornadoes to large hail and high winds, plus several small wildfires sprinkled around the state. We know many departments conducted water rescues during the floods – we saw the photos - and we recognize that you put your lives on the line to rescue members of the public. Of course, you do this 24/7/365.

 

I extend a heartfelt thank you to all Texas first responders for hard the work and long hours you provide to your communities to protect lives and property all year round. Please know your service is appreciated.

 

President Donny Boggs had an accident and spent a week in the hospital in Temple. He is now home resting and recovering. It will be a long road and we wish President Boggs a full recovery and clean bill of health. On behalf of the Boggs Family, thank you for all the support, calls, visits and prayers during this time. It is truly appreciated!

 

The 148^th Annual SFFMA Training Conference and Convention in San Marcos at the Embassy Suites is just around the corner! Information on registering for the conference, the speaker/training schedule, agenda, and more is available on the association’s website.

I welcome each of you to attend the Incoming President’s Forum, which takes place Saturday, June 29, at 3 p.m. in Spring Lake A-C. I’ll be there to give you an overview of my presidential year and to answer your questions. The forum happens immediately after the general session with keynote speaker Frank Leeb.

 

Remember by attending one of the Recruitment and Retention workshops during the conference, some of your travel can be reimbursed by the SAFER Grant. Also, TEEX Municipal School runs July 7-12. If you’re attending and need textbooks, we invite you to stop by the SFFMA table on July 7.

 

To date we have 15,246 individual SFFMA memberships (98% of last year) and 855 department renewals (93% of last year). These are tremendous numbers but there are still individuals and departments that have not renewed. Your benefits are not in effect if you haven’t paid for 2024 – we encourage you to visit our member PORTAL to get registered or to sign up for the first time.

 

District Leaders and District Secretaries: please email 1^st V.P. Billy Tidwell your District Committee Appointments as soon as possible. rallsfiretidwell@hotmail.com

 

As always if you can’t find what you are looking for on our website and need some help, please give the Austin staff a call or send an email.

 

I hope to see all of you at the SFFMA Conference and look forward to a great year!

 

Sincerely,

Billy Tidwell

SFFMA Executive Board President 2024-2025

806-777-5393

rallsfiretidwell@hotmail.com

Dear SFFMA Members and Supporters,

 

As we reach the midpoint of the year, I want to take a moment to reflect on our collective achievements. Your engagement and dedication have not only been instrumental but have directly contributed to making a significant impact in key areas. Your efforts are not just recognized, but deeply valued as they are the backbone of our success.

 

The Fight Against Proposed OSHA Rule 1910.156 Changes

At this critical juncture, one of the most urgent challenges we face is the proposed changes to OSHA Rule 1910.156. This rule, which currently governs fire brigade standards, is under pressure to be renamed to include all emergency response organizations. The potential risks these changes pose to the volunteer fire service and the financial strain they could place on volunteer fire departments cannot be overstated.

 

Our organization and many of our partners are not just fighting, but actively and urgently battling against these changes. We are engaging with policymakers, providing detailed feedback, and rallying support from various stakeholders to ensure our members' voices are heard. The importance of this battle is significant for the entire fire service. While safety is paramount, unfunded mandates are simply unacceptable for achieving those goals.

 

The Vital Work of the State Fire Consortium

Our work through the State Fire Consortium continues to yield remarkable results at the state level. The consortium, a testament to the power of collaboration, brings together diverse expertise and resources to address state-specific challenges. It unites all the major stakeholders in the Texas fire service, putting them at one table to discuss the issues facing our great.

 

Through the consortium, we are advancing training programs, enhancing fire prevention strategies, and improving emergency response protocols. We are also working on increasing the reciprocity between the different organizations, allowing firefighters various avenues toward certification. These initiatives elevate our state's standards and serve as models for other regions to emulate.

 

The consortium's efforts, significantly improving resource allocation, inter-agency coordination, and community engagement, are a direct result of your support. By fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation, we ensure that our state remains at the forefront of fire safety and emergency response. Your instrumental role in these achievements is deeply appreciated, and we are proud to have you as part of our team.

 

Moving Forward

As we move forward, I encourage you to stay informed and involved. Participation is crucial, whether attending meetings, providing feedback, or advocating for our cause. Together, we can continue to protect and enhance our profession. We will draft a response to the proposed OSHA changes and submit them collectively with the other state organizations involved with the National Volunteer Fire Council.

