FEPP Compliance Standards Briefing Paper
Fire Department Directory
Attack from the Black Training Video
Texas uses a tiered approach to wildfire response and suppression. The local fire departments are the first responders to wildland fires in Texas. They are the first line of defense. However, if they determine that their capacity to control the fire is exceeded, suppression assistance is requested from Texas Forest Service. This may occur quickly or over time after the fire has grown large and become destructive.
The Role of Fire Departments
Across Texas and the nation, fire departments are the primary responders to emergencies and disasters.
Within Texas, local fire departments vary in their structure and organization. In a survey conducted by Texas Forest Service, of the approximately 1,800 fire departments in Texas, 1,450 were found to be strictly volunteer departments, 250 have a combination of paid and volunteer firefighters, and 100 are fully-paid departments. The survey indicated there are a total of 59,000 firefighters in the state, with 40,000 being volunteers and 19,000 being paid firefighters.
Because there is no central registry for fire departments within Texas, it is difficult to determine the overall capacity to respond. In response to this, the Texas legislature enacted HB1915 during the 80th Legislative Session (2007) that tasked the TFS to “develop a complete list of fire departments and firefighting resources within this state.”
The listing, or Fire Department Directory (FDD), is a cooperative effort involving the Texas Forest Service, Firefighters' Pension Commission, Office of Rural Community Affairs, Texas Commission on Fire Protection, Texas Engineering Extension Service, Texas State Fire Marshal's Office of the Texas Department of Insurance, State Firemen's and Fire Marshals' Association of Texas, Texas Fire Chiefs Association, Texas Fire Marshals Association, Texas State Association of Fire and Emergency Districts and the Texas State Association of Fire Fighters.
FDD is currently available as an online, web-based system to capture the essential information on fire departments across the state. The system is available to fire departments, agencies and associations. Fire departments are encouraged to participate directly and can request access online at http://tfsfrp.tamu.edu/fdd or by email to fdd@tfs.tamu.edu.
Texas Forest Service Assistance Programs
Texas Forest Service is committed to train, equip, and assist local fire departments and other cooperators. To help accomplish this, Texas Forest Service currently administers a number of highly successful fire department assistance programs including:
Rural Volunteer Fire Department Insurance Program (2001)—The Rural VFD Insurance Program was also created by the 77
th Texas Legislature (
HB 3667) to provide grants for Texas firefighters to obtain workers compensation and death and disability insurance. The program is administered by Texas Forest Service and is funded by a 2% tax on the sale of fireworks. This program provides insurance grants for more than 400 fire departments and 11,000 firefighters each year.
Other Texas Forest Service assistance programs include:
Firesafe (1986)—Texas Forest Service also operates a program to provide low-cost wildland and structural protective clothing to rural and small community fire departments. New gear is purchased in volume and then resold, with the savings being passed along to the fire department. Through this program eligible fire departments can get quality protective clothing at savings of 30% to 40%. In 2005, the Firesafe Program processed over $1.05 million in protective clothing and gear.
Volunteer Fire Department Vehicle Liability Insurance (1995)—The VFD Vehicle Liability Insurance Program was established by the 74
th Texas Legislature (SB 1232), who directed Texas Forest Service to create and administer this self-insurance program for fire departments. Through the program, Texas Forest Service provides low-cost vehicle liability insurance at a greatly reduced cost. Currently the program insures 1,062 vehicles from 278 fire departments at a cost of $150 per vehicle per year. Since inception, this program has saved fire departments an estimated $3 million in premiums.
Fire Department Training —Texas Forest Service also provides nationally certified wildfire and emergency management training to fire departments and agencies across the state. Through regional academies and local classes, Texas Forest Service has provided training to more than 5,000 students since 1998.
- Fire Quench Information — Texas Forest Service operates the Fire Quench program to offer fire departments an additional tool to assist them in fighting fires. Fire Quench is produced by Texas Correctional Industries located in Sugarland, TX, and transported to the main TFS distribution facility in Lufkin, and then it is sent across the state to designated TFS offices for local distribution to departments.
- Protective Clothing Cost Share Program- Texas Forest Service receives a limited amount of federal funds through the USFS Volunteer Fire Assistance Program. These federal funds are used in combination with state funds to provide assistance to eligible fire departments.
Advisory Councils
Texas Forest Service is a service oriented agency committed to the delivery of programs that positively affect the citizens of the state. To more effectively identify needs and guide program delivery, a number of external advisory groups have been established. Group roles and composition vary, but the objective is to provide the agency with independent advice on our effectiveness, content and direction.