Texas Fire Service Resources
State Fire Marshal's Office
Since 1997, the State Fire Marshal's Office (SFMO) has been part of the Texas Department of Insurance, as directed by SB 371, 75th Legislature. In addition to the staff located at the Austin headquarters, SFMO employees are strategically located across the state to respond quickly to requests.
The Texas State Fire Marshal's Office will reduce the loss of life and property through prevention, education, and protection.
Ethics Statement: The Texas State Fire Marshal's Office is committed to performing all its functions for external and internal customers in a manner that upholds the highest ethical standards. These standards are a manifestation of the agency's core values and we will never settle for doing anything less than what these values exemplify. The State Fire Marshal's Office will utilize its authority in a fair and consistent manner and strive to follow best practices in all its operations. The pursuit and attainment of high ethical standards in all endeavors of this agency is the only acceptable path to our success.
Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service
Nowhere else can you find more comprehensive firefighter training and emergency services instruction than with the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX). Whether at the renowned Brayton Fire Training Field in College Station, Texas, or at customer-specified locations worldwide, TEEX offers high-quality emergency response training and instruction in more than 130 specialty areas.
TEEX has been providing unsurpassed fire training for emergency responders since 1929 when the State Firefighters' and Fire Marshals' Association of Texas selected Texas A&M University as the site for a permanent firefighter training school. Today, TEEX trains more than 81,000 emergency responders from all 50 states and 45 countries each year.
Texas A&M Forest Service
Texas Forest Service was created in 1915 by the 34th Legislature as an integral part of The Texas A&M University System. It is mandated by law to "assume direction of all forest interests and all matters pertaining to forestry within the jurisdiction of the state." In 2012, the agency's name was changed to Texas A&M Forest Service. Texas A&M Forest Service employs more than 375 employees in offices across the state.
Texas Commission on Fire Protection
The mission of the Texas Commission on Fire Protection is to aid in the protection of lives and property of Texas citizens through the development and enforcement of recognized professional standards for individuals and the fire service. The commission's authority is defined by Chapter 419 of the Texas Government Code 
. The commission's strategic plan includes two major goals:
- To provide education and assistance to the fire service
- To enforce statewide fire service standards
The agency fulfills the first goal primarily through the fire protection resource library. The agency's fire service standards and certification division fulfills the second goal in four program areas: certification, training approval and testing, standards compliance, and curriculum development.
Texas Emergency Services Retirement System
The Texas Emergency Services Retirement System (TESRS) is an agency of the state of Texas that administers a pension system for 223 volunteer fire and emergency services departments in communities statewide. In addition to providing a pension benefit, departmental membership in the TESRS means volunteers are covered by death and disability benefits. The program is a cost-effective way for departments to belong to a professionally managed fund and provide valuable benefits to their membership.
Channel Industries Mutual Aid (CIMA)
Channel Industries Mutual Aid (CIMA) is a non-profit organization combining the fire-fighting, rescue, hazardous material handling and emergency medical capabilities of the refining and petrochemical industry in the Greater Houston Metropolitan area. Since 1955, this organization has been providing cooperative assistance and expertise for all kinds of emergencies - both natural and man-made.
CIMA website - click here
Texas Association of Fire Educators
Our mission: Learning is a lifelong process that extends beyond the classroom.
"The mission of the Texas Association of Fire Educators is to promote education in the fire service in the state of Texas."
Our goal: To provide fire educators with training resources, educational support through this site, and to host state regional conferences for the advancement of fire education.
Texas Chapter of International Association of Arson Investigators
To unite for the mutual benefit of those public officials and private persons engaged in the control of arson and kindred crimes.
To provide for the exchange of technical information and developments.
To encourage high professional standards of conduct among arson investigators and to continually strive to eliminate all factors which interfere with the administration of justice.
Texas Fire Chief's Association
Mission: The Texas Fire Chiefs Association believes in serving the citizens of Texas by actively participating in the advancement of the fire service through positive leadership, the sharing of information, and active legislative involvement, while maintaining the highest ethical and professional standards.
Texas Fire Marshal's Association
What is the purpose of TXFMA?
To encourage high professional standards of conduct among fire marshals and to continually strive to eliminate all factors which interfere with administration of fire prevention.
To unite for mutual benefit those public officials and private persons to promote fire prevention in Texas.
To provide for exchange of technical information and developments.
To foster close cooperation and better understanding between governmental or industrial fire service organizations and law enforcement agencies, news media, the insurance industry, local fire prevention committees, and state agencies.
Texas Line of Duty Death Task Force
The mission of the Texas Line of Duty Death Response Team is to provide excellent, compassionate, and immediate care to those who have been injured in the line of duty and to the families of those who have died in the line of duty. We also provide caring and objective assistance to departments who have suffered a line of duty injury or death of a member. We believe in giving full respect to the dignity of each individual that we work with, whether it be a family member, an officer, or a rank and file emergency worker. Our wish is to show honor to the fallen (both injured and those who have died) in the work that we do.
Texas State Association of Fire and Emergency Districts
The mission of the Texas State Association of Fire and Emergency Districts is to make Texans safer by supporting the men and women of emergency services districts in the state. Emergency Services Districts (ESDs) are political subdivisions of the state of Texas, like a school district or a county.
As Texas outgrows the abilities of cities and rural volunteer fire departments, ESDs are on the cutting edge of providing fire protection and emergency medical response to large portions of the state. Since 1990, the State Association of Fire and Emergency Districts has been the only association dedicated to bringing these local governments together so they can work smarter and work better for Texans.
Texas State Association of Fire Fighters
The TSAFF constitution and by-laws state that, “The objectives of this Association shall be to unify Texas Professional Fire Fighters, to promote their interest, to pass legislation in their behalf, defeat legislation harmful to them, to provide necessary services to member locals and to establish the right of every Texas Professional Fire Fighter to bargain collectively and work under a contract.”
Our constitution also states that, “This organization shall be non-partisan and shall not be used for the dissemination of partisan principles.” Considering this mandate, it is the policy of the TSAFF to support legislators and other elected officials who listen to our needs; and, who take appropriate action which is favorable to our members regardless of political party. The TSAFF does not get involved in issues which do not relate to your employment or benefits as firefighters. An elected official’s vote or point of view on the rights and benefits of professional firefighters are the only consideration used in supporting or not supporting politicians.
In addition, being bound by the International Association of Fire Fighters constitution and by-laws, the TSAFF and the IAFF jointly exist to, “...organize all full-time fire fighters; to secure just compensation for their services and equitable settlement of their grievances; to promote as safe and healthy a working environment for fire fighters and emergency medical or rescue workers as is possible through modern technology; to promote just and reasonable working conditions; to place the members on a higher plane of skill and efficiency; and to promote harmonious relations between fire fighters and their employers.”