 

Thank you for your unwavering commitment and support. Your dedication is what keeps us going. Let's keep up the good fight and work towards a safer, more secure future. Your continued involvement is not just appreciated but crucial for our success.

 

Sincerely,

Dan Kramer

Executive Director, SFFMA

Volunteer Fire Department Assistance

The Texas Department of Agriculture has funds available to support volunteer fire departments who absorbed significant expense or battle ongoing resource scarcity in response to the historic Panhandle wildfires. Learn more and see How to Apply.

 

We're excited to offer hands-on classes for this year's SFFMA conference. You can take classes on Friday and Saturday mornings. See course descriptions below. YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER for hands-on training.

 

Forcible Entry

Description:

This three-hour course will cover forcible entry techniques and allow time for repetition for each class member.

Instructors: San Marcos Fire Department Station #3, 2420 Hunter Rd, San Marcos (off-site, not at hotel)

Class times:

Friday, June 28 - 8 a.m.-11 a.m.

Saturday, June 29 -  8 a.m.-11 a.m.

NOTES: These classes take place at off-site SMFD Station #3. Attendees need to bring their own axe and Halligan tool as well as PPE.

 

The Mission: Search

Description:

Elevate your firefighting capabilities and embrace "The Mission" of putting civilians first. Hands-on training techniques for door and window-initiated searches, victim drags, and small team operations. Participants will focus on mastering body mechanics, efficient victim movement, and quick decision-making to effectively extricate victims from different dwelling scenarios. This is a one-hour class taking place in the hotel parking lot.

Instructors:  MV Fire Rescue

Class times:

Friday, June 28 - 8 a.m., 10 a.m.

Saturday, June 29 - 8 a.m., 10 a.m. 

NOTES: Attendees need to bring their own PPE.

 

The Proactive 3: Mission-centric Minutes for Success 

Description:

Focuses on the critical first three minutes of a fire scene. This one-hour class is designed to equip short-staffed engine companies with the essential principles and practices needed to be proficient when first on the scene of a structure fire. Participants will delve into key skills and techniques such as masking up, forcible entry, 1-2 firefighter hose line stretching and advancing, exploring options for dealing with water loss, and mastering various search techniques both on and off the hose line. The course emphasizes problem-solving, effective communication, and adaptability to swiftly changing conditions on the fire ground. Elevate your capabilities and readiness for challenging firefighting scenarios with this dynamic and practical training program. Class takes place in the hotel parking lot.

 

Instructors:  MV Fire Rescue

Class times:

Friday, June 28 - 9 a.m., 11 a.m.

Saturday, June 29 - 9 a.m., 11 a.m. 

NOTES: Attendees need to bring their own PPE

The Texas Firemens Auxiliary (TFA) is celebrating its 75th anniversary! Join them at their luncheon during the SFFMA conference (at a lovely off-site location). The event/meal is free but limited to 60 tickets, first come, first served. Please email Heidi Hunting, heidi1212@comcast.net, by June 21 to request your ticket. No onsite ticket requests. Tickets must be picked up by the end of registration on Friday, June 28. No theme, but please dress appropriately. See y'all soon!

Please consider donating items to the Texas Firemens Auxiliary (TFA) for their annual raffle baskets! They requested donations of unopened bottles of wine or liquor, along with gift cards. Items can be dropped off at the TFA table.

Honoring a fallen firefighter or performing at a memorial ceremony are important parts of the fire service across the country. Texas is no different. But in a large district like Permian Basin, where departments are fairly spread out and distanced geographically, there was really only one department that provided honor guard services.

 

According to Ervey Pineda, Fire Chief of Kermit Volunteer Fire Department, “I felt like [our district] wasn’t doing enough to support our member departments at funerals and memorials.”

 

That is one reason the Permian Basin Honor Guard came together about a year ago.

 

He said, “Being able to fold a flag, play taps and do a bell ringing ceremony was very important to the Permian Basin District.”

 

So Pineda got to work. He pulled together the Permian Basin Honor Guard, which currently consists of nine active members from five departments. He is the Honor Guard Commander. He also plays “Taps” on the bugle.

