Texas Commission on Fire Protection

If you are experiencing difficulty logging in to your FIDO account, and are using Internet Explorer, it may be due to your browser being out of date. Please update your settings by following these steps on your computer:

• Go to your Start menu
• select Control Panel
• Select Internet Options
• In the General tab, select Settings in the Browsing History section
• Select the Every time I visit webpage button
• Click OK and exit out
• Close all instances of your browser
• Re-open your browser and try accessing FIDO again.

Please submit all 2017 injury reports by April 30 to have your department's data included in the official report to the commission. All reports of "No Injuries" should also be submitted by this date.

For general information about injury reports, please refer to the injury reporting program page. If you have additional questions or concerns about reporting 2017 injuries, please call 512-936-3833 or email info@tcfp.texas.gov.

NOTE: Injury reports will still be accepted after the deadline, but will not be included in the 2017 Injury Report.

The Texas Commission on Fire Protection wants your input! Please take our brief customer service survey to let us know how we are doing. This survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete.

Commission personnel are working this week to complete the critical programming for a replacement interface for FIDO. We expect to launch the replacement on Tuesday, February 20th.

The new interface will look and function differently, and most importantly should correct the problems encountered with the version introduced in January. The interface should have the basic functions and features needed for most situations, with additional refinements and functionalities being added in the weeks following launch.

Thank you again for your continued patience.

The Texas Commission on Fire Protection is seeking qualified applicants for the hazardous materials ad hoc curriculum committee to assist in updating all the hazmat certifications currently offered: Awareness, Operations, Technician, and Incident Commander. Please download and submit the application for committee membership via e-mail to Grace Wilson or via fax: (512) 936-3808. Applications will be accepted through Sunday, April 1, 2018.

The agency continues to encounter a number of challenges following the launch of the new FIDO system earlier this month, with most of the problems occurring in the department and training facility management modules. Our IT personnel are working tirelessly to find and fix the bugs - and they will find and fix them . . . it just takes time.

On a positive note, individuals throughout the state are applying and paying for certifications and IFSAC seals via the new online portal in their FIDO accounts. This feature drastically reduces the time between application and issuance of fire protection credentials, from weeks to a few days at most. Hundreds of credentials have already been issued, and the pace is picking up as more personnel become aware of the new feature.

We appreciate your continued patience as we work to bring the new FIDO up to full speed, and of course we will do our best to minimize disruptions to your operations during the process.

The Texas Commission on Fire Protection is putting final touches on a new FIDO system, with plans to launch in early January 2018.

FIDO will have a whole new look, with greatly expanded capabilities for the user. The system will allow the individual or department administrator to manage online transactions such as:

• Applying for certifications, IFSAC seals, and exams.
• Making payments.
• Viewing and printing invoices and receipts.
• Taking an exam. Limited online testing will commence with the launch of the new system. Certain disciplines will be included initially, with others added over time. Approved testing centers will be identified from which the examinee may choose. Additional testing centers will be added as agreements with the centers are finalized.
• Submitting completed professional development courses such as A and B list courses, college courses on a transcript, or required medical training.
• Submitting other important documents such as verification of military status, IFSAC seals from other jurisdictions, or peace officer confirmation.
• Viewing individual records such as certifications and IFSAC seals held, work history and years of service, scheduled exams and exam results, and other information.

The commission is currently accepting applications to fill one vacancy on the Fire Fighter Advisory Committee. The Fire Fighter Advisory Committee plays the critical and statutorily mandated role of reviewing and commenting on all rule changes being considered by the commissioners.

If you are interested in serving on the Fire Fighter Advisory Committee, please complete the application and:

• Attach it to an email and send to Deborah.Cowan@tcfp.texas.gov.
  - or -
• Fax it to Deborah Cowan at (512) 936-3814
  - or -
• Print and mail it to:
  Texas Commission on Fire Protection
  PO Box 2286
  Austin, TX 78768-2286
  ATTENTION: Deborah Cowan

The deadline for applications is the close of business on December 31, 2017.

Governor Greg Abbott has reappointed Mike Jones and appointed Bob D. Morgan, Mala Sharma, and J.P. Steelman to the Texas Commission on Fire Protection for terms set to expire on February 1, 2023. The commission develops and enforces statewide fire service standards and provides education and assistance to the industry.

Mike Jones of Burleson is a battalion chief and training officer of the City of Burleson Fire Department and an adjunct instructor with Tarrant County College and Southwest Adventist University. He is president of the Burleson Professional Firefighters Association and a member of the Texas State Association Firefighters, International Association of Firefighters, and the Knights of Columbus. Jones attended Tarrant County College and received his fire protection certification form the Kilgore College Fire Academy.

