Promote, Unify, Represent and Educate the Fire Service of Texas |
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Executive Director's Corner |
Greetings members,
Well, the curtain has closed on our 146th Annual SFFMA Training Conference and Convention in Beaumont. It was a full agenda (finally!) again this year, which provided opportunities for attendees to participate in:
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A full vendor show
- Committee meetings
- A memorial service
- Important business meetings
- A president’s reception at an excellent downtown Beaumont location
- Lots of training opportunities
- Fellowship with hundreds of other emergency responders from all over the state
Thanks to our Beaumont hosts for going the extra mile to accommodate our needs and for helping to make our time there a success. We’ve conducted a post-conference review to recognize those things that went smoothly, and those items for which improvement can be made in the future.
I can also say that your executive board is deeply committed to providing a conference that works for our members. Although traditions attached to the conference are important, they also know how important it is to “think outside the box” when it comes to crafting a program that will benefit the maximum number of association members. Please don’t hesitate to bring ideas forward when it comes to improving the overall conference experience.
With that said, initial planning will begin very soon for McAllen in 2023! Beyond that, the voting delegates selected San Marcos for 2024, and Frisco for 2025.
If I didn’t get the opportunity to visit with you in Beaumont, I look forward to seeing you either at the upcoming annual fire school in College Station, or at one of the fall district meetings.
Take care, stay safe, and I will see you out there somewhere!
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We are halfway done with 2022 and SFFMA is switching over to a new database in 2023. In order for us to transfer over we will need the last four digits of your Social Security number and your date of birth. If your account was missing one or the other, we sent out an email requesting that information, so please check your inbox and spam folders. If you have any questions, please email (Edward or Teresa) and we will be happy to assist you.
Please know, SFFMA is working tirelessly to improve the membership department in any way possible. We also encourage members to visit our website and look at all the benefits your membership provides.
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1081 Industrial Firefighter Certifications
We now offer Industrial Firefighter Certifications to individuals affiliated with member industrial facilities. The following are the steps required to obtain these certs:
Step 1: Verify industrial facility is current on SFFMA membership (application form).
Step 2: Facility reports names of ERT Head and Training Coordinator. One person can fill both roles and is not required to have individual SFFMA membership for these purposes.
Step 3: Verify applicant is current on SFFMA membership. If not, individual dues will be charged at the time of application submission.
Step 4: Verify applicant can provide course completion documents for each of the following:
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Since October of 2021, SFFMA has administered over 700 tests for HazMat, Firefighter 1 and Firefighter 2 certifications using our new electronic testing platform. We took a brief hiatus from testing in the month leading up to the annual conference, and offered two full days of testing during conference in Beaumont, on June 27 and 28. Now we are scheduling tests for departments again. If your department or zone has members who are eligible for written testing for HazMat, Firefighter 1, or Firefighter 2, Certification Coordinators may contact us via email with names of firefighters who wish to test. We will respond with possible dates and locations for testing.
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Apply Now - Prescribed Fire Grants for Texas Plains Region Now Open
Texas A&M Forest Service is now accepting grant applications for the State Fire Assistance for Mitigation – Plains Prescribed Fire Grant through August 15, 2022. Funding will be provided to landowners and communities that have been or may be threatened by wildland fire, with a target of reducing hazardous fuel loads. Properties near communities in the panhandle, northwest, west and south Texas at a risk for loss during a wind-driven wildfire are eligible. View the interactive map to check eligibility and complete the online application here
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Texas Fire Service Hall of Honor Lifetime Achievement Award
The newly established Texas Fire Service
Hall of Honor Lifetime Achievement
Award will recognize an individual from
the fire service or emergency response
field for outstanding commitment
and contributions to the Texas Fire
Service. Inductees have made significant
contributions to the local and state fire
service, and these contributions have
been widely recognized and respected in
the Texas Fire Service. This year, nominations for the award will close on Wednesday, August 31, 2022
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Fire Prevention Week 2022
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Join NFPA® in celebrating the 100th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week™ (FPW). This year’s FPW campaign, “Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape™”, works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe from home fires.
Today’s homes burn faster than ever. You may have as little as two minutes (or even less time) to safely escape a home fire from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Your ability to get out of a home during a fire depends on early warning from smoke alarms and advance planning.
Free downloads available here!
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Your Fire Department Can Support the CDC’s COVID-19 Testing Program
In partnership with the CDC and Color Health, the NVFC is working to improve access to COVID-19 laboratory testing for at-risk and under-resourced communities. Fire departments who participate in this program will provide an important service to their communities, with very little effort required. Sites receive everything they need to run a successful testing operation and are supported by Color’s team of professionals at every step of the way. Read article.
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Wednesday, July 20, at 2 p.m. ET
As wildfires increase in severity and frequency, it’s important that your fire department and community are prepared. Join the NVFC and subject matter experts for a live discussion on this topic. The conversation will focus on safety during wildfires along highways, how to better prepare communities before wildfire strikes, and health and safety considerations for emergency responders during wildfires.
Registration is not required.
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Exam Preps Now Available from PTS - Dr. Ben Hirst
Prepare. It’s the best defense. These exam preps are designed to strengthen your weaknesses. Each printed exam prep includes:
- Three removable practice examinations and answer forms
- Reading lists and feedback for each exam
- Self-scoring guides with page references to multiple textbooks for further study
Now in stock:
Fire Fighter I and II, 6th Edition - Based on NFPA 1001, Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualification, IFSTA – Essentials of Fire Fighting & Fire Department Operations, Jones & Bartlett – Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills
Hazmat Awareness and Operations, 6th Edition - Based on NFPA 472, Standard for Professional Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials Incidents, IFSTA – Hazardous Materials for First Responders, Jones & Bartlett – Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills
In stock next week: Hazmat Technician, Fire Officer I and II, Pumping and Aerial Apparatus Driver/Operator, and Fire Inspector
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