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Promote, Unify, Represent and Educate the Fire Service and EMS of Texas
March 2025 |
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VFIS offers an optional supplemental insurance (over and above what comes with your annual member dues). For just $10 more, it doubles your coverage.
Take a look and see if it's right for you! |
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Be sure to support our advertisers and sponsors! |
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We all love advertising (right??). But it's our advertisers and sponsors who allow SFFMA to better support our members. With their help, we can keep member dues and conference registration rates as reasonable as possible, even as prices for everything are rising. Please check out all our sponsors and advertisers and see if they have a product or service that might benefit your department! |
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Welcome to SFFMA e-InfoFIRE! |
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It's March and that means this e-InfoFIRE is our annual conference edition!
Check out the news and info throughout this issue that will give you the low-down on the 149th Annual SFFMA Training Conference & Convention. This year it's June 19-22 in Frisco. And you won't want to miss it!
Be sure to read our Texas Legislative Update from J Pete Laney.
Firefighter Memorial at the Capitol: Our fallen firefighter memorial will take place at the Texas Capitol Building on April 2 at 10:30 a.m. Families of LODD firefighters are invited to attend this special ceremony. On that day, we reveal their loved ones names that are engraved on the fallen firefighter memorial monument on the south lawn of the capitol. Members of the fallen's department are also encouraged to join us for this solemn event.
Have you heard HOT Takes with SFFMA? This podcast is all about what's happening with your association, our members and the fire service in general. Have an idea or potential interviewee? Let us know! Email our Marketing Director with suggestions.
Here are the links to the HOT Takes episodes already uploaded:
Episode 1 - Membership Drive
Episode 2 - Certification Changes
Episode 3 - PORTAL (our membership management program)
Episode 4 - Marketing Class
Episode 5 - Dena Ali, author of Hope of out Darkness
We encourage you to check out our sponsors and advertisers throughout this newsletter (as well as on our website and social media); these businesses allow SFFMA to continue our mission of serving our members as well as helping dues and conference fees remain reasonable. We are grateful for their support! Please click on their ad links and see if their product or service is something you might want to explore.
And don't forget to follow SFFMA on Facebook, X and Instagram!
Enjoy this issue of e-InfoFIRE. It’s
about firefighters and emergency responders and it’s
for firefighters and emergency responders. Making this newsletter something you want to read each month is our goal.
Want your department or a specific member featured in an upcoming issue? Email Kim Hilsenbeck: newsletter@sffma.org.
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SFFMA 2025 Conference Training Schedule |
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SFFMA offers top-notch training for firefighters and EMS responders at our annual conference. Check out the full schedule on our website. Below is a sample of breakout session offerings at the 149th Annual Training Conference & Convention; see the full schedule on our website.
Keynote Address/General Session - Daniel DeYear
We are thrilled to have Chief Daniel DeYear as this year's keynote speaker!
Friday, June 20
Unlocking your Brain’s Tools for Effective Decision Making and Comm. - Bob Haggard
Beyond City Limits, Unveiling the Hidden Crises of Rural Healthcare - Mickey Hanes
Battery Storage Fire Safety - Allen Rhoads
Mastering Leadership: Basics to Balance and Beyond - James Longbrake
Working Together at a Mass Gathering - Brent Haun
Hands on Forcible Entry - Seth Taylor
Fire Department Marketing - Kim Hilsenbeck, Jesse Slaughter
Preparing for a LODD - Billy Wusterhausen
Back 2 Basics: Residential Search, Primary Search, and the Victims We Do it For - Bradley Miller
What Makes a Great Fire Department - Rick Lasky
Saturday, June 21
Shark Attack; Considerations and Tactics for Traumatic Injuries - Edward Reid
Post Traumatic Survival; When it becomes your emergency - Kelly Vandygriff
Managing transition from VFD’s to Combination ESD Direct Service Provider - John Roulston-Bates
Fire Consortium Round Table Discussion - TCFP, TXAMFS, TEEX, FMO, SFFMA JP Laney
Cancer Awareness - TEEX
Basics of an ISO Survey - Jeff Edwards
Fire Service Saws - Seth Taylor
Wildland Refresher - Mark Wobus
Incoming President’s Forum - Mark Wobus
It Tastes like Burning Podcast - Jesse Slaughter
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Visit us in the Texas Fire Apparatus booth #212! |
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Vector Solutions teamed up with SFFMA to make its industry-leading online training management platform, TargetSolutions, more affordable for SFFMA members. For a limited time, association members are eligible to receive a special discounted rate that will save significant money, as well as time and stress when managing training compliance. If you've been waiting for the perfect time to start TargetSolutions, your time is now! Check out all the details!