 

“We were approved at the district meeting in the fall of 2022,” Pineda said.

 

After approval, it was time for training, which began in February 2023.

 

“We performed our inaugural ceremony at the spring 2023 district meeting,” he said.

 

Since then, the Permian Basin Honor Guard posting colors at 12 events or memorials and also performed at two funerals.

 

Members of the Permian Basin Honor Guard as of June 2024:

Ervey Pineda (Commander)

Chief, Kermit Fire Department Chief

 

Richard Alvarado (Assistant Commander)

Training / Safety Officer, Seminole Fire Department

 

Dalton Burdett

Secretary, Lamesa Fire Department

 

Riyan Teague

Captain Company 1, Lamesa Fire Department

Pablo Vasquez

Firefighter, Lamesa Fire Department 

 

Chris Warner

President, Kermit Fire Department

 

John Day

Chaplain, Kermit Fire Department

 

Ben Raitz

Public Information Officer, Monahans Fire Department

 

Chris Isbel

Chaplain, Wink Fire Department

Happy Father's Day to all dads across the state! In this month's Photobook, we share photos from firefighting dads and grandads with their kids and grandkids, Enjoy!

 

We hear from departments around the state that it’s tough recruiting volunteers overall, but especially younger folks. Time and again, leaders say volunteers are becoming rarer and more difficult to entice, and younger volunteers are like unicorns.

 

SFFMA ran a story a few months ago about several departments bucking that trend in terms of recruiting younger volunteers. See that story here. And a few other spotlights on younger volunteers here, here, here and here.

 

But we know many Texas volunteer fire departments are struggling. So we spoke with some departments that have or will soon have junior firefighter programs. Our hope is that hearing from others will help inspire and guide those departments looking to implement their own junior program by weighing the benefits and potential pitfalls.

 

We asked questions about expectations, policies, insurance, parental input and more, all with the goal of informing our members about considerations and possible issues that may arise. Not to mention how to avoid or at least mitigate any such issues.

 

Let's begin with Elsa Volunteer Fire Department, which is northeast of Edinburg and northwest of Harlingen.

 

The junior firefighter program at Elsa VFD began in January of this year. According to Chief Rafael Gutierrez, they have nine members in the program.

 

“Seven of the nine junior firefighters have a relative who is currently or formerly a volunteer,” he said.

 

Starting up such a program requires departments to carefully consider everything from new or updated policies to obtaining consent forms from parents.

 

“We had to put new policies in place to protect the department and the juniors’ best interests,” Chief Gutierrez said.

 

The policies address issues including when juniors can be at the firehouse, when they can ride in fire trucks, and what roles they can take on active fire calls, if any.

 

“Of course, one of the most important policies is that juniors are under the supervision of an officer at all times,” Gutierrez said.

 

What about insurance?

 

Chief Gutierrez said, “We were able to simply add them to our existing insurance policy.”

 

Beyond policies and insurance, however, the chief said, “Such a program would not be possible without the support of our officers who stand behind the program and especially wouldn't be possible without our lead instructors who dedicate their time in teaching our junior firefighters.”

 

Are there any pitfalls or issues you could help other departments avoid if they begin a similar program?

 

“The best advice I could give to a department looking to start a junior firefighter program is to have a strong and dedicated team of individuals in place to make the program possible,” he said. “Currently, we haven't faced any major pitfalls. We hope having certain policies in place can help us avoid any pitfalls in the future.”

 

Over in Ralls, in the Texas panhandle, Chief Billy Tidwell is putting together a junior firefighter program as a pilot or test case. When we spoke in late 2023, he anticipated it would take about a year to get it off the ground.

 

"There is a process for creating this kind of program" he said. "Much of the work is setting up the policies and procedures needed to protect everyone when you have young volunteers on the team."

 

Tidwell added that parents/guardians of the juniors would have to sign permission waivers to allow their children to take part in the program. He also said Ralls VFD needed to review and update its insurance to make sure it would cover the juniors.

 

Perhaps most importantly was to help usher in an enhanced culture within the department that would embrace the changes.

 

"We needed to set ourselves up for success by talking about our department culture, mentorship and overall management strategy if we want this thing to run smoothly," he said.

