Each year, SFFMA announces two prestigious awards: Firefighter of the Year (FFOY) and EMS Responder of the Year (EMS). The program is generously sponsored by VFIS of Texas. The helmet for the FFOY winner is donated by Casco Industries.

 

 

by Mark Wobus (Listen to this letter here!)

 

The 149th Conference has come and gone, and I hope those who attended found it both enjoyable and valuable. We encourage you to share your thoughts through our conference survey. Your feedback helps shape future events.

 

I want to extend my sincere thanks to Past President Tidwell for his dedicated leadership over the past year. I’m excited for the year ahead and the opportunities it holds for the SFFMA.

 

A special thank you goes to Robert Bennett from Retreat VFD (North Texas District) for stepping in as our Parliamentarian during the business meetings at the conference. We are grateful for your support. Our longtime friend and Executive Board Parliamentarian, Rayford Gibson, was unable to attend due to illness. We send our best wishes for a swift and full recovery and look forward to seeing him again soon.

 

I would also like to express my appreciation to the SFFMA staff for the great job they did organizing and executing the 149th Conference. Their dedication and behind-the-scenes work ensured a smooth and successful event for everyone involved. Thank you for your tireless efforts and professionalism.

 

As July begins, we are off to the races with planning well underway for several important events:

• TEEX Municipal School
• District Officers Symposium (January)
• 150th Annual Conference in Waco (June 2026)

We kindly ask all districts to share upcoming meeting dates and locations as early as possible. This allows the Executive Board to plan attendance and ensure we can connect with you across the state.

 

We’re also pleased to report a successful outcome from the 89th Legislative Session. The Texas Fire Service received strong support, including a significant increase in funding for the Fire Department Assistance Program, administered by the Texas A&M Forest Service (TFS).

by Cherry Kay Abel

 

A Remarkable 149th Annual Conference

 

What an amazing 149th Annual Conference we had! It was truly a pleasure to meet so many of our wonderful members from across the state. The energy, camaraderie, and commitment to the fire service were on full display throughout the week.

 

We were fortunate to have dynamic speakers, engaging discussions, and high-quality training opportunities tailored specifically for our association members. From the business sessions to the hands-on learning, it was inspiring to witness the level of professionalism and passion in every room.

 

A heartfelt thank you goes to our Executive Board, especially Billy Tidwell, for his leadership and continued support, and to the SFFMA staff for their behind-the-scenes efforts. Their dedication ensured a smooth and successful event.

 

Looking Ahead: TEEX Municipal School

 

We’re so excited about TEEX Municipal School, which kicks off later this week in College Station! What an exciting time to meet new trainees, reconnect with long-time members, and be part of such an impactful event. The energy and dedication TEEX bring to firefighter education are unmatched, and we’re proud to be involved in supporting this important work.

 

Don’t forget to stop by the SFFMA booth at REED Arena with books for sale related to TEEX coursework and thank you for supporting SFFMA!

Exciting Developments with TCFP

 

We are beyond excited about the opportunities ahead as the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) continues to evolve and expand. These developments promise amazing benefits for our SFFMA members.

 

Please know that I am committed to running our organization with professionalism, transparency, and your input is always valued as we continue to build SFFMA together.

 

No time to read? Listen to the story here!

This month's spotlight shines on Andy Dexter.

 

All the jobs Andy Dexter handles for Klein Fire Department/Harris County ESD 16 won’t fit on a business card. If they did, the card would say Chief of Health, Safety, Training, Continuous Quality Improvement and Emergency Management. Before Klein became an ESD, Andy served in multiple positions over the years, from Firefighter to Fire Chief.

 

As the training chief for Klein, Andy runs two fire academies a year.

 

“All of our volunteers go through the full training academy, the same as our full-timers,” he said. “The training is on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday all year long.”

 

But Andy holds several other titles with other entities including SFFMA, such as Professional Development Coordinator, Certification Board Chair and Winner of the 2024 Firefighter of the Year Award.

 

Andy is also a full-time lieutenant with The Woodlands Fire Department, both for the ladder truck and for its hazmat unit.

 

Such is the life of a self-proclaimed workaholic.

 

“I enjoy working,” he said.

 

Andy currently works full-time for Klein and The Woodlands. And he’s had two full-time jobs since 2003. With the volunteer work for SFFMA, it can seem like three full-time jobs. Believe it or not, Andy said he actually does see his wife, at least every so often.

 

How did he get involved with SFFMA?

 

It began with him disagreeing with how certifications were handled.

 

So, was it an adversarial beginning?

 

“Very much so,” he said. “Rusty Katner brought me on [the certification board] and it was not popular. But I was going to make sure that a certification from SFFMA meant something.”

He knew the association could benefit from the type of leadership he could provide.

 

“I can fix this by being involved,” he said at the time. “Be a thorn in their side.”

