The title of SFFMA State Firefighter of the Year and SFFMA State EMS Responder of the Year are given to only an elite few. To be nominated for these awards and to be selected from so many is quite an honor. Each individual nominated for these awards is recognized for their strong values, leadership, vision, heroism and dedication. Congratulations to all of the nominees and to Dennis Gage, 2013 SFFMA State Firefighter of the Year and to Ed Konick, 2013 SFFMA State EMS Responder of the Year! Click the picture above to see more pics from the event or click HERE.
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VFIS of Texas and Texas Mutual Insurance Company have partnered together to create a grant program for rural fire departments. The program will fund safety training and certification dues for volunteer firefighters. Barbara Marzean, President of VFIS of Texas and Rich Gergasko, President of Texas Mutual, presented checks totaling $45,000 to David Wade, President of the State Firemen’s and Fire Marshals’ Association (SFFMA), during the Annual SFFMA Training Conference and Convention at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott & Convention Center. “Our members risk their lives every day to protect the public,” said Wade. “It is critical that they know how to protect themselves, as well. Unfortunately, our rural members are often underfunded. This money will help them get the training they need to do their jobs safely.” A committee of VFIS and SFFMA staff will review grant applications and will award grants based on need. “The more we can do to train all firefighters in the state,” said Marzean, “the more we can reduce and prevent firefighter deaths and injuries which has always been our ultimate goal.” Texas Mutual and VFIS of Texas also partner to offer a workers’ compensation safety group for qualifying fire departments and nonprofit EMS organizations. Group members have access to free safety training materials designed for their industry. They also get premium discounts and potential dividends if they control workplace accidents. To find out more, please visit www.esowcgroup.com. Susan Heil has received her Chartered Property & Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation. The prestigious CPCU designation is held by just over 5% of all those employed in the insurance industry. The rigorous curriculum requires completion of nine (9) graduate level courses and examinations covering topics such as insurance law, history, contracts, property insurance, liability insurance, operations, rate-making, and risk management, as well as business courses in finance, corporate structure, and ethics. Susan has enjoyed applying what she learned to better serve our customers and looks forward to continuing her knowledge in risk management. Congratulations on your accomplishment Susan! Chief Chris Barron was presented the 2012 John M. Buckman lll Leadership Award at the recent VCOS Symposium in the Sun. Chief Barron has been a member of the fire service for over 22 years, serving as the Fire Chief of the Manchaca Fire/Rescue Department for the past 12 years. During his tenure as chief, he led the organization from an all volunteer based agency to a combination agency and was instrumental in improving his department's service delivery from an ISO PPC Class 7/9 to an ISO rating of PPC Class 3, resulting in a significant drop in homeowners insurance premiums.
Chief Barron has been a champion for the volunteer firefighters his entire fire service career, not only in Texas but across the country. He actively advocates for the volunteers through his career job as the Executive Director of the State Firemen's and Fire Marshals' Association, by his service as a member of the Rural Fire Advisory Council, the First Responder Advisory Council and the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TEXFIRS). Chief Barron helped develop the statewide Mutual Aid Legislation Plan, he assisted in obtaining an additional $15 million for H.B. 2604 which provides grants for equipment and training for rural volunteer departments; he worked to resolve issues which arose over the Texas State "Black Hydrant Program;" he helped write tuition exemption legislation for firefighters; and he has organized and run a successful Fire Service Legislative Day at the Texas State Capitol every July for the past several years. For all those efforts, Chief Barron was recognized in 2011 with a State of Texas House Resolution for service and dedication to the fire service of Texas. One of Chief Barron's greatest accomplishments, however, was the formation of the Wildfire Relief PPE Program in 2011 which brought in over $800,000 in donations to the State Fireman's and Fire Marshal's Association for the Texas fire service, who were fighting the most terrible series of wildfires in their history. The donated funds supplied much-needed gear and equipment to rural volunteer fire departments in Texas. Those departments represent 30,000 firefighters from 1,400 volunteer fire departments, 77% of the state's fire service. His efforts provided enormous financial relief to the firefighters, 86% of whom had been using their own personal funds to meet the day-to-day equipment and supply needs of their department, as they battled over 30,000 wildfires that year. The deadline for assistance for calendar year 2012 under HB 3667 is August 31, 2012. This grant will reimburse fire departments for the purchase of insurance from private insurance companies. Eligible coverage includes any combination of Workers’ Compensation, Death and/or Disability Insurance (including the new $10,000/$20,000 optional SFFMA member benefit). The program will reimburse up to$96.00 per firefighter covered in calendar year 2012. For more information and an application for this program, go to http://texasforestservice.tamu.edu/main/popup.aspx?id=9442.