Bob D. Morgan of Fort Worth is the senior fire protection engineer with the Fort Worth Fire Department. He is a member of the International Building Code Fire Safety Committee, six different technical committees with the National Fire Protection Association, and the North Central Texas Council of Governments and is chairman of its Fire Advisory Board. Additionally, he is a member and past president of the Fire Prevention Association of North Texas and DFW chapter of Society of Fire Protection Engineers. Morgan received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University.

Mala Sharma of Houston is an attorney with Sharma & Associates, P.C. She is president emeritus of the Houston Northwest Bar Association, board member of the South Asian Bar Association, and chair of the Houston Trial Lawyer's Women's Caucus Events Committee and the Houston Young Lawyer's Association Solo/Small Firm Committee. She is also a member of the Houston Bar Association and State Bar of Texas. Additionally, she volunteers for the Veterans Legal Clinic with the Houston Bar Association and has served as a Guardian Ad Litem. Sharma received a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Houston and a Juris Doctor from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law.

J.P. Steelman of Longview is the fire chief of the City of Longview and an instructor at Kilgore College Fire Academy. He serves as regional director for the Northeast Region of the Texas Fire Chiefs Association and is a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, Texas Task Force-1, Texas Interstate Fire Mutual Aid System, Texas Emergency Management Assistance Team, and the East Texas Council of Government Homeland Security Advisory Committee. Additionally, he is board member of See Saw Children's Place Daycare, past president of the Longview (Greggton) Rotary Club, and a panel member of the Sabine Industrial District Citizen's Advisory Panel. Steelman received an Associate of Applied Science in the area of fire protection technology and his fire protection certification from Kilgore College Fire Academy. He also completed the Executive Fire Officer Program with the National Fire Academy, Texas Fire Chiefs Academy through the Texas Fire Chiefs Association, and the Texas Fire Service Chief Executive Officer Program through the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service.

Department renewal reminder

The commission recently e-mailed notifications to all regulated entities regarding the renewal of their certified personnel. All certified personnel must have their certifications renewed by Oct. 31, 2017 to avoid late fees and to stay in compliance with commission rules. FIDO account administrators can log into their department FIDO (dFIDO) account to reconcile and renew their certified personnel.

Notice to individual certificate holders

The commission recently e-mailed notifications to certificate holders regarding the annual renewal of certifications, which expire Oct. 31, 2017. If you are an individual certificate holder, please check your personal iFIDO account to review your current certification status. (If you are employed by or associated with a commission-regulated entity, your department is responsible for renewing your certifications.)

For more information on continuing education requirements and renewing as an individual certificate holder, please refer to the commission's individual renewals page.

If your certificate expired on Oct. 31, 2016, your final deadline to renew is Oct. 31, 2017. If you do not renew by Oct. 31, 2017, you will have to retake the commission exam to qualify and reapply for your certifications.

The Texas Commission on Fire Protection is now accepting applications for the newly approved Driver/Operator-Aerial Apparatus certification. Please review § 433.203 for more information on how to qualify for the certification.

The Texas Commission on Fire Protection is seeking applications for the curriculum and testing committee. There is one vacancy on the committee.

The committee meets, on average, four times a year at commission headquarters in Austin. Committee members are not reimbursed by TCFP for any travel expenses. Committee members will be actively involved in intense review and development of fire fighter training issues. Meetings typically last two to three days.

Applicants must hold, as a minimum, an Instructor II certification from the commission. Active participation in training programs is preferred.

Please submit a completed membership application by Friday, June 16, 2017. Applications can be mailed, e-mailed or faxed to Grace Wilson, Texas Commission on Fire Protection, PO Box 2286, Austin, TX 78768-2286; Fax: 512-936-3808; e-mail: Grace.Wilson@tcfp.texas.gov.

The committee will review applications at its next scheduled meeting on June 27-28, 2017. After this meeting, all applicants will receive notice (either via e-mail or postal mail) as to whether they were selected to be on the committee. There is only one vacancy on the committee. It may take two to three weeks for all applicants to be notified.

Discussions are underway regarding the possible development of a new TCFP fire inspector certification. In response to requests from fire service stakeholder groups, the commission has created an ad hoc committee to explore the development of a 'more basic' level of the certification.

The committee will consider both the merits and challenges of creating an additional certification, including possible components, operational guidelines or limitations, and how the agency would implement and manage the requirements of the certification.

The discussions around this issue have made it apparent that there may still be some confusion about when a commission fire inspector certification is required and when it is not. If you are unsure about when the inspector certification is required, please review the article below, which the agency originally published two years ago (it has been updated to provide current information):

Please let us know if you have questions or concerns. Again, our goal is to make sure we do our job right, and to help you provide top-rate fire protection services to your community in the most efficient and effective manner possible.

The Texas Commission on Fire Protection is seeking qualified applicants for a fire and life safety educator ad hoc curriculum committee to assist in creating two new certification levels (Fire and Life Safety Educator I and II). Please download and submit the application for committee membership via e-mail to Grace Wilson or via fax: (512) 936-3808. Applications will be accepted through Friday, Aug. 19, 2016.