Be sure to stop by booth #229 and visit the Vector crew in person!
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Visit the TEEX booth the expo hall! |
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A monthly note from the SFFMA Board President |
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Hello, fellow firefighters across the state,
Spring is upon us with the district meetings getting started this month. Kicking things off is the Wintergarden District March 22 in Leming. Then we have the North Texas District Meeting in Ennis, and Gulf Coast Tri-Rivers at Santa Fe. Check the dates, times, and locations on our website. The Executive Board and I look forward to seeing everyone and having discussions to better the Fire Service in Texas.
Find more details for the Firefighter Memorial at the Capitol here.
Also, be on the lookout for your new SFFMA Membership Decals once you renew. We estimate your department should receive them in approximately 4-6 weeks after payment is received.
SFFMA June Conference
The staff and SFFMA Executive Board are working hard for the 2025 Training Conference and Convention in Frisco. Conference registration is now open!
TCFP Reciprocity
One of the main priorities for SFFMA has been working toward full reciprocity with the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP). We are currently in the M.O.U. Phase.
Achieving this goal will create more streamlined certification processes, enabling volunteer and career firefighters to transition between roles and departments seamlessly while meeting consistent state standards.
This effort is a critical step toward reinforcing our commitment to professional development across the fire service spectrum.
Our team, including each one of you, has worked closely with TCFP to ensure our training programs meet their certification requirements. These conversations are progressing, and I’m optimistic that we will reach a solution that benefits firefighters across the state. Stay tuned for more updates.
Legislative Session
Things at the Texas Capitol are in full swing. Check out each month's Legislative Update by J Pete Laney.
Grant Opportunities
SAFER Grant Utilization: Emphasize the ongoing availability of SAFER Grant funds for recruitment and retention, leadership training, and PPE acquisition.
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Encourage departments to apply for these funds to support their growth and sustainability. SFFMA is applying for a new SAFER grant with new priorities for funding
Membership
SFFMA membership runs from January 1-December 31 each calendar year. Renew now for 2025.
- Membership Renewal and Growth:
- More than 16,860 individual members and 929 departments renewed in 2024.
- We ask you to please promote these categories: retired members and junior members.
- LODD Benefits Compliance: Reinforce the importance of volunteer departments holding a training meeting at least twice a month to maintain eligibility for line-of-duty death (LODD) benefits. Non-compliance could lead to denial of benefits.
VFIS Insurance: Remind members to keep beneficiary forms up to date and on file; this is crucial for ensuring timely distribution.
Certification and Testing Updates
Certification Growth
The SFFMA Certification Board voted to:
- Realign Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations to the NFPA 470 Hazardous Materials of Mass Destruction (WMD) Standard for Responders standard; and
- Include additional training to the HazMat Operations certification. Effective January 1, 2025, HazMat Operations is renamed HazMat Operations and Mission-Specific Responsibilities.
Expanding on the PPE and Product Control material, the remaining portion of the Mission Specifics chapter of the standard will be required.
We urge you to share this important information with your fire department members.
This is one of the final steps to achieve full reciprocity with the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) for our members. SFFMA will send out additional updates as we near the finalization of the project.
Sincerely,
Billy Tidwell
SFFMA President 2025
rallsfiretidwell@hotmail.com
806-777-5393
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Message from the Executive Director
Cherry Kay Abel is the Executive Director of SFFMA |
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I hope you’re doing well. I wanted to share a quick update on the upcoming 2025 Training Conference and Convention in Frisco. The SFFMA staff and Executive Board have been working diligently to ensure everything is ready for the event.
Registration is open, see the full training schedule here. Please note that the hotel room block for the conference is almost full, so if you haven’t reserved your room yet, I encourage you to do so as soon as possible. For any additional accommodation, the overflow hotel info is also available on the website and below.
In addition, I and the staff will be attending several district meetings over the next few months. I look forward to seeing everyone and having discussions to better the fire service in Texas. These meetings will be a great opportunity to connect with members, discuss the conference, and address any questions or concerns you may have.
We’re excited for the upcoming conference and hope to see you there!
