In August 1997, a truss roof collapsed on Wendy Norris, causing a severe head injury and respiratory
and facial burns when a falling beam knocked off her facemask. 
(Read more about Wendy's Story)

Her experiences from this injury gave her the idea of creating an organization that would assist other injured emergency workers and give them the support that they needed to get past the injury and get on with life. Since the inception of Firefighter Ministries in 1999, the programs have increased to include all emergency workers who need assistance in their emotional, spiritual, and physical lives.

She serves as the Presiding Officer on the Governor’s Advisory Panel for the Star of Texas Awards.  Wendy is
also a Chaplain for the Texas Burn Survivors Society at burn camp, the Benefits Coordinator for the Texas State Fire Marshall’s LODD Task Force, on the Board of Directors for Adam’s Angels, a family support group for the families of the 9/11 incident, and as a peer advisor for the SOAR program
at Shriner's Hospital in Galveston.  She also serves as a writer for Firefighting.com, Emergency Grapevine, 1st Responder News, American Firefighter Today, the Los Angeles Firefighter and many other emergency service
news agencies.

Previously, Wendy worked as an industrial firefighter in Antioch, California and in Houston, Texas until she was injured in a structure fire in 1997.  She also served as a volunteer firefighter. Wendy received her fire, rescue, EMS, and instructor training at Solano College in Fairfield, California, and Texas A&M in College Station, Texas.  She received her training as a Lay Chaplain through the Community of Hope which is sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Houston, Texas, and the Counselor Training Institute in Dallas, Texas.  Wendy is a member of the Federation of Fire Chaplains, The Phoenix Society, The American Lung Association. 

Wendy is pursuing her studies in Christian Counseling through the America Association of Christian Counseling. 

Wendy has spoken at numerous events, churches, and conventions regarding her story as well as
on emotional and spiritual topics that affect emergency workers.  She also teaches classes on
preparing for line of duty deaths and injuries, notifications, and beyond CISD.

If you would like more information about speaking engagements or classes, please contact Wendy directly at wendy@firefighterministries.org or by calling 281-335-5434.