Annual renewal fee adjustment

The commission has reduced the annual renewal fee from $85 to $75. The annual renewal period runs from September 1 to October 31. Late fees apply to certificates renewed after October 31.

See §437.5, effective May 23, 2016.

Waiver for initial certification for active duty military, active duty spouses, and veterans

In accordance with the 84th Legislature's efforts to ease employment barriers for military service members returning to the workforce, the commission may waive certification and testing fees for military service members, spouses of active duty military, and qualifying veterans, who are applying for a first-time commission certificate in disciplines in which a certificate is required for appointment to duties. (These disciplines include structure, aircraft and marine fire suppression; fire inspector; fire and arson investigator; fire service instructor; and head of department.)

See § 437.3, effective Feb. 10, 2016.

Testing standards and fees

The commission has published a proposed rule change that will require candidates to pass each subsection of multi-part tests in order to qualify for certification (including basic structure fire protection and basic fire inspector). Currently, a candidate can pass the certification exam by earning an overall score of 70 percent or better. If the proposed rule changes pass, candidates must earn a score of 70 percent or better in every section.

The commission has also proposed to reduce the testing fee for candidates who need to re-test in order to pass a failed section. Currently the testing fee is $85 for the entire test, and $85 for re-tests. The proposed rule change will reduce the re-test fee to $35 for each "sectional" examination.

The proposed changes will also increase the number of questions in multi-part exams. In some sections the number of questions may increase significantly.

See Item 11B2 of the April commission meeting notebook to review the proposed rule changes. The comment period for this proposed rule change is currently open. Please submit comments in writing to info@tcfp.texas.gov or to Deborah Cowan, Executive Assistant, Texas Commission on Fire Protection, PO Box 2286, Austin TX 78768-2286.

CE for heads of department

Reminder to certified heads of departments: the commission is requiring an additional 20 hours of continuing education for the head of department certification; ten of the hours must be in emergency operations subjects and ten must be in fire administration.

See § 441.19, effective Aug. 26, 2015.

For more information about these rule changes, please contact the certification section at (512) 936-3829 or the testing section at (512) 936-3819.

Beginning Aug. 1, 2016, a valid exam will be required to qualify for IFSAC seals in the disciplines listed below.

Currently, individuals who hold an active certification in the following disciplines issued prior to March 10, 2003 may be granted International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) seals by submitting an application for IFSAC seals to the commission (along with applicable fees):

• Structure Fire Protection
• Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting
• Driver/Operator-Pumper
• Fire Investigator
• Arson Investigator
• Fire Officer I
• Fire Officer II
• Hazardous Materials Technician
• Instructor - Individuals who hold an active instructor certificate issued prior to Mar. 1, 2006 may be granted an IFSAC seal.
• Inspector - Individuals who hold an active commission fire inspector certificate issued prior to Jan. 1, 2005 may be granted IFSAC seals for Fire Inspector I and Fire Inspector II only.

Please contact the certification staff at (512) 936-3829 for more information.

The Texas Department of Public Safety has announced upcoming changes to the commercial driver's license (CDL) testing program. These changes are designed to bring the Texas CDL program in conformance with new federal regulations.

As of July 1, 2016, DPS will consolidate its CDL skills testing sites to 25 statewide locations (please see page 2 of the notice for locations). Additionally, Texas will convert to the new federal testing standard in October 2016.

Please note that these changes will primarily impact applicants for original CDLs and those who are upgrading to a higher level or seeking additional endorsements.

UPDATE, 4/13/2016: Fire departments that are outside of the 50-mile radius of one of the 25 CDL sites may request to establish their site as a mobile test site, provided that the department has the space requirements as noted. Please contact the regional manager within your region to set up a visit to approve the location by the regional CDL team.

The Texas Commission on Fire Protection is seeking applicants for a new marine fire suppression ad hoc committee to review and update the Basic Marine curriculum and test banks. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please complete and return the application to the commission (desired qualifications for committee membership are listed on the application form):

• Marine ad hoc committee application

The commission will accept applications through May 1, 2016. Thanks for your interest!

At its January 2016 meeting, the Texas Commission on Fire Protection voted to reduce the annual certification renewal fee from $85 to $75. The proposed renewal fee change will be up for final adoption at the commmission's April 2016 meeting. The new renewal rates should be in effect for the 2017 renewal cycle, which begins Sept. 1, 2016.

Update, Feb. 18, 2016: The proposed changes, under §437.5, will appear in the Feb. 26, 2016 issue of the Texas Register. Please submit comments regarding the proposed amendments in writing to Tim Rutland, Executive Director, Texas Commission on Fire Protection, PO Box 2286, Austin, Texas 78768 or by e-mail to info@tcfp.texas.gov. Comments will be reviewed and discussed at a future commission meeting.