across the stateIn MemorialJack Wilson, 81, (retired chief) NewBraunfels <strong>Fire</strong> Department, passed awaySunday, September 11, <strong>2005</strong>. Afterserving in the military, Wilson workedat Tinker AFB as a firefighter and retiredas the asst. fire chief in 1972 after 30 yearsof service. Jack and his wife, Virginia,moved to New Braunfels in 1973 andJack retired as the <strong>Fire</strong> Chief in 1987 fromthe New Braunfels <strong>Fire</strong> Dept.He is survived by his wife, twochildren and five grandsons.Funeral services were held September15 at the New Braunfels PresbyterianChurch, with interment at Fort SamHouston National Cemetery. Ernest Emerson, former <strong>State</strong> <strong>Fire</strong>Marshal of Texas, passed awaySeptember 10, <strong>2005</strong>. Much of his careerwas spent with the Dallas <strong>Fire</strong> Department,serving as a firefighter, a fireinspector, chief of the arson squad andeventually to rising to the Chief <strong>Fire</strong>Marshal for the City of Dallas. He servedmany years as President of the Dallas<strong>Fire</strong>fighters’ Association, and climbedto state–level positions includingPresident of the Texas <strong>State</strong> <strong>Fire</strong>fighters’Association.Emerson moved to Austin when bebecame the <strong>State</strong> <strong>Fire</strong> Marshal, duringwhich time, he was the first directorof the Texas Commission on <strong>Fire</strong>Protection.In 2001, Ernest became one of the firstrecipients of the prestigious “StoneCutters Award” for his lifetime ofdedication to the betterment of the fireservice. The <strong>State</strong> of Texas named theErnest A. Emerson <strong>Fire</strong> Protection ResourceLibrary in Mr. Emerson’s honor.He is survived by his wife, twochildren and a granddaughter.Funeral services were held at LaurelLand Funeral Home, Dallas, with burialat the Laurel Land Cemetery. Thefuneral was observed with both fullfirefighter honors and U.S. military rites. Danny Hutchinson, long timemember of the Kickapoo VFD passedaway August 22, <strong>2005</strong>. Services wereheld August 27 at the First BaptistChurch in Holliday.14TEXAS FIREMEN OCTOBER <strong>2005</strong>Nightclub <strong>Fire</strong> SafetyIn the summer of 2004, the <strong>State</strong> <strong>Fire</strong>Marshal’s Office (SFMO) conducted afire safety evaluation of 189 nightclubs,bars and dance halls in various areas ofthe state. The SFMO conducted thisanalysis to determine if fire safetyviolations existed in Texas bars similarto those contributing to the February2003 multiple fatality fire that occurredat the Station Club in West Warwick,Rhode Island. An alarming 96 percentof these facilities had means of egressviolations.There are over 20,000 facilitiesthroughout Texas similar to thoseinspected in this project. Local officialsshould work to ensure that similarconditions do not exist in theircommunities. Uncorrected, thesecritical means-of-egress violations posea potential threat to public safety.To lessen the likelihood of a similarfire tragedy in Texas, the <strong>State</strong> <strong>Fire</strong>Marshal recommends that fire officials:· Focus their efforts on inspections ofbars, nightclubs and dance halls andfollow up to ensure that all fire safetyviolations, especially egress problems,are corrected;· Develop a long-range plan forimproving nightclub fire safety thatincludes, at a minimum:~ Implementing effective staff/security fire safety training andfirefighter pre-planning forsuppression activities;~ Ensuring proper functioning ofkitchen hood protection systems,sprinkler systems, and alarmsystems;~ Establishing and enforcingoccupant load, appropriate interiorfinishes, proper maintenance ofelectrical extension cords andadequate emergency lighting, and;~ Ensuring the appropriate use ofpyrotechnics and open flames(candles, etc.)The <strong>State</strong> <strong>Fire</strong> Marshal’s Office isworking with the