F.F.A.M.

Fire Marshal’s Update – July 2020

Greetings from the thirteenth floor. I’m happy to report we all are doing well. No COVID-19 issues, so far. I pray daily for the protection of all first responders, fire departments, EMS, police departments, and health care providers as you serve across our state. Thank you for all you do 24-7, 365! Being the best boots on the ground and leaving things better than you found them!

We have been able to re-establish our normal work position here on the thirteenth floor. With that being said we have some work to do to accommodate the over 7,000 requests for state-certified testing. If you want to attend and take a state-certified test, please visit our website and click on “Firefighter Training” (dfs.dps.mo.gov/programs/training/) and then “Testing Update.” Here you will find times and locations of test sites and new procedures.

We have scheduled testing dates and sites listed on our website. Click on “Programs and Services” under “Firefighter Training and Certification” you will find the “Course Calendar” (dfs.dps.mo.gov/programs/training/course-calendar.php). We will update the calendar moving forward. Due to a large number of tester’s, and limited staff, please be patient with us as we process your test results. I promise we will get those to you as quickly as possible. If you have any questions please try and use email to communicate with the training division when possible. Please reach out to us at the following emails:

• becky.trapani@dfs.dps.mo.gov 
• greg.landwehr@dfs.dps.mo.gov  
• debbie.plank@dfs.dps.mo.gov  
• tim.bean@dfs.dps.mo.gov 

Contact us for your training needs!
We at the Division are waiting for the Governor to sign the State’s budget for the 2021 fiscal year which begins July 1. Our budget will likely be impacted in some way due to the overall financial impact of COVID-19. With that being said, at the time of this article, we do not know what our firefighter training dollars will be. When we get visibility on those amounts, we will push that information out to you through the different media outlets and our website. We will continue to be committed to you, our Missouri fire service in fire training and firefighter certification and provide the best possible services and be transparent as possible moving forward.

Congratulations to Ron Thompson on his new position within the Division as the Regional Chief with the Fire Inspection unit. He will also be assisting the training division with different specialized programs.

Since becoming your state fire marshal I have attended many retirements, fire chief promotions, firefighter funerals, and will continue to do so. I want to recognize our Missouri fire service members anytime I can. I feel I miss opportunities across our state and want to capture as many as possible. We have created a “Missouri Fire Service Recognition Program” application form linked from our home page at dfs.dps.mo.gov. If you have someone who you would like to have recognized, please fill out this form. I will attend if possible, if not I will send the certificate in the mail.

In closing, I’m excited that we are having the Missouri State Fair. I look forward to joining many of you there. Thanks again for everything you do to serve and protect our great state. Judy and I wish a Happy Independence Day to our great nation and each of you.

Be safe and keep the faith!

J. Tim Bean
State Fire Marshal
Division of Fire Safety