2011 Texas Industrial Fire School Planning Conference

Just got back from the Instructor Planning Conference in College Station Texas and the weather was fantastic, Sunny and 70 degrees!  It was great to meet up and visit with great friends and colleagues again.  It’s a shame we only have a couple of times a year to see each other face-to-face. 

For those of you instructors who couldn’t make it but follow this blog, here’s a summary of the conference;

New Instructors are needed.  All applications for this year’s school are due by April 15^th, 2011.  Please make sure applicants have the NFPA 1081 and 1041 certifications

Some new courses are offered throughout the year, one you may be especially interested in is ASP216 Industrial Safety Officer. Click on the TEEX logo on the right side of this page to check it out

A new course that will be available during the summer Industrial School is Trench Rescue.  TEEX will provide instructors for the course this year but in the future we will need guest instructors to teach the course.  So speak up this year if you are interested or know someone who is.

For those of you that have any additional needs at your prop, make sure you fill out the rainbow sheet and have it submitted no later than March 1^st

If you are attending as an instructor or student this year, and you haven’t done so already, BOOK YOUR HOTEL ROOM EARLY.  An influx of sports competitions, conferences, and other events are coming to College Station during the summer and rooms are filling up fast.  Also, due to construction, availability of dorm rooms may be limited

This year marks the 49^th Industrial Fire School!  In celebration this year, and in preparation of our big 50^th celebration next year, please rack your brain and think of names and contact info you may have for any retired or previous instructors that do not attend anymore.  We want to get them and their spouses out to the Fire School to celebrate with us.  That info should be submitted to Chief John Quincy Adams.  I will send you an email with more information, including John Q’s email

TEEX has developed a way for instructors to access the ESTI Portal on the TEEX website so we can contact each other, submit photos, share training files, etc.  You will receive a password and information via email on this in the coming weeks.  It is VERY IMPORTANT THAT TEEX HAVE YOUR CURRENT EMAIL CONTACT.  I also need your current contact info.

As a result of student critiques last year, one item we need to concentrate on is better communication between the Section Leaders and the Module Leaders to better identify what skill that particular section of students needs. It may be SCBA, proper donning of gear, fire monitors, etc. Once identified, the Module Leader can direct his instructors to provide additional training on that subject or skill.  Realizing you only have 50 minutes, we may have to adjust our time burning.  If we all spend just a few extra minutes on Monday morning during your first hour after the hose handling class, I believe it would go a long way to the success of those students.  Of course not all sections are going to need that extra attention, only a couple will.  Remember, whether you like it or not, we are mentors and heroes to a lot of those students, so give them your time and attention. TEACH and LEAD BY EXAMPLE.  They are watching us closely.

Thanks again to all the 1081 Exterior Instructors for a great 2010 Fire School.  I cannot express my gratitude enough.  Everyone was flexible and willing to do whatever it took for the students to have the total experience.  We please ask that you do the same this year.  If you can be available during your byes (even if it’s first thing in the morning or last in the day) you become a valuable asset to your fellow instructors

Thanks and see you in the summer!