The Friday Report
  December 23, 2022
MEMBER NEWS
TFCA is starting its legislative process and is interested in learning what your legislative interests and concerns are. Please take a moment to give us your thoughts on what the legislative committee can begin to develop as a list of topics. You can submit as many topics or issues as you would like via the form below, but please submit a new form for each topic so we properly capture the information.

Providing Protection for Those Who Protect Us
Casco Industries, Inc.®
Casco Industries, Inc. has been in business for over 72 years. Casco is a family-owned business and is in its third generation of ownership. Casco covers 8 States with 6 offices and warehouses, with two office locations in Texas with 18 salesmen and 6 service tech’s covering the State. Casco is the exclusive dealer for MSA SCBA, Globe manufacture, and many other Fire Service Products in most of the states it covers.
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UPCOMING EVENTS

Sponsored by the Kilgore, Longview and Marshall Fire Departments, this workshop is designed to educate participants on the types and effects of stress and mental health issues that confront fire service professionals nationwide. The course employs hands-on, reality-based examples that are both useful and enlightening. Participants will be provided with the necessary tools to recognize and understand the signs and symptoms of stress, to recognize the types of incidents that will need follow-up care, and effective ways for managing stress.

The event will take place Jan. 3-5 at the Longview Convention Center. Admission is free, but seating is limited. Please RSVP thamblen@longviewtexas.gov

This high-energy program will address the hottest issues and challenges facing company officers in today’s Fire Service. This program addresses MANY topics such as Communication, Trust, Ethics, Diversity, Generational challenges, CISM, Accountability, and Social Media to name just a few.  

This is NOT a “Top-down” lecture on how to be a company officer. Recall the passion you owned when you entered the Fire Service? You will, when you rekindle the knowledge and experience you bring to the Company Officer rank. Are you a brand-new officer (or about to be), searching for a spark for preparedness? Are you a salty, experienced officer, who could use to have their passion reignited? This program is for all company officers and will enhance your "Love of The Game!”

Inspired by the Texas Fire Chief’s Annual Workshop, this gathering is designed specifically for the Second in Command. Attendees will tackle common challenges encountered in their position and will discuss innovations and strategies used in departments throughout Texas. Past history shows that these formal and informal conversations provide dynamic networking opportunities made possible by the diverse and talented professionals of the Texas Fire Service.

Class size is limited, so please make plans now to attend. This class is open to all fire service personnel who are considered Second in Command to their Head of Department. There are no prerequisites to attend this Workshop.

The Workshop will take place from January 23-25, 2023 at the Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center, 177 Joe Routt Blvd. 

REGISTER TODAY | BOOK HOTEL ONLINE | LEARN MORE & BECOME A SPONSOR

Become an outstanding leader in the fire services community by acquiring fresh and up-to-date leadership training through the TEEX Leadership Development Symposium. Topics include leadership, management, safety, budgeting, and more. The 2023 Leadership Development Symposium will be held on January 9-11, 2023 in Frisco, TX! For event details, registration and hotel reservation information follow the link.

The Palo Duro Wildfire Academy will take place Feb. 17-26 at the High Plains Retreat Center in Canyon, TX. All classes offered are NWCG approved PMS 901-1. The deadline to register is Feb. 3 and includes   includes lodging, breakfast, and lunch.

Pflugerville will be hosting the next Quality Improvement Through Accreditation class on April 4-6, 2023.  This course features three full days of instruction to help agencies prepare for accreditation under the 10th edition of the CFAI model. This is a pre-requisite for accreditation managers and peer assessors. A consortium meeting will likely be hosted the day before. Click the link below to register.

Martinez Architects, LP
Casco Industries, Inc.
INDUSTRY NEWS
SOURCE: U.S. Fire Administration
According to a recent study, almost half of the 1,000 plus firefighters surveyed have considered suicide. In light of these alarming statistics, the stressful conditions fire and emergency responders endure are getting more attention.

SOURCE: Wildfire Today
The US Forest Service recently completed what it calls a “Metareview” of accidents and incidents, including fatality incidents in the agency over a 10-year period, from 2007-2016.

SOURCE: WIVB
After 10 years of working as an EMT and firefighter, Air Force veteran Scott Martin was suspended in December 2020 for testing positive for cannabis on a random workplace test, but he has now settled his wrongful termination lawsuit with the City of Buffalo and the fire department.

TEXAS STATE NEWS
SOURCE: KWTX
As frigid temperatures approach, the Hewitt Fire Department is preparing for potential fires, power outages, and other emergencies the community may face.

SOURCE: FOX 7 Austin
Volunteer firefighters in Williamson County are demanding the resignation of their chief for creating a hostile workplace, stating they will not respond to emergency calls after the first of the year unless he is removed.

iPlanTables
Emergicon , LLC.
TML NEWS
This update covers the following:
  •  Comptroller Requests Extension to File Challenges to the National Broadband Map
  •  Federal Lead and Copper Rule Revision
  •  Get Involved During the Legislative Session: Grassroots Involvement Program
  •  City-Related Bills Filed

TEEX NEWS

Fire Officer I

The NFPA 1021 Fire Officer I course is designed for the first-line company officer/supervisor and satisfies the requirements of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1021 Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications, Chapter 4 “Fire Officer I.” It is designed around classroom lectures and group exercises to improve your abilities to manage a single fire company. This includes responsibilities such as the development of an Incident Action Plan (IAP), personnel management and mentoring, and community relations.

Dates and Locations:

Fire Officer II

The NFPA 1021 Fire Officer II course is designed to meet the needs of the mid-level officer/supervisor and satisfies the requirements of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1021, Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications, Chapter 5 “Fire Officer II.” It is designed around classroom lectures and group interactive exercises to improve your abilities to manage multiple fire companies, including responsibilities such as strategic planning and operations, personnel development, and organizational communications.

Dates and Locations:

Fire Officer III

The NFPA 1021 Fire Officer III course is designed to meet the needs of fire executive management and satisfies the requirements of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1021, Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications, Chapter 6 “Fire Officer III.” It is designed around classroom lectures and group interactive exercises to improve your abilities to manage a fire service organization, with an emphasis on community/government relations, as well as model planning, budgeting, human resources, trends and support organizations, and emergency service delivery. This course includes a written project that requires you to develop a strategic plan.

Dates and Locations:

 

On Duty Health
Komatsu Architecture
FIRE LAW BLOG
  
In this episode of Fire Law Roundup, hosts Brad and Curt discuss a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by a DC firefighter who claims an officer sexually assaulted her in the firehouse, a ruling by the Massachusetts Civil Service Commission upholding a decision by the Somerville Fire Department to bypass a female candidate, felony theft charges brought against a Florida firefighter for fraudulently submitting for hours he did not work, a newly released video showing a Miami fire lieutenant assaulting a patient who spit at him, and a new firefighter bill of rights law enacted by the New York state legislature.

HONORING OUR CRAFT
  
SOURCE: ABC KRHD
“From the time I could walk, I was on the fire truck with my dad, my brother, several others within the department,” says Centerville Firefighter and Sam Houston State graduate Colton Adams. “My dad and the current fire chief, he’s the reason I love that department so much and the job.”

  
First responders in League, TX have choreographed a special light show complete with Christmas music favorites. Check out the performance of League City’s YouTube channel.

LEADERSHIP
  
In this Fire Engineering podcast, host Steve Shaw, assistant chief with Fort Lauderdale (FL) Fire Rescue, covers the element of passion in leadership and speaks with artist Paul Combs about what it means to have passion for the craft of firefighting.