Texas AlcoholBeverage Commission to heightenawareness in the club and bar establishmentsof fire safety issues. This programwill train the ABC agents on firesafety awareness and the owners andcontinued on page 45Eighth Annual CapitalArea Interagency WildfireAcademyThe 8 th Annual Capital Area InteragencyWildfire Academy will be held<strong>October</strong> 14-28 at Camp Swift in Bastrop,Texas. The academy will feature 44classes that cover a variety of topicsfrom basic wildland firefightingthrough advanced wildland fire tactics.Additionally, Urban Wildland Interfaceand NIMS ICS classes have been addedto this year’s academy. Other coursesinclude wildland fire cause anddetermination, medical unit leader,EVOC and aviation classes. Theseclasses run from 1 to 5 days and manyhave been scheduled so individuals cantake advantage of weekend classes. Fora complete listing of all classes andschedules please refer to the academywebsite at www.tamu.edu/ticc.The academy is run under the ICSsystem; students will go through thecheck-in process, attend briefings,participate in classroom and fieldactivities and complete their trainingthrough demob.The 11,000 acre Camp Swift facilityoffers the opportunity to conductclassroom and field activities on site.This unique partnership with the TexasArmy National Guard also allows theacademy to provide lodging at noadditional costs to students.Tuition for the academy is $50 perday which includes; all coursematerials, two meals and lodging.In addition to the courses listed,students may sign up to fill traineepositions on the Incident ManagementTeam. These trainees will functionwithin the command staff, general staff,and various unit leader positions.Interested persons are encouraged toreview the schedule and register forclasses. Training tuition grants areavailable for qualifying departmentsthrough the House Bill 2604 Program.If you have specific questionsregarding the academy you can contactthe academy registrar at (936) 875-4786or your Texas Forest Service Regional<strong>Fire</strong> Coordinator.
<strong>State</strong> <strong>Fire</strong>men’s & <strong>Fire</strong> Marshals’Association of TexasThe <strong>State</strong>’s Ninth Largest Trade AssociationMEMBERSHIP BENEFITS!!!Reasons to be a SFFMA Member:Membership with 20,000 other Texas <strong>Fire</strong>fightersSponsorship of Texas <strong>Fire</strong> Training School at Texas A&M UniversityMembership on Texas A&M <strong>Fire</strong> Advisory BoardCertification Program for VolunteersThe Texas <strong>Fire</strong>men MagazineInfo<strong>Fire</strong> PublicationDiscounts on IFSTA, Delmar, and Jones & Bartlett Training MaterialsAnnual Training Conference/ConventionLegislative Voice at the <strong>State</strong> and Federal LevelApproval Entity for Volunteer Automobile License PlatesNominating Authority for Governor’s Appointments to Pension CommissionNominating Authority for Nominations to <strong>Fire</strong> Service Boards & Commissions<strong>State</strong> <strong>Fire</strong>men’s Monument at <strong>State</strong> CapitolWeb Site Access - http://www.sffma.orgSFFMA Online Certification Reporting - http://www.sffma.orgInformation Clearing CenterIndustrial <strong>Fire</strong> Services SupportLiaison with other <strong>Fire</strong> Service OrganizationsCredit Card Discount Program - MBNA Credit Card with 8.9% rate (Call 800/437-0180)Hotel Discounts (Call 800/2582847, ID # 00800469)Prepaid Legal Services$2,000 Accidental Death Benefit - American Income LifeGMAC Mortgage Benefits (Call 512/343-4464)Long Distance Benefits (Call 800/212-3473)Association Member Beneifts Advisors: http://www.amba.info/benefits1.htmlNewman Health Insurance Services: www.libbynewman.com, or call 866/226-8860SFFMA • 4450 Frontier Trail • Austin, Texas 78745 • 512/454-3473 • Fax 512/453-1876Website address: http://www.sffma.orgOCTOBER <strong>2005</strong> TEXAS FIREMEN15
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