SOURCE: Firefighterclosecalls.com
On March 3, Acting Chief Freddy C. Reeves, of the Ward Volunteer Fire Department, was attempting to put out a grass fire when his pants caught fire and he was injured.

After other firefighters arrived on the scene, Reeves drove approximately 5 miles to bring back a fire apparatus to continue fire suppression operations.

Acting Chief Reeves was then transported to a local hospital before being taken to the burn center at the University of Mississippi Medical Center where his condition initially improved. Reeves, however, subsequently became increasingly ill after responding to treatment and passed away from his injuries on March 25.

Gov. Abbott on Tuesday directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to prepare additional state resources for mobilization as Texans face critical-to-extreme wildfire weather conditions in the western half of the state and severe storm threats in the eastern half of the state, according to a release issued by the Governor's Office. 

The Texas State Emergency Operations Center is operating at Level II: Escalated Response in support of severe weather and wildfire response.

The Texas A&M Forest Service (TAMFS) has activated more than 325 state firefighters, 175 local firefighters from 56 different departments through the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System, including 45 engines, and has called in more than 100 firefighters from 12 states. TAMFS is utilizing more than 35 aviation resources, including 3 large airtankers, 15 single-engine air tankers, six air attack platforms and five type-1 helicopters.

Please follow the link below to view updates about the ongoing Texas wildfires disaster. The TDEM website provides an overview of the ongoing disaster, offers resources for affected citizens and features an up-to-date wildfire map.

SOURCE: Adam D. Young and Alex Driggars, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
Dozens of fire crews around Lubbock County, Plainview and other parts of the South Plains battled several wildfires that damaged structures and vehicles and prompted evacuations Tuesday afternoon and evening.

Fires were popping up as the region was under a red-flag warning through Tuesday evening, with strong winds above 30 mph, warm temperatures and dry vegetation turning the South Plains into a tinder box.

Fort Worth Fire Department Training Center
509 W. Felix St.
Fort Worth, TX
May 5, 10 a.m.

These meetings are held so that TCFP stakeholders can have an opportunity to ask questions of TCFP Leadership and receive updates on agency activities affecting the Texas Fire Service. They are designed to allow face-to-face conversations between agency staff and those regulated by TCFP to improve relationships and ensure the transparency of TCFP operations.

Meetings typically provide an overview of the following information:
• Update on commission actions.
• Pending rule and/or curriculum changes.
• Update on committee opportunities and activities.
• Identifying areas where the agency could improve services.

Follow the link below to register for CE credits and to view the full list of upcoming TCFP Regional Meetings. You can also click here to be taken directly to the myTEEX Student Portal, where you can register for CE credits.

While the TML Leadership Academy's Course I and Course II are sold out, the organization has a few upcoming events, trainings and webinars planned.

Public Funds Investment Act Training
April 25-26

Newly Elected Webinar: Governing Ethically — Understanding Your Influence 
April 26
2-3 p.m.

TMUA — Leadership and Management Conference 
April 27-29
College Station

Small Town Conference 
May 19-20
The Hangar Hotel
155 Airport Road
Fredericksburg, TX

Budget and Tax Rate Workshop
May 20
Belton 

Follow the link below for more event details, including links to webinars. 

This week's legislative update features information regarding Lt. Gov. Patrick's release of interim charges to the committees of the state Senate, the state House committees beginning work on interim charges previously set by Speaker Phelan, an update on the federal infrastructure bill, and a reminder of the deadline for State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Project and Expenditure Reports.

After a one-year hiatus, TEEX’s Leadership Development Symposium will return to San Marcos, Texas, on May 17-19, 2022.

The Symposium offers an unmatched environment for leadership education, including development in budgeting and finance, health and wellness, personnel management, mentoring and more. Speakers from diverse backgrounds — academics, corporate leaders, veterans, medical professionals, entrepreneurs and motivational speakers — offer a wide range of fresh perspectives on leadership, benefitting everyone in public service. Beyond education, the Symposium provides top-tier networking opportunities for emergency responders in Texas.

