Earlier this month, the Texas Commission on Fire Protection adopted a statewide training program for regulated fire service personnel, which they are required to complete every five years.
The program, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation’s Courage to Be Safe, is described as “a first-of-its-kind firefighter safety training mandate” and is aimed at improving safety and reducing line-ofduty deaths.
The rule establishes recurring training requirements across the state and gives agencies three years to comply. The full enforcement deadline has been set for May 14, 2029.
Around 40,000 career firefighters are affected by this change, while the state’s nearly 75,000 volunteers are not required to take the training.
The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation considers this program to be the first mandate for the recurring completion of the safety training, which focuses on preventing injuries, deaths, and examining decision- making, behavior, and safety culture.
Texas officials state that the requirement of recurring completion is to ensure that firefighter safety principles are embedded in firefighters’ careers, instead of being thought of as a “one-off certification.”
The program will be offered free of charge, and upon completion, will provide 4.0 hours of continuing education credit to firefighters. Both in-person and online delivery options are available, including instructional support from Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service and National Fallen Firefighters Foundation state advocates.
Victor Stagnora, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation CEO, states that “Texas has long been a national leader in firefighter education and safety, and this action sets a new standard.” He adds that “By making this training recurring, Texas is helping ensure those lessons are not treated as a one-time requirement.”