Fire service today is increasingly making more data-driven decisions, and the collection and analysis of data has become a new field in the fire service organization. The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), along with Esri, will be hosting a one-day Fire Data Analyst meeting to cover the role of this position and how different technologies can help with better analysis.

The meeting will be held in conjunction with IAFC's Fire-Rescue International conference, which is being held on Aug. 22 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in San Antonio. Breaks and lunch will be provided, and seating will be limited. Pre-registration is required, and no walk-ins will be allowed due to space constraints.

For more information and to register, follow the link below to view the flyer for this event.

Want to learn how to stand up to bullies and help those who are being bullied? Attend Extinguish Bullying, a Pre-Conference Program as part of Fire-Rescue International on Tuesday, August 23 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Each summer, thousands of the most prominent fire and emergency service leaders from across North America and around the globe come to Fire-Rescue International to learn, network and collaborate together.

FRI education covers all areas of the emergency service:
     •  Navigating the political environment
     •  Managing change
     •  Ethical leadership
     •  EMS issues
     •  Career development

FRI attracts hundreds of exhibitors to showcase the newest fire service innovations in apparatus, technology, equipment, gear and more. If you're a fire/EMS chief, chief officer or company officer - this is YOUR conference for leadership education. 

Chiefs,

The San Antonio Fire Department will be hosting the Fire Rescue International Conference, August 24-26 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. Please see the attached letter of invitation from Chief Hood with information on free expo passes for all firefighters and guests. If you have any further questions, please contact Division Chief Mike Mullins at 210-207-4928 or Special Projects Manager Sarah Flores at 210-207-0060. We hope to see you at FRI!

Respectfully,

Bryan Norris

Deputy Chief

San Antonio Fire Department

The Houston Astros AAA Affiliate, Sugar Land Space Cowboys, are hosting a first responders appreciation night at Constellation Field. All first responders can receive one free ticket and access to discounted tickets for friends and family to join.

The New Mexico Fire Chiefs Association along with the International Association of Fire Chiefs Southwestern Division will co-host the 23rd Annual New Mexico Fire Service Conference, which will be held September 22-25 in Ruidoso, NM.

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!

Three weeks ago a television station in Dallas, FOX 4, streamed live video as a grass fire spread across a field and reached densely-packed houses, eventually destroying 9 and damaging another 17. There were several reasons why the structures were so vulnerable, including medium-heavy vegetation in the field adjacent to the property lines, very little impact from efforts of the fire department to stop the spread, no air support, and wood fences that connected all of the properties on the rear and sides of the homes.

Several years ago, town officials and city managers were asking why fire stations couldn’t be built for less than $500,000. At the 2022 Station Design Conference, fire chiefs, city managers, and others learned why it could be difficult to build a fire station for less than $1 million. It’s not unexpected and even community members do not understand the increasing costs to build a new fire station or public safety facility.

VIDEO: After eight months without a fire chief, the City of Sweetwater has welcomed Chief Dewey Coy. He was selected from a group of just four, by an outside consultant group hired by the City. Sweetwater's Fire Chief retires after 23 years of service "I grew up in Snyder until I was 13, and then moved to Zephyr which is where I graduated high school from," Chief Coy said. "So this is somewhat of a coming home for me." This is Chief Coy's first time as a fire chief, but his firefighting career began at 18. He volunteered in Zephyr and Crane, Texas before moving to Arkansas. Chief Coy joined the Cabot Arkansas department and ultimately landed in Jacksonville, Arkansas where he retired as their Battalion Chief. "About 6 months, I realized I wasn't ready for retirement," explained Chief Coy.  

Gov. Greg Abbott this week announced the reappointment of an Edinburg native to the board that oversees a retirement fund for volunteer firefighters and emergency personnel in Texas. Abbott appointed Pilar Rodriguez to the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System Board of Trustees. Rodriguez currently serves as the Executive Director of the Hidalgo County Regional Mobility Authority, as well as the Fire Chief for the Pharr Fire Department. Rodriguez is also a member of the Linn San Manuel Volunteer Fire Department, Texas Public Works Association, the State of Texas Firefighters, and the Fire Marshal Association of Texas. Rodriguez was first appointed to the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System Board of Trustees in 2016.

Agency Chief Mike Wisco shared the following: The Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) has submitted our FY24-25 Legislative Appropriations Request which totals $5,753,878.00. This includes five exceptional items which equal a $1,990,902 increase in operating expenses. It is imperative that I express the situation this agency is struggling with, as we work to meet our mission and performance measures. The agency’s responsibility has increased while resources to accomplish the mission have decreased.

Click on the "Learn More..." link to read Mike's full letter. If there are questions, please contact Mike Wisko at 409-682-3091.

From rookie to chief, outstanding leaders in the fire services community receive training through development programs and the annual Leadership Symposium. The Fire Service Chief Executive Officer Program is designed for executives within the fire service with modules taught by professors from the Mays Business School. At the annual Leadership Symposium, fire and EMS service leaders receive up-to-date information on leadership, management, safety, budgeting and other topics through sessions that meet continuing education requirements for Texas fire officer and EMS personnel.

For those just starting out, the Texas Fire Officer Training Program utilizes the Fire Officer I, II, III, & IV courses, which meet NFPA 1021 training and certification requirements. After successfully learning to meet the challenges faced by both the Company and Command Officer, candidates are eligible for Pro Board NFPA 1021 testing and certification.

Upcoming training will take place on the following dates: 

     •  Officer I - Oct. 3-7
     •  Officer II - Oct. 10-14
     •  Officer III - Oct. 17-21
     •  Officer IV - Oct. 24-28