Attendees of this year’s Symposium will hear from speakers such as YouTube influencer Jason Patton; business professor, veteran and entrepreneur Dr. Bridgette Chambers; Texas A&M University Director of Athletics Ross Bjork; Rob Mendez, coach, inspirational speaker and author; and Ron Derrick, Corporate Emergency Manager for Whataburger Restaurants. Some topics covered will include deployment leadership, mental resiliency, energizing a tired workforce and bridging the gap between generations.

The Symposium is free for residents of Texas and $150 for out-of-state residents. First responders, including law enforcement, fire and EMS, receive continuing education units for attending. To find out more or to register for the Symposium, please visit the Leadership Development Symposium Newsletter or the Leadership Development Symposium Registration.

The Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service Emergency Services (TEEX) Training Institute announced that the 15th Annual Leadership Development Symposium has been scheduled for 2023 in Frisco, Texas. The symposium is is a two-and-a-half day event attended by hundreds of emergency responders who come to listen to presentations that focus on how to improve their leadership and management skills.

TEEX is seeking speakers interested in sharing their expertise during breakout sessions, which are scheduled in two-hour blocks, though speakers may present the same one-hour session repeated back-to-back or have a two-part session. 

Some areas of expertise where TEEX is seeking presentations include:
• Motivational Leadership  
• Leadership Strategies
• Financial Management
• Physical and Mental Fitness and Wellness
• Organizational Development
• Personnel Management

Apllications are due by July 15. Follow the link below to apply. 

Each year, in conjunction with the Texas Annual Fire Training Schools, TEEX hosts three vendor shows, which draw thousands of attendees. Come see the products and services that are available, including fire and EMS apparatus, tools, apparel and technology. More than 130 exhibitors will be on display over the three shows, the largest of which is the Municipal Vendor Show at Reed Arena on the campus of Texas A&M University. ​ 

Industrial Vendor Show
July 17
10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Brayton Fire Training Field
College Station, TX

Municipal Vendor Show
July 24
9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Reed Area, Texas A&M University Campus
College Station, TX

Spanish Vendor Show
July 10

There is no admission fee, and the shows are open to the public. 

In this week’s edition, Brad and Curt discuss a wrongful-death lawsuit out of Rialto, California; a negligence lawsuit arising out of an MVA in a Los Angeles county, claiming the medics misprioritized a seriously injured patient; the settlement of a discrimination suit in the city of LA; a ruling from an appellate court in New York on whether a recruit injured during training was eligible for line-of-duty injury benefits; and an OSHA citation against two Illinois fire departments arising out of a LODD fire.

SOURCE: Firefighterclosecalls.com
The week of April 10 through April 16 is National Telecommunicators Week.

Every year more than 240 million 911 calls are answered, and millions of dispatches are conducted by these trained individuals.

Recognize these unsung heroes this week — and every week — by letting them know how much they are appreciated.

 
Apparently accepting blame for your own stupidity just isn't cool anymore. Would you have broken the windows?

SOURCE: Angelo Verzoni, NFPA Journal 
Lori Moore-Merrell, the new U.S. Fire Administrator, discusses her agency’s priorities and challenges as well as the collaborations she views as key to a successful future for the nation’s fire service.

In October, the Biden Administration appointed Moore-Merrell, a 35-year veteran of the fire service, as the nation’s 11th US fire administrator, a position created as part of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974.

Today, the Fire Administration operates as a division of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and its mission is to support fire and emergency medical services throughout the country by providing resources for training and sponsoring research. The administration also collects data on fires in the U.S. and aids fire departments in carrying out fire safety public education and fire prevention programs. 

When you're trying to build trusting teams, you recognize you cannot guarantee certainty. By adopting an infinite mindset, we focus on patterns and progress rather than arbitrary goals.

In this #HumpdayHangout, Ricky Riley, members of Traditions Training and the ISFSI discuss expectations for the first-due company officer.