Manchaca Volunteer Fire Department Wins Recruitment & Retention Award
Congratulations to Fire Chief Chris Barron and the Manchaca Volunteer Fire Department who were selected as the winner of the 2011 Recruitment & Retention Award, sponsored by VFIS. The award is presented annually to a department that has experienced excellent results to a comprehensive approach to retaining and recruiting members during a one-year period. Ponderosa Fire Department Wins Safe Driving Award Congratulations to Fire Chief Fred Windisch and the Ponderosa Fire Department who were selected as the winner of the 2011 Emergency Vehicle Safe Operations Achievement Award, sponsored by VFIS. The award is presented annually to a department that has experienced zero vehicle accidents during a one-year period. Both awards will be presented at the VCOS Symposium in the Sun in Clearwater Beach, Florida in November. Congratulations to these departments on their accomplishments and for making Texas proud! Accidents resulting from backing emergency vehicles are unfortunately all too common. These incidents often result in minor property or vehicle damages but sometimes theyare severe or even fatal. To help reduce the risk of accidents and injuries related to vehicle backing incidents, VFIS has developed a new program “Safe Backing Practices for Fire and EMS.” The program outlines the hazards encountered when backing any style emergency vehicle and provides visual portrayals of several common situations that may occur.
Click here to preview a clip from this new program and how to order the kit: http://www.vfis.com/VFIS-News-Safe-Backing-Distance-Learning-Course.htm VFIS has recently introduced a new Critical Illness Program for emergency service organizations. The Critical Illness Program provides a cash lump sum when a member is first diagnosed with cancer, stroke or suffers a heart attack. In addition to these lump sum living benefits, if an insured dies accidentally, the beneficiary receives a death benefit. The condition or death does not have to be fire service related. The basic lump sum benefit is $10,000 and the premium per person is under $100 per year. Like all insurance policies, there are certain conditions, limitations and exclusions that are contained in the policy.
For more information on this program or for a proposal, please contact our office. As a rule, VFIS discourages the general public riding on any apparatus. However, if your department does want to provide public rides for a parade or open house, a VFIS underwriter will need to review the proposed plan and the following risk control recommendations should be considered:
Some departments might offer a Ride-Along program that allows community residents to ride along with the department to observe their operations when responding to an emergency scene. Programs such as this have unique exposures that need to be specifically reviewed and monitored carefully. A VFIS underwriter will need to provide guidance with this type of request well in advance of the event. Some risk control recommendations to consider are:
Each of these situations require an appropriate degree of care and protection to the individuals and the organization. A thorough review by a VFIS underwriter of the proposed plans and safety measures well in advance of the event is paramount. Please contact your agent or account manager should your department consider allowing the public to ride your emergency vehicles. Starting in 2011, SFFMA has offered a new optional VFIS Accidental Death & Dismemberment policy to their members. This policy provides a $20,000 benefit for an On-Duty Accidental Death and a $10,000benefit for an Off-Duty Accidental Death. In addition, a $5,000 benefit is paid for a Severe Burn over 20% or more of the body. This policy is offered as an optional member benefit for only $10 per year for each individual member. Accidental death remains the #1 cause of death for working age people and many people do not have adequate life insurance to support their family in the event of their death. For more information on this member benefit, contact Diana Cardona at SFFMA at 800-580-7336.
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