October 2005 - State Firemen's & Fire Marshals'

across the stateATTENTIONCERTIFICATION COORDINATORS!!2005 Progress Reports are due by January 31, 2006Please note that the SFFMA Onlinesystem allows departments to track hoursand submit reports electronically. If usingthis system just a signed cover sheet needsto be mailed to our office. All previousand current training is to be entered by thedepartment. For instructions on the useof the Online system download the Users’Guide from the Login page.Should your department not wishto use the Online system, any softwareapplication or spreadsheet providing therequired information progress reports willbe accepted. Be sure to include the signedcover sheet with it.If a firefighter achieves hours for theirnext level of certification after the reportis submitted, then mark an individualreport “UPDATED” and submit it with theapplication.Instructions for filing 2005 ProgressReports not submitted online:• Complete an individual report for eachperson in the department that isparticipating in the SFFMA CertificationProgram, who were paid members ofSFFMA in 2005.Current Year Hours – all hours earnedin 2005 for this reportAll Previous Years Hours – all hoursearned prior to 2005All Years Hours – Current Year Hoursadded to All Previous Years HoursHours Needed for Level – All YearsHours subtracted from Required Hours• Be sure to enter all hours at each level ineach section. As of June 2004, theCertification Board has made it apolicy that all hours, even those forcertifications already held, must besubmitted. Any sections with the “TotalTraining Hours” field left blank will beassumed to be incomplete. Incompleteforms will be returned to be completed infull. A zero in the “Total Training Hours”field is sufficient to show no training wasdone for that level.• Alphabetize the individual reports.• Social Security numbers and birthdatesare required by the Certification Boardfor all individuals being submitted. Thisinformation is used for informationpurposes only and helps to ensure thatoverpayment of dues is caught andcorrected.• Complete one cover sheet for the entirereport and attach to the individual reports.Reports are due by January 31 st eachyear. Submit $25.00 late fee for reportssubmitted after that date.Fire Marshal’s Conference to be held in AustinThe State Fire Marshal’s Office andthe Texas Fire Marshals’ Associationwill host the 7th Annual Fire Marshal’sConference in Austin, October 24-28.This year’s conference will featureCounty & Municipal Fire MarshalForums, the International BuildingCode, Plan Review, Legislative Update,Successes in Fire Prevention Programs,and much more. We encourage you toregister for this conference as soon aspossible. The complete registrationpacket is located at http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/general/pdf/ Waco, TXfmconference.pdf12 TEXAS FIREMEN OCTOBER 2005You may obtain further informationby calling Scott Smith at the State FireMarshal’s Office at (512) 305-7902 ore-mail scott.smith@tdi.state.tx.us.130th Annual SFFMATraining Conference& ConventionJune 10-14, 2006TEXFIRS UpdateThe State Fire Marshal’s Office is inthe process of closing its TEXFIRSstate master file for all fire and nonfireincidents responded to by firedepartments in 2004. All 2004 datashould be submitted as soon as possible.Participating in TEXFIRS meets therequirements for both state and nationalNFIRS reporting.As a reminder, fire departmentsshould make every effort to activelyparticipate in monthly reporting.Departments continue to receivefunding assistance through the UnitedStates Fire Administration and the TexasCommission on Fire Protection forpurchasing fire equipment, apparatus,and fire prevention material. One of thestipulations of this grant awards isthat fire departments routinely andconsistently submit their incidents to thestate.• Data should be routinely submittedon a monthly basis.• Submittals should be consistent.Departments must report activityfor each month. In order to receivecredit for participation, a “no activity”report must be submitted whena department has no calls during amonth.• Departments must verify by phone(512) 305-7950 or (800)578-4677 orby email TEXFIRS@tdi.state.tx.usthat their information is beingreceived successfully by the StateFire Marshal’s Office.For more information onincident reporting please visit ourwebsite www.tdi.state.tx.us/fire, orcontact our TEXFIRS section atTEXFIRS@tdi.state.tx.us, (512)305-7950or 1(800)578-4677.With Deepest SympathySanta Fe Firefighter Mike Earley andhis family in the death of his five yearold son, Aaron, who was killed in avehicle/bicycle accident on September9, 2005.Helen Johnson, Executive Directorand family on the passing of her motherHattie Benner, August 8, 2005.