Best regards,
Cherry Kay Abel, TDM
Executive Director
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Keynote Speaker: Daniel DeYear |
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SFFMA is pleased to welcome Daniel DeYear as this year's keynote speaker! He is originally from The Bronx in New York City and began his Fire Service Career in the North East. His time in the Texas Fire Service began over 43 years ago. He worked for the Carrollton (TX) Fire Department for nearly 10 years, serving in several capacities. He then served for two years as an International Fire Marshal for the U. S. Department of State, Foreign Building Operations, where he travelled to more than 35 countries providing fire and life safety to the United States embassies and consulates.
He retired from the Dallas Fire Department after 34 years of service and has held every rank up to Deputy Chief. He has been published several times including
Firehouse Magazine and
Fire Engineering Magazine. He is a prominent public speaker and has travelled around the United States as well as Internationally and has presented for the Fire Service as well as Corporate America. He was the TAFE 2020 Instructor of the Year.
He serves as the Vice-President of the Dallas Firefighters Museum and is a Board of Director for Search-One.
Daniel lives in Plano and he and his wife Janet have three grown children. He is an avid snow skier and enjoys baseball, football and auto racing.
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Conference Hotel Information
The host hotel booking link will be sent upon registration. Hotel info is below; hotel may be sold out for most nights.
Embassy Suites by Hilton
Frisco Hotel & Convention Center
7600 John Q. Hammons Drive
Frisco, TX 75034
Please note that hotel parking is discounted to a rate of $8 per night when you book your room within the SFFMA room block.
If the host hotel is sold out, additional rooms may be reserved in our block at this hotel:
Hilton Garden Inn Frisco
7550 Gaylord Pkwy, Frisco, TX 75034
Hotel Phone: 469.362.8485
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This year at conference, we have seven (7) amendments on the ballot. We encourage you to carefully read each one and discuss with your delegates prior to coming to conference. You can find info about the amendments on our website. |
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Stop by and visit the CASCO booth, #222! |
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Come see us at the Fire Service Supporter Table #T6! |
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Join the fun at this year's SFFMA conference games, sponsored by National Foam. (Visit their booth #125!)
The Pumper Races are a family-oriented good time. Select your teammates then get ready for fast-paced fun! Complete the tasks correctly to win. Men's, women's and children's competitions. Top teams earn cash prizes!
This year, the Firefighter Gauntlet is an SFFMA sanctioned event! Compete against your peers in this individual style race that challenges you to perform tasks that replicate being a firefighter, such as using an axe, pulling hose, and dragging a victim to safety. Men's, women's and children's competitions. Top winners receive cash prizes.
You can register for the games when you register for conference. On-site sign-ups will also be available. |
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Conference Contests & Competitions
Posters - This contest is open to all students in grades Pre-K through 12 enrolled in any school (public, private, parochial, etc.) or home schooled. The following grades will fall into six divisions:
➢ Kindergarten Division - Grades Pre-K, K
➢ Primary Division - Grades 1, 2
➢ Intermediate Division - Grades 3, 4
➢ Middle Division - Grades 5, 6
➢ Junior High Division - Grades 7, 8
➢ High School Division - Grades 9, 10, 11, 12
The poster must be original and may be on any phase of fire prevention and/or fire safety. Only individual work by the student, and one entry per student, will be accepted. Read the full rules...
Photos - We're looking for your very best fire-related pics! Beginning this year, the SFFMA Executive Board will allow submissions to be electronic only (no need to print and mail them). The contest is open to any resident of Texas
except for professional photographers. Photo categories are:
➢ Fire-related acts, any variety; must be real-life incident
➢ Lifesaving acts, any variety; must be real-life incident
➢ Education and Public Safety; any staged fires (e.g., fire training schools and anything relating to public safety)
Driving - Show off your crazy good rig driving skills in this competition. Drivers will handle the following challenges: Offset Alley, The Loading Dock, Controlled Cornering, The Serpentine, and The Stop Line. All drivers must be registered for convention and must have a valid driver’s license. Contestants will not be allowed to consume alcoholic beverages before or during the contest. The contestant will be required to wear the seat belts at all times. Read the full rules... |
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by J Pete Laney
It's Week 9 of the 89th Legislative Session and things are in full swing. The House and Senate Committees are hearing bills and some are even being voted out of the Senate. Last week SB 767 by Senator Sparks (Midland) was heard in the senate committee. HB 2063 is its companion filed by Representative Fairly, and is also making its way through the process.
