State Fire Marshal Spotlight

Information for Fire Professionals, Fire Safety Industry and Fire Prevention Interests

Know Your Way Out

The Texas State Fire Marshal's Office (SFMO), a program of the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), originated in 1910. Its primary objective has always been to reduce the incidence and severity of fires, thereby decreasing fire deaths, injuries and property losses.

Have an Exit Strategy

A new statewide campaign, Have an Exit Strategy, has been designed to spread a simple, yet powerful fire safety message: Always locate a second exit when entering a public place. A variety of promotional materials, including posters, door hangers, magnets and more are now available to fire safety organizations.

University Campus Liquid Nitrogen Cylinder Explosion

Recently, a compressed gas cylinder exploded in a state university campus laboratory. The explosion was attributed to dangerous alterations that had been made to the cylinder. The State Fire Marshal wants to inform Texas universities how they can help prevent similar gas cylinder-related incidents.

State Fire Marshal Urges Extreme Caution Due to Drought Conditions

AUSTIN - With Texas experiencing the worst drought conditions in years, State Fire Marshal Paul Maldonado is urging local officials and all Texas residents to be vigilant in doing what they can to prevent wildfires. (December 29, 2005) More: Caution Due to Drought Conditions

Crashes Involving Fire Department Water Tanker Trucks Are the Leading Cause of Death in Fire Service Motor Vehicle Incidents

Two recent fatal crashes involving motor vehicles modified into water tankers are under investigation by the Texas State Fire Marshal's Office. The State Fire Marshal wants to alert the Texas fire service regarding the construction and operation of fire department tankers used in transporting water. Read the Alert en Español.

State Fire Marshal's Office Issues Bars, Nightclubs and Dance Halls Fire Safety Evaluation Report

In the summer of 2004, the State Fire Marshal's Office (SFMO) conducted fire safety inspections of bars, nightclubs, lounges and dancehalls in eight Texas counties after studying the fire safety violations contributing to the tragic, 100-death February 2003 Station nightclub fire in Rhode Island and observing similar, recurring hazards during a county-wide inspection of bars and clubs in a Gulf Coast county in fall 2003. Of the 189 establishments inspected, 182 had means of egress violations.

A fire-related catastrophe could strike a Texas nightclub. The SFMO's Fire Safety Evaluation Report of Bars, Nightclubs and Dance Halls, and other related information and resources, is available on-line at http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/fire/fmbarsafe.html.

Natural Gas Safety Directive Issued to State Agencies and Universities

The State Fire Marshal's Office (SFMO) has sent an official notice to Texas state agencies and universities ordering that they take immediate steps to insure that natural gas piping systems that they own or control are properly maintained. The directive issued by State Fire Marshal Paul Maldonado provides a comprehensive guide for officials to follow based on state and federal law as well as national safety standards covering installation, maintenance, inspection and testing of gas piping systems.
The SFMO Directive is available online at http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/general/pdf/fmgasdirectiv.pdf.

• USFA Helps Local Fire Departments Get Fire Safety Facts In Local News Media
  The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) helps local Fire Service personnel to get fire safety facts in the news when they enlist in the Quick Response Media Corps. When USFA spots a news account of a residential fire fatality, it promptly sends appropriate fire safety tips to the local media and to area fire departments and follows up with calls to the media to encourage the use of the fire safety information in a follow-up story while that teachable moment exists in a shocked and saddened community. Thew USFA also offers an interview with USFA’s national spokesperson or with a local firefighter when there is a member of the Corps in the area. USFA sends a bi-monthly e-bulletin that includes tips on how to get fire safety in the news, alerts on public education campaigns that USFA is conducting, and tools available to Corps members, including a series of live-read public service announcements that members are encouraged to record for their local radio stations. The Quick Response Media Corps has nearly 1,400 Fire Service personnel enlisted, and USFA encourages you to join them. Membership is free. Visit www.usfa.dhs.gov/applications/feedback/mediacorps.jsp to sign up or send an e-mail to quickresponse@hagersharp.com for the enrollment form.
• Fire Safety Education Resources for Educators and Fire Safety Professionals
  The State Fire Marshal's Office offers a variety of programs and services that promote fire-safe awareness and behavior among Texas' young people.
• TFS Helping Hands Program Provides Surplus FD Equipment
  The State Fire Marshal's Office currently does not offer a program that receives and distributes fire department equipment. However, the Texas Forest Service administers the VFD Helping Hands Program, which accepts and donates surplus fire and emergency equipment to volunteer fire departments across the state.
• Important Information on Fire Exit Drill Report Forms
  The rules regarding the submission of fire exit drill forms to the State Fire Marshal's Office (SFMO) have changed. Previously, schools were required to submit the forms to the SFMO. Effective March 8, 2004, schools are required to maintain fire drill and fire prevention education forms in the school or district office and make them available to local or state officials upon request. The schools should keep forms for three years. This rule change should substantially reduce the workload associated with this important fire safety effort.
  Download the 2006-2007 and 2005-2006 forms and obtain additional information.

   

  Reports and Publications

  • Fires In Texas 2005: a summary of fires reported during the preceding year.
  • Firefighter Fatality Investigations: FY 2006 Annual Report
  • Fire Safety Evaluation: Galveston County.
  • Fire Safety Evaluation: McDonald Observatory.
  • Fire Safety for Texans - Fire and Burn Prevention Curriculum Guides available online and free of charge.
  • Report Form For Fire Exit Drills and Fire Prevention Education in Schools
  • All SFMO publications and brochures

  The Texas State Fire Marshal's Office comprises four divisions.

  Responsibilities of the State Fire Marshal's Office include those related to:

  • arson investigations.
  • fire safety inspections.
  • fire prevention education.
  • flammable liquids at retail service stations.
  • licensing and regulation of fire alarms, extinguishers, sprinklers and fireworks.
  • the Texas Fire Incident Reporting System (TEXFIRS).
  • Texas firefighter fatality investigations.
  • Public Protection Classification (PPC) Oversight.
  • Juvenile Fire Awareness and Intervention Program.
  
  

   

  Related Web Links

  • U.S. Fire Administration
  • U.S. Fire Administration Kids Page

For more information contact: Fire.Marshal@tdi.state.tx.us