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Published six times annually May 2026 |
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Check out our sponsors/advertisers! |
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We invite you to visit the web sites of our sponsors/advertisers, like the ones above. SFFMA is grateful for the support of these and other companies and organizations! |
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The SFFMA 150th Annual Conference and Convention is less than a month away, and we are excited! If you still need to register, you'll find all the conference info along with hotels on our conference web page. You'll also find the training schedule, the link to register with TEEX to get continuing education credits, and everything else conference related.
Special thanks to all our 2026 sponsors. Shout out to VFIS of Texas for being our 2026 Fire Brigade Sponsor! We are deeply appreciative of their continued support. SFFMA is also immensely grateful for the continued support from Texas Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance, our Fire Department Sponsor. See all of our sponsors here.
It's never too late to become a member of SFFMA. Our membership benefits include the testing and certification program, VFIS insurance, legislative advocacy, and much more. New this year is an insurance policy with Provident - at no extra cost! Even if you're paying as an individual, the coverage is affordable and will provide your family with additional peace of mind.
Stay tuned for several new and exciting things happening at SFFMA this year, and many will be announced at conferece! Have questions? Check out Q&A with SFFMA. |
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Help us Create the SFFMA 150th Yearbook!
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Share your department's history! In celebration of our 150th anniversary, we're asking Texas fire departments to share what's happened in the past 25-50 years. We're looking for a write-up (roughly 200 words), and photos both old and new. All this information will be used to create the SFFMA 150th Commemorative Yearbook!!
Information about pre-orders for yearbooks will be publicized at the Waco conference, in this newsletter, on social media and at district meetings. Please send department photos and write-ups to info@sffma.org before the end of May. If you click the video below (image on the left of Kevin Creamer), it says April but we extended it. |
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SIDE NOTE: We are hoping to find some of the missing years of conference proceedings. Would you please help us? SFFMA maintains an archive of conference proceedings at the Austin Office. However, a few issues are missing from our holdings. If you have a copy of the proceedings from the following years and are willing to part with it, we would greatly appreciate either a donation or the opportunity to scan the contents: 1876-1904, 1907, 1910, 1915-1918, 1921, 1924, 1927-1930, 1932, 1952, 1963. Thanks for the help! Use the same email as above. |
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SFFMA staff recently said "congrats on your retirement!" to long-time employee Teresa Junkin. She wore many hats during her time with the association, including accountant, membership assistant, and store manager. As well as all-around helper, food orderer and advice giver. But don't worry, she will still be helping SFFMA as a contract employee. While she won't be in the office (with a few exceptions), she will continue handling our day-to-day accounting needs. We are glad she's not leaving us completely and that we will still occasionally get to see her smile. Best of luck in your next chapter, Teresa! |
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FFOY Award Submissions Due Soon!
These awards are generously sponsored by VFIS of Texas.
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The Texas State Firefighters' and Fire Marshals' Association (SFFMA) is proud to recognize the dedication, service, and heroism of Firefighters and EMS Responders across the state. As part of our continued commitment to honoring these brave individuals, VFIS of Texas is honored to sponsor the 2026 Firefighter & EMS Responder of the Year Awards.
This year’s winners will receive a $3,000 cash prize, and runners-up will also receive monetary awards.
**SFFMA Districts: Submit your nominations by May 25**
All finalists will be recognized, and winners will be announced at the Presidents Dinner & Dance on Saturday, June 13. You won't want to miss this special night! |
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While supplies last, get a free bottle a polish with each boot purchase when you buy through the SFFMA store! |
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Great instructors, excellent keynote speakers, a full line-up of conference fun and games, plus a memorial service, contests and more - that accurately describes our 150th Annual Training Conference and Convention happening this June. Know a firefighter who hasn't attended before? Bring them along! They can join the Newbie Meetup and get a gift bag sponsored by ESO!
#BringABuddy |
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SFFMA 150th Annual Conference Schedules
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Want the low-down on the conference schedule* and training sessions, as well as hotels, games, contests and more? Visit our conference web page!
Breakout Session Topics |
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Leadership Strategies for Recruitment and Retention in the Fire Service
Rope Rescue: Mechanical Advantage Systems
NERIS Update and Upcoming
Why They Leave, Why They Stay: The Executive Function Factor in Retention
Are You Telling Your Story? Marketing for Fire Departments
RT-130 Wildland Fire Annual refresher and practice shelter deployment
Street Side Stork (Newborn Delivery in the Pre-Hospital Setting)
Woman adapting to the fire service
Fire Investigation Starts with YOU: Limiting Overhaul to Preserve the Scene
Leading through change!
Lithium-Ion Battery and Energy Response Challenges
Thousand Year Leaders
Red Zone: EMS in the First Golden Minutes |
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What does SFFMA mean to YOU - It Tastes Like Burning Podcast
Back of the Bay: Answers Officers wish they knew before hand
Investigation Response including Line of Duty Deaths
To Be, or Not To Be: Ethics in Volunteer Organizations
Red Lights, Blue Lights, Gunfights: Tactics for when Calls Turn Violent
ISO Preparing for a survey
Tesla Ecosystem Presentation
The Testing Future
Texas Fire Service Consortium Update
TIFMAS Updates and General Information Building a Stronger Pipeline: The Impact of a Delayed Entry Program
Stop the bleed review and skills
National Fallen Firefighter Foundation After-Action Review |
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* Conference schedule and sessions are subject to change. During the event you can check the monitor in the hallway near registration for updates. We will also post changes on our Facebook page. |
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On HOT Takes, SFFMA staff have conversations with a wide range of folks in the fire service or fire adjacent. Take a listen! Visit our website to learn more.
In Episode 12 we continue our "Conversations with Past Presidents" series, which is part of our 150th year celebration. From now through the end of 2026, we'll chat with SFFMA Past Presidents about the association's history, their stories, and their thoughts about the future. Our most recent chat was with Past President Bob Looney and his son, and Past President, Mike Looney.
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This year we are thrilled to welcome two outstanding keynote speakers to the SFFMA annual conference: Chief Rick Lasky and CEO Sheldon Yellen with Belfor. Lasky's general session begins Friday at 8 a.m. Yellen's session begins at 2 p.m. Saturday. Don't miss these two excellent speakers! See their bios below.
Special thanks to Belfor Property Restoration for being the SWAG bag sponsor! |
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We Appreciate our SFFMA 2026 Sponsors!
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A note from SFFMA President Mark Wobus
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Sign up for the Firefighter Gauntlet and show your stuff! Not sure what the gauntlet is all about? Learn more here. This year our Games Sponsor is National Foam - be sure to stop by their booth in the expo hall to say thanks! |
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Read the blog by SFFMA Executive Director, Cherry Kay Abel
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Want to hear what's new and what's happening in SFFMA? Read the blog by Executive Director, Cherry Kay Abel. See current and previous blog posts here. |
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Firefighters with Uvalde Volunteer Fire Department recently responded to a locomotive fire. |
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Teague VFD is using new radios for county emergency services. It's a big deal! |
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Cy-Fair Fire Dept. crews arrived to find heavy fire conditions at a house, but extinguished the flames with no injuries. |
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When Field Fun Day” was only seven years ago. Firefighter Tristian Cornett was ready for the fun! (Courtesy of Seminole Volunteer Firefighters Association) |
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Congrats to Travis County ESD #12 FF Ryan Harper; he officially earned his Firefighter badge! |
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Timber Lakes VFD rescued a baby duck from a storm drain and needed a little help getting back to safety. |
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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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