This legislation would provide for an updated database of available department assets, and would have Texas A&M Forest Service work with departments on keeping the list up to date. This legislation is not mandatory, but the goal is to provide better communications and the ability to know who to call on when help is needed. SFFMA Past President Bill Gardner testified in support of the legislation. The bill is currently set to be heard by the full Senate on Tuesday, March 11. From there it will be sent over to be considered in the House.
Both the House and Senate Committees are still hammering out a budget for 2026 and 2027. Additional funding for 2604 Grants are still being considered. Feedback has been positive and we continue to work as the appropriations bills make their way through the process.
Be on the lookout for more messages from SFFMA as the session continues to heat up and we take action on legislation.
If you would like to be involved with reaching out to your member of the legislature as the process moves forward, please let us know. You can contact me or President Tidwell and we’d love to have you involved.
Please contact J Pete Laney, if you have any questions about the current legislative session.
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Firefighter LODD Memorial - April 2 |
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Join SFFMA on April 2 at 10:30 a.m. for the Firefighter LODD Memorial Service on the south lawn of the Texas State Capitol grounds. On that day, we will honor the lives of firefighters from across Texas who died in the line of duty and made the ultimate sacrifice while serving their community. Names of LODD firefighters are engraved on the monument at the capitol. Families of the fallen are invited to attend this special event; contact Kim Hilsenbeck for more information. Members from the LODD firefighter departments are also encouraged to join us for this ceremony. Please RSVP so we know how many people to expect. |
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2025 Member Drive - Renew Today! |
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Renew your membership now for 2025! SFFMA membership runs January 1-December 31 each calendar year. Remember, your coverage is not in effect if your membership is not active. Renew today and ensure your coverage is in effect! Find your benefit info on our website. And check out how the SAFER Grant can help your department; funds can be used for training, physicals, PPE, member dues and more! |
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HOT Takes with SFFMA Podcast |
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Our fifth episode of HOT Takes is out! This is a podcast where SFFMA staff chat about important issues for our members. Episode 5 is an interview with author (and Battalion Chief) Dena Ali. Her book, Hope out of Darkness, is a guide for helping your fellow firefighters navigate the murky waters of mental health and personal crisis. And if you haven't already heard Episodes 1 thru 4, take a listen!
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SFFMA Fire Chief Development Program |
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This year's Fire Chief Development Program is the largest one yet! We're so proud of these folks who are striving to become the best leaders they can be as they work to improve their service to their communities. Want to sign up for the 2026 class? Visit our website! (More photos from the class are on our FB page) |
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Certification and Testing
by Kevin Creamer |
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Your location determines speed of processing. What?!?!?!?
When individuals upload a document for review through the Equivalent Training process, Portal uses their physical address to determine how that document is routed for review. With a physical address, the document will go to the Zone Representative for that area to review within 30 days. Representatives are allowed the 30-day time frame as these individuals are volunteering their time to support SFFMA. If your documents have been “pending” for more than 30 days, please be sure to contact your Zone Representative directly. Their contact information is posted on the website (www.sffmatx.org) by selecting Certification Board from the About Us option on the top toolbar.
Without a physical address, documents are routed to “Zone 99.” This designation routes the documents to Austin staff to review the submission. Documents with this designation will usually take a minimum of 30 days for review. Please be sure to update your physical address on your account prior to submitting a document for review to assure a more speedy review process.
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To find upcoming testing dates, log into your PORTAL account and follow the above instructions (under Testing Opportunities). |
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A few pics from the SFFMA conference in 2024, just to remember how great it was! |
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Amber Hill modeling for IFSTA |
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Eric from Siddons-Martin strutting his stuff |
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Metro Fire's display booth in the expo hall |
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Elizabeth White in the Pumper Races |
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Hunter Tidwell taking part in the Firefighter Gauntlet |
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Firefighter of the Year Andy Dexter (left) accepting his award |
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An attendee getting a vendor passport sticker |
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Shenanigans (again) by SFFMA e-board members Alex Smith and Joe Koch |
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Continuing Education & Professional Credits from Texas Engineering Extension Service
Learn more about training opportunities from TEEX on their website.
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Questions about SFFMA? We’ve got answers! We occasionally get questions about the association, so we’re sharing them - and the answers - here.
> What types of grant programs are available for my department? Grants
Have questions about SFFMA or the benefits of being a member? Let us know! Send an email to Membership. |
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Did you know we have a Classifieds section of our website? Our members can list job openings, services and equipment for sale. Non-members can run a 30-day ad for just $20.
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