by Mark Wobus (Download and listen to this letter here!)

 

Hello fellow Texas Firefighter, I hope that this message finds you well and enjoying the rest of your summer.

 

Many of our fellow Texans are still struggling with loss and trying to recover from the devastating July 4^th weekend flooding in the Hill Country.  We ask that you continue with your thoughts and prayers for them as they will be in recovery mode for an extended timeframe.

 

To those departments and firefighters that are recovering, just know that many folks from across this great state and beyond are thinking of you and yours. To those departments and firefighters that responded to help, THANK YOU!  There is not much else that can be said.

 

As fire departments were assessing their needs, many departments in other portions of Texas began fundraising campaigns to assist their fellow first responders and delivered checks to help them recover. 

There is only one way to describe that, AWESOME!  Firefighters helping Firefighters!

 

The 96^th Annual Municipal Fire School at TEEX has concluded and many of your SFFMA Executive Board members served as instructors, sharing their knowledge and expertise with other firefighters from across the state and beyond.

 

Most recently the Hill Country District met to reorganize, and we certainly appreciate the area departments attending that meeting for getting back involved. I would like to thank the organizers for their time and efforts to make the meeting happen.

by Cherry Kay Abel (Download and listen to this message here)

 

As we move through the final stretch of summer, I want to take a moment to thank each of you for your continued dedication to your communities and to the Texas fire service.

 

The recent flooding over the July 4th weekend in the Hill Country left many of our neighbors facing enormous challenges. Our thoughts remain with the departments and families affected. I want to echo our deep gratitude to those who responded, offered support, or organized fundraising efforts. The selfless actions we've seen and with departments stepping up for one another across the state we continue to exemplify what our fire service community is all about.

 

On the training front, our team was proud to support the 96th Annual Municipal Fire School at TEEX, where many of our Executive Board members served as instructors. It’s always inspiring to witness the exchange of knowledge and mentorship at that event, and we thank all who participated and contributed.

 

This past weekend, the staff and the Executive Board attended a Strategic Planning Workshop focused on strengthening the association’s structure, communication, and services to our membership. We're already putting plans into action aligning staff with appointed committees and coordinating upcoming virtual meetings to ensure voices from across the state are engaged and represented.

 

I also had the opportunity to attend the district 14 meeting, with the support of our past presidents and current members we successfully reorganized the Hill Country District. It was encouraging to see renewed involvement from departments in the area. Our staff will continue to support districts across the state this fall by attending local meetings and preparing for the upcoming District Officer Symposium.

 

Looking ahead, we’ve started early planning efforts for the 150th Annual Convention and Training Conference, scheduled for June 2026 in Waco. While that milestone is still ahead, the groundwork begins now, and your input will be essential in shaping a celebration worthy of our legacy.

 

Thank you for the work you do every day both seen and unseen. Your commitment not only defines the present but also helps build the future of our association and the fire service in Texas.

 

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our staff with questions, ideas, or concerns. We’re here to support you.

No time to read? Download and listen to the story here!

Never underestimate the power of a determined group of humans. Take Moffat Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) as an example. This team of 23 volunteers is on a mission to build not just a much-needed second station but a regional training facility to serve other departments, volunteer or paid.

 

About two years ago, the leadership team had a vision to expand its ability to protect the community and provide a revenue-generating training center. When the opportunity came along to purchase property - that previously housed a turkey incubation company - they took the leap.

 

"We are forward thinking," said Fire Chief Matthew Perrine. "The growth in this area is exponential."

 

Basically now a suburb of Dallas, Austin and Waco, the Temple area, including Moffat, is experiencing a housing boom, which likely stems from new businesses such as an H-E-B distribution center, a Meta AI data center and a host of manufacturing firms that came to the region recently.

 

A tornado that blew through last year also highlighted the issue of having just one station. Firefighter Logan Thompson explained. 

 

"A massive tree fell over the road that leads to our station," he said. "As you may have noticed, there is only one road in and one road out from here."

 

Fortunately, the crew removed the tree expeditiously, but the larger issue remained.

 

"Our department is not ready for 10 years from now," Logan said. "But that's why we're doing what we're doing."

 

(Side note: Logan Thompson is on the District 1 board. He was also recently elected to the SFFMA Executive Board as the Assistant Secretary.)

 

According to Matthew, Moffat VFD, which started in 1980, covers 69 square miles in northwest Bell County. Temple is just 15 minutes down the road.

 

Logan said things at the department were a bit stagnant until roughly 10 years ago. That's when Brian Falkenberg was appointed as chief. 

 

Brian is currently the Moffat VFD Assistant Fire Chief.

 

"We generally have a new chief about every three years," he said. "It helps to have fresh blood and new perspectives."

 

He added that he and Matthew are not micro-managers.

 

"If someone has a good idea," Brian said, "as long as we can afford it and it's good for the department and the community, we let them run with it."

 

Matthew said they are also building the leadership within the department structure. 

 

"We give people the tools and knowledge they need to build the department," he said. "We empower our volunteers."

 

Brian said Matthew's involvement with Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) has worked to the advantage of Moffat VFD, including raising its level of awareness and visibility.

 

Matthew and Brian recently deployed with TIFMAS to the Kerrville area after the July 4th flood.

 

"When volunteer departments participate in TIFMAS," Matthew said, "it opens the door of how a volunteer department can be involved."

 

He added that Moffat shared its TIFMAS policy with more than a dozen other departments. Ultimately, it means more resources are in the pool of available apparatus and personnel.

 

Matthew became fire chief about two years ago. The department chief is appointed by a board of directors, who are elected by the residents of Moffat. It was about that time that Moffat VFD leaders started thinking more seriously about recruitment and retention, then set on a course to expand the department.

 

Their first step was to rejoin SFFMA and attend a Central Texas District meeting. That year it was in Cameron.

 

"We recognized that firefighters want training," Brian said. "They want to learn and improve."

 

Logan said he now understands the benefit of a state-level fire association, including the networking opportunities it provides.

 

Three Moffat members are now on the board of that district. And they've leveraged their contacts and networking to talk with other departments about training facilities, volunteer recruitment and leadership.

 

The training center is a big focus these days. And while some of the desire for the training center is selfish - they want the best trained firefighters for their own community - they recognize that working with and training their neighbors benefits all local communities.

 

"Moffat can be the spearhead," Matthew said. "If we help McLennan County and it also helps Moffat, that's good for all of us."

 

It's most definitely a forward and outward thinking viewpoint.

 

"As we pursue this regional training facility," Matthew said, "we're raising the bar on the quality of training for local volunteer firefighters. And that plays directly into our recruitment efforts for Moffat."

 

He said the department realizes that people's time is important, adding that he knows firefighters want both training and the opportunity to network.

 

A retired battalion chief with Temple Fire Department, Matthew said he knows some career firefighters aren’t volunteering because they worry about the level of training among volunteers.

"We need quality training and educated people," he said. "This training facility will help bring higher quality members into the department."

 

To donate to the Moffat VFD project to build a new station and regional training center, visit this website. 

 

Below are photos from the interior of the future station/regional training facility for 

Moffat Volunteer Fire Department:

Moffat Fire Chief Matthew Perrine on deployment with TIFMAS

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.)