Greetings Fellow Firefighters across the State,

 

Convention has come and gone, and we missed having now Past President Donny Boggs with us.

 

I truly believe the new shorter format was a success. The new keynote speaker and all of our instructors did an amazing job, and most classrooms were standing room only. 

 

We sent out a survey to get your feedback on the conference. Please take a moment and fill it out, it is very important to keep growing and making our conference a success. You can link to that survey here. And, we listen to what you say!

 

Congratulations to Chief Joe Koch 4^th Vice President and Jaxen Tidwell Mascot on being elected to the Executive Board. Three of the four amendments passed, and Wichita Falls will be the host City in 2027. See the full voting wrap up below.

 

Municipal School in College Station was held July 7-11 and was also a success. We had 12 legislators and staff attend Legislative Day at Municipal School and we had valuable discussions about important legislative items for this upcoming legislative session.

 

Big Thanks to everyone at TEEX, SFFMA Staff and Executive Board, TCFP, and Texas A&M Forest Service and the Advisory board for making this a success all while making it through Hurricane Beryl.

Also, the class development committee Past President Boggs assigned to create new classes for rural firefighters was a success. This committee, with the help of TEEX, Mike Wisco and the Advisory Board created a skills driven class hopefully to be ready by the next Municipal School. The Class is called Fundaments of Fire Attack. 

 

For all those who helped and are still helping and rebuilding after Hurricane Beryl I want to thank you for your hard work and dedication to you communities!

 

The SFFMA Executive Board will meet on July 20 at the State Office to work on committee appointments and all the great things in store for this year. 

 

I look forward to seeing all of you soon. Be safe and God bless.

 

Sincerely,

 

Billy Tidwell

SFFMA Executive Board President 2024-2025

806-777-5393

rallsfiretidwell@hotmail.com

Greetings SFFMA Members,

 

I am thrilled to share the outstanding success of our recent events that have marked a significant milestone in our continuous journey of excellence and service.  

 

2024 SFFMA Annual Training Conference & Convention

 

The 2024 SFFMA Convention in San Marcos was not just a success, but a unique and significant event in our journey. With over 400 attendees from across the state, it was a remarkable opportunity to network, learn, and celebrate our shared commitment to fire service excellence. The privilege of hosting distinguished speakers, including keynotes from industry leaders such as Chief Frank Leeb and Chief Michael Stanley, added a unique and inspiring touch to the event.  

 

The convention featured a variety of workshops and seminars tailored to address the evolving challenges and opportunities within the fire service. Topics ranged from advanced firefighting techniques with our hands-on training to leadership development, ensuring every attendee left with valuable knowledge and skills. The vendor exhibits showcasing the latest fire service technology and equipment, providing attendees with a firsthand look at innovations that can enhance their operational capabilities.  

 

We also celebrated our dedicated members during the awards ceremony, recognizing those who contributed exceptionally to the fire service. The camaraderie and spirit of unity were palpable, reminding us of the strength and resilience of our community.

 

Municipal Fire School in College Station  

 

Our partnership with the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) for the Municipal Fire School in College Station was a resounding success. This year’s program saw a record turnout, with over 800 firefighters participating in intensive training sessions designed to enhance their skills and readiness, making a significant impact on our community.  

 

The training covered essential topics, including structural firefighting, hazardous materials response, and emergency medical services. The hands-on approach of the TEEX instructors ensured that participants gained practical experience that is directly applicable to real-world situations, leaving them feeling confident and well-prepared for any challenge. The feedback from attendees has been overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the quality and relevance of the training provided.

 

Your executive board and I were fortunate enough to host a legislative day for members of our Texas Legislature and their staff. The attendees had the opportunity to interact with firefighters from their district who were in attendance as participants or instructors. They even took the chance to don fire-protective clothing and fight live fire! The day culminated with a tour of the incredible facility TEEX has to offer and a nighttime burn demonstration on the props.   

 

These events are a testament to our unwavering commitment to providing our members with top-notch training and professional development opportunities. As we move forward, we reaffirm our dedication to supporting and advancing the fire service in Texas, ensuring our community's safety and excellence.  

 

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of these events. Your dedication and hard work are what make our association strong and vibrant. We deeply appreciate your contributions and value your role in our community.  

 

Stay safe, stay strong, and keep making a difference.  

 

Warm regards, 

Dan Kramer

Executive Director, SFFMA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note: The results from the Pumper Races will be in the August issue.

 

 

Youth 13-17 Male

1^st              Nickolus McHorse

2^nd            Aiden Andreno

3^rd              Hunter Tidwell

 

Youth 13-17 Female

1^st              Juliana Sanchez

2^nd            Maggie Peterson

 

Adult 18-49  Male

1^st              Cody Gerik

2^nd            Billy Collier

3^rd              Ethan Gambino

 

Adult 18-49  Female

1^st              Amber Hill

2^nd            Brandi Clauson

3^rd              Daisy Svatek

 

Adult 50 & Over Male

1^st              Billy Jasinski

2^nd            Jason Habenicht

3^rd              Dwayne Svatek

 

Adult 50 & Over Female

1^st              Raechelle Mayfield

 

Tandem Team

Raylon Howell

Myra Alvarado

 

Engine Crew Team

Thomas Jacobs

Cheryl Adams

Michael Philips

We're sharing a ton of photos from this year's conference in San Marcos. Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

Getting first-hand knowledge of firefighting and the importance of the Texas volunteer fire service are key reasons for the SFFMA Legislative Day at TEEX Municipal School.

 

A group of 12 legislative guests met at the SFFMA office in Austin on July 10 to ride the bus to College Station. They arrived at Brayton Fire Field where they toured the 297-acre facility on golf carts, observed firefighter training in action, and met with representatives of the SFFMA Executive Board and TEEX Staff. Toward the end of the day, they even suited up to fight a simulated tanker fire.

 

TEEX Agency Director/CEO David Coatney and Emergency Services Training Institute Division Director Chris Angerer gave the legislative folks a presentation on the training opportunities offered at the TEEX annual Municipal School, Industrial School, and Spanish School. They emphasized the vital cooperation between SFFMA and TEEX in providing lifesaving training and certification for volunteer firefighters throughout the state of Texas. 

 

SFFMA President Billy Tidwell and our legislative advocate J.Pete Laney, highlighted the importance of providing continued funding for volunteer firefighter training, especially through House Bill 2604.

 

Daphne Alcala, Communications Director for the office of District 27 Senator Morgan LaMantia, said, “Absolutely everything today made an impression on me. When someone has a chance to make a connection with something very specific like firefighter training, you just gain empathy. I mean, putting on the suit, this whole other level of experiencing fighting fire, not just hearing stories of other people…  It’s very hot!"

 

Indeed, the outside temperatures without all the gear were near 100.

 

She added, "I have so much sympathy for these individuals who are really going out there and serving their communities – a lot of it through volunteer work.  It was really great getting to meet people who are here actually going through training. I’m really glad that I got to experience this, because I learned a lot about the things that need improvement for the fire service, the places where we can help.” 

 

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.

Saturday, July 20, 2024
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (CDT)

Tarrant County College Fire Service Training Center
4801 Marine Creek Pkwy
Fort Worth, TX 76179-3513

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.)