 

And with a large number of volunteers at Klein, he knew he could have a positive impact.

 

“With 340 volunteer members at the time, I felt I had a big stick,” he said. “So, I became the Zone 18 representative.”

 

Over the years, the relationship evolved from adversarial to accolades.

 

One title you won’t see on any card for Andy is brand champion. He believes in SFFMA and proves it every day.

 

“Most departments in my area don’t believe in SFFMA,” he said. “It’s constantly a gut check – is all this work valuable?”

 

His answer: “It is.”

 

He said local departments started to perk up when they learned about reciprocity with the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP).

 

“I explained that we’ve had reciprocity for years, but the difference is, you had to take their test,” he said. “Now you’ll be able to take the test through SFFMA.”

 

Andy said he wants firefighters across Texas to recognize that SFFMA represents more than just our roughly 17,000 members.

 

“The SFFMA brand is filling a gap that no one else realizes is needed,” he said. “We offer opportunities that no other state has – the ability for somebody to achieve what goals they want to achieve.”

 

As a training guy, he said that’s the lense through which he views SFFMA.

 

“I teach leadership,” he said. “It’s about doing the right thing, not just how to be a firefighter. I’m a true believer. I don’t like to put my name on $#!@. I want to see it through.”

 

 

 

See photos of the 2025-26 SFFMA Executive Board here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SFFMA Poster Contest Winners

 

Kindergarten Division ​

First Place​

​Navera Nadeem​, Schell Elementary​, Plano Fire​, North Texas District

 

Second Place​

​Alan Juarez​, Austin Elementary​, Harlingen FD​, Rio Grande Valley​

 

Third Place​

​Kristin Ledbetter, Rodriguez Elementary​, Harlingen FD​, Rio Grande Valley

 

Primary Division

First Place​

​Sebastian Rivera, Morales Elementary​, Pasadena FD​, Gulf Coast District​

 

Second Place​

​Kennedy Peterson​, Lamar Elementary​, Rio Grande Valley

 

Third Place​

​Ariana Parikh​, Hunt Elementary​, Plano FD​, North Texas District

 

Middle Division ​

First Place​

​Karena Vasquez​, Merkel​, Merkel FD​, Midwest TX District

 

Second Place​

​Izabella Lucio​, Memorial​, Harlingen FD​, Rio Grande Valley

 

Third Place​

​Maria Pineda​, South Middle​, Edinburg FD​, Rio Grande Valley

 

 

 

Intermediate Division ​

First Place​

Saja Shaikh​, Boggess​, Plano FD​, North Texas District

 

Second Place​

​Kaitlyn Troug​, Carlisle​, Plano FD​, North Texas District

 

Third Place​

​Arantza Vega​, Wilson​, Rio Grande Valley

 

Junior High Division ​

 

First Place​

​Allison Alvarado​, VW Miller School​, Pasadena FD​, Gulf Coast District

 

Second Place​

​Angela Escovilla​, South Texas​, Edinburg FD​, Rio Grande Valley

 

​Third Place​

Josh Bjorna​, Murphy​, Plano FD​, North Texas District​

 

High School​ Division ​

First Place​

​Zachary McKee​, Pasadena HS​, Pasadena FD​, Gulf Coast District

 

Second Place​

​Sophia Scheffler​, Edinburg North HS​, Edinburg FD​, Rio Grande Valley

 

Third Place​

​Tania Sandoval​, Edinburg North HS​, Edinburg FD​, Rio Grande Valley

 

See the top winning posters below. All winning posters can be seen here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Get Reimbursed For Firefighter Insurance!

 

The 2025 program period for Texas A&M Forest Service’s Rural VFD Insurance Program began back on November 1, and extends through July 31 of this year. This program reimburses eligible fire departments for their firefighter insurance (workers’ compensation, AD&D, accident & sickness, group term life, and cancer related coverage) - up to $220 per insured fire department member. This program is also the newest addition to FireConnect, Texas A&M Forest Service’s online web application system for fire departments to report fires and request grant assistance. Be sure to take advantage of this great program, freeing up funds for other department needs. Just log into FireConnect and submit for reimbursement today!

 

If you have any questions regarding the Rural VFD Insurance Program, please call 979-458-6505 or email ffins@tfs.tamu.edu.

 

Episode 1 - Membership Drive

Episode 2 - Certification Changes

Episode 3 - PORTAL (which is our membership management program)

Episode 4 - Marketing Class (learn more about the course on our website.)

Episode 5 - Interview with author (and Battalion Chief) Dena Ali

Episode 6 - Interview with Wendy Norris of the Texas LODD Task Force

Questions or Problems? Please contact your Certification Coordinator or Zone Representative; they can answer your questions about testing and certification. Visit these web pages for additional info:

 

Certification Board

Certification Manual

Available Certifications (Includes links for Cancer Awareness, etc.)