 

And of course the department had to rethink its training schedule and policies, and the department's overall ground rules, including what is and is not allowed when juniors are involved. Plus every member on the roster and anyone else who volunteers has to have formal background checks done/redone as there will be minors in the mix.

 

Some examples of policies a department needs to consider include:

 

Abuse & Prevention

Zero Tolerance

Annual Employee Training & Communications

Use of Phones

 

In the end, he envisions a junior firefighter program that is truly a mentorship for young volunteers.

 

"They will learn respect, pride of ownership, and problem-solving skills; they will come out of their shells and they may find a career path when college may not be an option," Tidwell said. "We want to help teach them how to think about all of the aspects of being a firefighter."

 

Here are just some of the departments around Texas that have or will soon have junior FF programs:

• Jasper VFD
• West Valley VDS
• Etoile VFD
• Elsa VFD
• Ralls VFD

Why are You a Volunteer Firefighter?

During the 148th Annual SFFMA Conference, we invite you to sign up and share your motivation, passion, and commitment to serving your community. Your stories will help us showcase the vital role of volunteer firefighters and inspire others to join this noble profession.

We're looking for dedicated individuals to participate in an upcoming photo shoot for our marketing materials. We want to capture the essence of why you chose to become a volunteer firefighter and share your inspiring stories with the community. Don't miss this opportunity to highlight the incredible work you do and make a difference in your community!

When: Sat., June 29 

Where: SFFMA 148th Annual Training Conference and Convention at the SAFER Grant Booth inside the Expo Hall, San Marcos Convention Center

Time: 8 a.m.-2 p.m. (Must sign up for a session in advance) Sign up for a time slot!

 

Department not participating in SFFMA? 

 

You as an individual can still attain certifications through our PORTAL. Please review the ever-increasing list of documents mapped toward credit in the SFFMA Certification Program by logging into your PORTAL account, selecting Upload from the green Training box, and then click on the “View Mapped Courses/Certificates” button.

When submitting documentation through PORTAL for approval, please note the recent changes:

1.      Individuals requesting reciprocity must provide verifiable documentation from one of the following sources towards written and skill examinations:

a.       Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) certifications if currently active or active within the last two years;

b.      IFSAC accreditation if issued under the current or most recent edition of the given NFPA standard; or

c.       ProBoard accreditation if issued under the current or most recent edition of the given NFPA standard.

Uploaded documents are generally reviewed the next business day.

 

ActionTraining Course Mapping

Austin Staff are working with ActionTraining to build out a list of course certificates for credit through Equivalent Training uploads. Please note that we can only accept the final Series Completion certificates and not portioned unit certificates.

 

Courses Available Through PORTAL

Recent programming changes allow completion of both a new Skill Examiner course as well as the required Certification Workshop. These courses are available 24/7 through an individual’s PORTAL account.

 

Skill Examiner – Completion of the course video and a quiz authorizes the individual to serve as a skill examiner for certifications they already hold. Authorization requires retaking the course every two years but can be completed more frequently. Requirement for completion starts January 1, 2025 but individuals can complete the course before then to be prepared ahead of time.

 

Certification Workshop – Course replaces the monthly workshops held via Zoom. Zone Representatives may still hold Workshops in their local area but the online offering makes sure everyone has an opportunity to learn about the SFFMA Certification Program.

 

Upcoming Testing Opportunities

SFFMA offers ample testing opportunities around the state on a regular basis and lists them on our website HERE. If your department is interested in hosting a testing session, please reach out to testing@sffma.org.

A list of sessions is also available through your individual PORTAL account by selecting Eligibility from the green Testing box from your landing page. On the new page select View under Written Test Eligibility and then the green Test Scheduler button. Upcoming exam sessions can be searched by date and location.

Wednesday, June 19, 2024
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM (CDT)

Brenham FD
101 N Chappell Hill St,
Brenham, TX 77833

 

Saturday, June 22, 2024
9:00 AM - 12:30 PM (CST)

Devine Vol. Fire & Rescue
1419 County Road 5710
Devine, TX 78016

Questions or Problems? Please contact your Certification Coordinator or Zone Representative; they can answer your questions about testing and certification. Visit these web pages for additional info:

 

Certification Board

Written Testing Dates

Certification Manual

Certification Workshop Dates

Available Certifications (Includes links for Cancer Awareness, etc.)