Spring Training
The various SDFA Districts will be hosting district fire schools around the state in April.
On April 6th, Central District will be in Highmore, and Northeast District will be in Watertown.
On April 20th, Southeast District will be in Howard.
Check the SDFA Events website for more details and other training opportunities.
Be involved in your District. Contact your local district board representatives with ideas. Offer to serve on your District board. Most only meet a couple times per year for planning and hosting district school.
If you have ideas for improving involvement of your district, step up and find out who your current board is to bring it to them. Elections typically are held at district schools. You might have a district board member that is ready and willing to pass the torch to someone. They might nominate or recommend you if they know you’re interested. But let them know.
Nominations and letters of intent to run for SDFA Vice-President must be submitted to the nomination committee no later than May 1, 2024. The term for Vice-President is only 3-years.
Final legislative updates for 2024.
The retired firefighter license plate bill, SB194, passed. Thank you to Senator Herman Otten for spearheading this bill. This created a plate decal for retired firefighters with 10 or more years of service. The retired plate decal opportunity will become available in March 2025 to fit in with a current cycle of adjustment with licensing. It will require a simple form to be signed off by the local department.
The presumptive cancer bill was put on hold to allow for a procedural process with the workers compensation advisory board. All parties involved, including volunteer and career agencies, work comp and insurance providers, and legislative leaders will have time to look at other state’s decisions and consider possible opportunities.
NVFC Spring meetings will be in April in Washington DC. We will be meeting with our congressional delegates to discuss fire service issues, particularly, continued funding for the AFG & SAFER grant programs. These grant funds are on the timeframe of possible ending this fiscal year. We have strong support from our delegation, and the NVFC will continue to work all parties in Washington.
Dry conditions have made for challenges with wildfires this spring. The extreme fire and red flag conditions may make for spring controlled burns to be hard to complete. Mutual aid is your friend.
The NVFC has a Wildland Fire Assessment Program (WFAP) that provides training and checklists for departments and property owners in the wildland interface, on farms, and in communities, to evaluate and prepare for wildfires. Remember, range and crop fires are wildfires, too. Some of the most devastating community fires over the years were the result of wildfires.
If your department, district, or even a home owners association is interested in learning how to provide this assessment program locally, contact Lori Shirley at the NVFC or visit the NVFC website for more program information.
Easter is coming. So please, be thankful for the blessing that we have now and forever.
Be Safe,
Charlie Kludt,
SDFA President